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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2023/2024

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Mathematics : Mathematics

Postgraduate Course: Operational Research in the Energy Industry (MATH11193)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Mathematics CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryOperational research methods are widely used in the energy industry, for instance in system operation, system planning, market design and reliability analysis. There is currently particular interest in development of new methods both in industry and in academia, due to issues such as increasing volumes of renewable generation, and increased interaction between end users and the energy system. This course will give a broad coverage of current OR applications in the energy industry, based on active areas of research in the OR group.
Course description This course will combine technical OR and Optimization skills with the computing and modelling techniques developed in the four central core courses in the suite of OR programmes, to study a range of current energy industry challenges. In addition to standard academic guidance, the course will feature guest lectures delivered by industrial practitioners and research experts.

Core topics taught each year are:
- Optimal power flow (finding the best output levels of electricity generators subject to network constraints)
- Unit commitment (scheduling start up and shut down of generators)
- Power system planning
- Power system reliability

In addition, a selection of further topics will be covered according to current staff specialisms, possible examples include:
- Modelling of competition in markets
- Electricity market design
- Heat and gas networks
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Fundamentals of Operational Research (MATH10065) AND Fundamentals of Optimization (MATH11111) AND Methodology, Modelling and Consulting Skills (MATH11007) OR Linear Programming, Modelling and Solution (MATH10073)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2023/24, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 20, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 5, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 2, Summative Assessment Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 69 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 65 %, Coursework 35 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 35% continuous assessment; 65% examination
Feedback
Written feedback on assignment's and oral feedback in workshops and computer labs
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)Operational Research in the Energy Industry (MATH11193)2:00
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate knowledge of key OR challenges in the energy industry, through discussion of how modelling techniques in the course relate to practical industrial questions.
  2. Formulate power system operational and planning problems and implement them in a modelling language.
  3. Specify, interpret and analyse mathematical theory and models relevant to power system reliability.
  4. As relevant to further topics taught, specify, interpret, analyse and implement the mathematical theory and models.
Reading List
Fundamentals of Power System Economics, D. S. Kirschen and G. Strbac, Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-0470845721. (Online access through library).

Power System Economics: Designing Markets for Electricity, S. Stoft, Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 978-0471150404. (Online access through library).

SUSTAINABLE ENERGY without the hot air, David JC Mackay https://www.withouthotair.com/download.html

Electricity markets theories and applications, J. Lin and F. H. Magnago, Wiley. ISBN 978-1119179351
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsOREI,Energy,Power
Contacts
Course organiserDr Christopher Dent
Tel: (0131 6)50 5064
Email: Chris.Dent@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Gemma Aitchison
Tel: (0131 6)50 9268
Email: Gemma.Aitchison@ed.ac.uk
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