Postgraduate Course: Engineering for Sustainability (IDCORE) (PGEE11262)
Course Outline
| School | School of Engineering |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This course discusses the key principles of Life Cycle Thinking and Circular Design. With a basis in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the Circular Economy, it develops skills in evaluating qualitative and quantitative sustainability metrics for ORE developments, including resource use, pollutant emissions and end-of-life treatment. It inspires critical thinking about sustainability issues using a systems perspective, facilitating low-impact design. It covers: the general principles of life cycle thinking; applications of LCA to offshore renewables; and LCA and the Circular Economy. Interactive workshops will implement, critically evaluate and reflect upon engineering for sustainability in the ORE sector. |
| Course description |
A Introduction to Life Cycle Thinking
The concept of Life Cycle Analysis, the LCA process and overarching legislative framework
Introduction to the methodology of LCA, including inventory analysis, data sources and environmental impact assessment
Case studies of the application of LCA in engineering design and management;
B Life cycle thinking in the ORE industry
Current research landscape of LCA for ORE, including a review of common data sources and LCIA methods;
Challenges, common mistakes and best practice of LCA for ORE;
Guidance on evaluating LCA results and providing recommendations for engineering design and development (this might be more of an interactive tutorial leading into an assessment).
C Life Cycle Assessment and the Circular Economy
The concepts of Circular Economy
Principle of energy and resource conservation from ¿cradle-to-grave" and ¿cradle-to-cradle"
Case studies describing the application of LCA for evaluating resource consumption and waste management.
The current environmental legislative framework, especially as it relates to energy and waste, including UN, EU and UK legislation.
The effects of economic, social and political pressures on sustainable business activities.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2024/25, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Flexible |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 14,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 4,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 7,
External Visit Hours 5,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1,
Formative Assessment Hours 5,
Summative Assessment Hours 12,
Other Study Hours 50,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
0 )
|
| Additional Information (Learning and Teaching) |
Self study
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
100% coursework |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Describe the concepts of lifecycle assessment and Circular Economy and their relevance to engineering (M7, M17);
- Discuss the current environmental legislative framework, especially as it relates to energy and waste, including UN, EU and UK legislation (M5, M7);
- Apply life cycle assessment to offshore renewable energy developments, including an assessment of energy and resource conservation (M3, M7);
- Analyse and evaluate life cycle assessment and circularity results including in published literature (M4, M7);
- Create recommendations for relevant audiences of life cycle assessment and circularity studies, including the effects of economic, social and political pressures on sustainable business activities (M17).
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | life cycle analysis,circular economy,cradle to grave,legislation,sustainability |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Camilla Thomson
Tel: (0131 6)51 3526
Email: C.Thomson@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Dr Katrina Tait
Tel: (0131 6)51 9023
Email: k.tait@ed.ac.uk |
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