Assignment Brief (RQF)

Assignment Brief (RQF)

Higher National Certificate in Engineering
Student Name/ID Number:

Unit Number and Title: Unit 5: Renewable Energy - F/615/1479

Academic Year: 2023-2024

Unit Assessor: Reiss Bennett

Assignment Title: Renewable Energy Plan

Issue Date: 28/03/2024

Submission Date: 28/04/2024

Internal Verifier Name: Lance Burkitt

Date: 22/03/2023

Submission Format:

The submission is in the form of an individual written report. This should be written in
a concise, formal business style using single spacing and font size 12. You are
required to make use of headings, paragraphs and subsections as appropriate and all
work must be supported with research and referenced using the Harvard referencing
system. Provide a bibliography using the Harvard referencing system. The
recommended word limit is 900–1000 words. You will not be penalised for exceeding
the total word limit.

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 Assignment Brief (RQF)

Unit Learning Outcomes:

LO1 Explore potential renewable energy resources, including current storage and
generation technologies
LO2 Determine the optimum combination and efficiencies of renewable energy
technologies for a particular location
LO3 Conduct a cost-benefit analysis between renewable and conventional energy
sources to determine the most viable option
LO4 Explain socio-economic, legislative and environmental factors involved in the
consideration and selection of other approaches to renewable energy resources and
technologies

Assignment Brief and Guidance:

Scenario

You work in the renewable energy sector as a project engineer and your company has
received a contract from the government to implement at least four renewable energy
resources in the county of Yorkshire. You are required to produce a full utilisation plan
outlining the implementation and it should include the following:

The entirety of the assignment should be completed with in one report which will
include the following:

Task 1: Initial Research

You will need to conduct initial research on current renewable energy sources and
present your findings within a schematic diagram (Poster/ Leaflet/ Infographic) this
should include:

● Identifying the most common renewable energy sources and how they are
used
● The working principals behind the most commonly used renewable energy
sources

You should also include:

Explore how these renewable energy resources are being adopted across the globe
highlighting factors that affect the rate of implementation or lack of.

Provide detailed and well justified reasons for the implementation of the most widely
used conventional and non-conventional renewable energy resources.

Some renewable energy resources to consider: Solar Energy, Wind Energy,

Hydropower, Biomass, Geothermal Energy, Ocean energy etc.

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 Assignment Brief (RQF)

Task 2: Determine the optimum combination of renewable energy technologies

With your research now complete, you should choose the four most suitable
renewable energy resources giving justification for your choice for the county. You
should investigate how each of these energy resources will be connected to the local
energy grids highlighting potential issues or improvements from doing so. You should
investigate how by installing your renewable energy sources, you will bring benefit to
the local community, but you should also consider the negative impacts of the
implementation too. You should then consider the best combination of a variety of
different renewable energy resources drawing a conclusion on which you believe to
be the best combination by comparing efficiencies. In summary you should consider:

● Resource availability

● Energy demand

● Grid Demand

● Cost and efficiency

● Environmental Impact

Task 3: The cost–benefit analysis

You should complete a cost benefit critical analysis whereby you will find the most
viable option for your area by comparing all available renewable and conventional
energy sources. You should calculate the estimated costs of installation and
construction of all of the available renewable energy resources you have researched
comparing the differences in cost.

Your analysis should consider the following aspects:

● Initial costs – Compare the upfront costs of installation of the renewable

energy systems with the costs of conventional energy infrastructure. Consider
equipment used, installation costs and how much it would cost to connect to
the grid.

● Operating Costs - Evaluate the ongoing operational costs, including

maintenance, fuel expenses, and system upgrades, for both renewable and
conventional energy sources. Renewable energy systems often have lower
operating costs due to the abundance and free availability of renewable
resources.

● Environmental Benefits: Assess the environmental benefits of renewable

energy in terms of greenhouse gas emissions reduction, air pollution
mitigation, and conservation of natural resources. Quantify these benefits and
consider their economic value in the cost-benefit analysis.

● Externalities: Account for external costs associated with conventional energy

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 Assignment Brief (RQF)

sources, such as health impacts from air pollution or environmental damage

from resource extraction. These externalities may not be reflected in the
market prices but have real economic consequences.

● Incentives and Policies: Consider government incentives, grants, tax credits,

and subsidies available for renewable energy deployment. These incentives
can reduce the overall costs of renewable energy systems and improve their
cost competitiveness compared to conventional sources.

Task 4: Explain socio-economic, legislative and environmental factors involved

in the consideration and selection of other approaches to renewable energy
resources and technologies

You should evaluate environmental analysis and planning tools such as PESTLE help
to identify possible sources of conflicts of interest. Most importantly you need to
consider the factors that will determine the success of your project. You will need to
consider:

● Socio-economic Factors: Evaluate the social and economic implications of

alternative approaches. Consider factors such as job creation, local economic
development, energy affordability, and energy access for marginalized
communities. Alternative approaches should aim to address socio-economic
challenges and contribute to sustainable development.

● Legislative Factors: Examine the existing legislative and regulatory

frameworks. Consider policies, incentives, and regulations related to
alternative energy sources and technologies. Evaluate the level of support and
integration of alternative approaches in the legal framework and identify any
barriers or opportunities for their implementation.

● Environmental Factors: Assess the environmental impacts and benefits of

alternative approaches. Consider factors such as greenhouse gas emissions,
air pollution, water usage, land use, and biodiversity conservation. Alternative
approaches should prioritize environmental sustainability and minimize
negative ecological effects.

● Economic Viability: Analyze the economic viability of alternative approaches

compared to conventional energy sources. Consider factors such as upfront
costs, operational costs, long-term financial sustainability, and potential return
on investment. Evaluate the potential for cost reductions and technological
advancements in alternative energy systems.

● Technological Feasibility: Evaluate the technological feasibility and readiness

of alternative approaches. Consider factors such as the maturity of the
technology, scalability, reliability, and integration with existing infrastructure.
Assess the potential for research and development to enhance the
performance and efficiency of alternative energy systems.

● Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with various stakeholders, including local

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 Assignment Brief (RQF)

communities, industry experts, environmental organizations, and policymakers.

Seek their input, address concerns, and foster collaboration to ensure a
comprehensive understanding of the social, economic, and environmental
implications of alternative approaches.

● Risk Assessment: Conduct a thorough risk assessment of alternative

approaches. Identify potential risks, uncertainties, and challenges associated
with their implementation. Consider factors such as market volatility,
regulatory changes, technological limitations, and public acceptance.

● Energy Security: Evaluate the impact of alternative approaches on energy

security and resilience. Consider factors such as diversification of energy
sources, reduction of dependence on imported fossil fuels, and the ability to
withstand disruptions in the energy supply.

● Lifecycle Analysis: Conduct a lifecycle analysis of alternative approaches to

assess their overall environmental impact from raw material extraction and
manufacturing to operation and decommissioning. Consider factors such as
carbon footprint, waste generation, and resource depletion
To summarise you should outline the best renewable energy resources that are to be
used for Yorkshire and why concluding your project.

Learning Outcomes Pass Merit Distinction

LO1 Explore P1 Create M1 Explore the D1 Provide supported

potential renewable schematic rates of and well justified
energy resources, diagrams adoption of the recommendations
including current showing the most widely for the adoption of
storage and working used the most widely
generation principle of the renewable used conventional
technologies most widely energy and
used renewable resources nonconventional
energy systems renewable energy
resources

LO2 Determine the P2 Describe how M2 Discuss how D2 Summarise the

optimum combination each renewable renewable efficiencies of a
and efficiencies of energy system energy variety of
renewable energy could be systems will combinations of
technologies for a connected with bring benefit to renewable energy
particular location local energy the people technologies for a
systems living in the chosen location
chosen area

LO3 Conduct a cost– P3 Calculate the M3 Contrast the D3 Conduct a cost–

benefit analysis to installation and installation and benefit critical
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Assignment Brief (RQF)

determine the most construction construction analysis to

viable option costs of one costs of all determine the
between renewable renewable available most viable option
and conventional energy system renewable between all
energy sources from a energy available
renewable sources renewable and
energy conventional
standpoint energy sources

LO4 Explain socio- P4 Examine how M4 Evaluate D4 Provide supported

economic, legislative socioeconomic, environmental and justified
and environmental legislative and analysis and recommendations
factors involved in environmental planning tools and original ideas
the consideration and factors affect such as for an effective
selection of other the selection, PESTLE to environmental
approaches to set-up and identify analysis of
renewable energy operation of possible alternative
resources and renewable sources of approaches to the
technologies energy sources conflicts of selection of
interest renewable energy
resources

Student work starts here: