CEM440: Energy and the Environment

Module code: CEM440

Module provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment

Credits: 20

Level: 7

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Mate Janos Lorincz , email: m.lorincz@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Maria Vahdati, email: m.m.vahdati@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 11 April 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Energy underpins our current standard of living and economic development. The environmental impact of energy use and transition to a lower carbon economy presents significant challenges. This module is concerned with the technical, environmental, economic and social issues associated with the production of energy. It includes an overview of energy production and consumption trends, traditional means of energy production, renewable energy, sustainability, environmental issues and political and economic concepts in energy.ÌýÌý

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To provide a multi-disciplinary, integrated introduction to technical, environmental, economic and social issues associated with energy production, including the consideration of the practical constraints that limit the extent to which negative impacts can be ameliorated.Ìý

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:Ìý

1. Discuss, at a professional level, the significance of energy in the modern world, with due reference to social, economic, historic, environmental and technological contexts.Ìý

2. Make rational preliminary choices between energy technologies for any application on the basis of economic, social, environmental and technological factors, using quantitative arguments where appropriate.Ìý

Module content

• Trends in energy production and consumptionÌý
• Energy economicsÌý
• Fossil fuel heat and power generationÌý
• Nuclear powerÌý
• Environmental impacts of energy productionÌý
• Introduction to sustainabilityÌý
• Introduction to new and renewable energy technologiesÌý
• Introductory Meteorology for Renewable Energy SystemsÌý

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures, seminars, group work introduce techniques that are then explored further in the main assignment. Group investigations within the module delivery week provide additional engagement with the module content.ÌýÌý

Study hours

At least 35 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The below information applies to all full time and flexible modular students on taught PGT programmes in SBE.Ìý
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:Ìý

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;Ìý

• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.Ìý

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission which applies to all full time and flexible modular PGT students in SBE can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdfÌý

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.Ìý

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Group work during the module week.

Reassessment

Additional costs