New Course
Course Length: 4 Years

Introduction:

The University of Limerick is launching a new degree, the B.Sc. in Energy, to provide students with the scientific and technical expertise to help address the largest issues of the 21st century: energy sustainability, energy control and climate change.

Entry Requirements:

Applicants are required to hold, at the time of enrolment, the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with at least Grade C3 in two Higher Level subjects and Grade D3 in four Ordinary or Higher Level subjects (including Mathematics; Irish or another language; and English).

In addition, applicants are required to hold at least the following in the Leaving Certificate or an approved equivalent:

Grade C3 in Higher Level Mathematics and a Grade D3 in a Higher, Common or Ordinary Level paper in any one of the following: Physics, Chemistry, Physics with Chemistry, Engineering, Technical Drawing, Technology, Agricultural Science, Biology.
OR
Grade B3 in Ordinary Level Mathematics (Grade D3 in Higher Level Mathematics also suffices) and Grade C3 in one of the following Higher Level papers: Applied Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Physics with Chemistry, Agricultural Science, Biology.

By 2050, the world population may have grown to 9 billion people. The emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China may well be the world’s largest economies, and as their wealth increases, their energy demand will be added to the current increasing world demand.

Energy requirements will double, perhaps even quadruple, by the end of the 21st century. Existing supplies of fossil fuels are limited, with some already predicting that the peak of oil production has been reached. Added to this, over-dependence and over-use of these fuels has led to the detrimental global warming and climate change we experience today.

Nationally, our government has committed to an energy research strategy. The ESB has announced a 22 billion euro move to low-carbon energy production and distribution by 2020 and zero carbon by 2035. Other semi-state organisations such as Coillte, Bord Gais and Bord na Mona plan to spend hundreds of millions of euro on sustainable energy, and Ireland is also host to major energy companies including Airtricity and SWS.

Ireland is one of the most dependent countries in the world on imported energy, importing more than 85% of its fuel needs. However, we also occupy the windiest location in Europe, we are surrounded by water, with waves and tides, we can exploit solar and local geothermal sources, and we can even generate energy from our biowaste. In other words, there is an abundance of renewable energy that we can harness, and as a country, we can be world leaders in the development of the science and technology to do so.

The world needs an energy supply with low-carbon emissions to minimize climate change; we need to be able to source and harness this energy; we need to efficiently control its use, and we need this energy supply to be renewable. Making this a reality will take time, so we also need to use our existing energy supplies efficiently, by looking for ways to reduce consumption, reduce emissions, store energy and manage its use effectively.

To tackle all these issues and more, we need trained energy scientists. The aim of the new BSc in Energy is to meet current and anticipated demand for graduates in energy science by providing an interdisciplinary training for careers in energy provision, energy control, energy research, building services, energy planning, energy consultancy, energy assessment, and energy and carbon trading services.

Programme of Study:

The programme is of four years duration.

The first year provides students with an appropriate academic foundation in relevant subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, environmental science and electronics as well as an introduction to energy.

The second year builds on these fundamentals with courses in relevant areas of science and engineering.

During the third and fourth years, students undertake modules in more advanced and applied areas including a choice of elective modules in fourth year.

Subjects covered include renewable energy, alternative energy, first and second generation biofuels, energy resource assessment, electrical power systems, energy in the built environment, climate change and the green house effect.

During the spring semester of the third year, a period of cooperative education (placement in industry) provides students with practical experience in a relevant work environment to complement their course work. This is organised by the University’s Cooperative Education Department in collaboration with representatives from various industries, both in Ireland and abroad. Students are interviewed by the company representatives. On selection, they are offered full-time employment during the Cooperative Education period and are paid at a competitive rate.

During the final year, a project is undertaken that allows students to analyse a particular energy problem in depth. This also gives students interested in postgraduate research an opportunity to carry out an exploratory investigation of a potential research topic.

Career Opportunities:

Ireland’s energy providers will need trained personnel in current and new technologies. The B.Sc. in Energy will provide a comprehensive skill set suited to these industries. In the future, energy will be a much more important consideration in planning roads, infrastructure and buildings to minimise energy costs while maintaining and enhancing the quality of life.

Planners and consultants will require a knowledge of the energy costs associated with the manufacture, transport, use and disposal of products, and of avoidance measures such as conservation and renewable energy.

Graduates of this programme will meet the need for consultants to analyse the energy and other lifetime resource costs associated with products and activities. They will be knowledgeable in techniques, principles and practices for analysing the environmental and economic impacts of projects in energy usage and energy development.They will be equipped with the skills to assess and solve the energy challenges of designing the cities, towns, and buildings of the future in an innovative, economic and user-friendly way.

Graduates may also work as energy auditors, for example, assisting local authorities with the implementation of the energy performance in buildings directive (EPBD), reviewing environmental impact assessments of energy projects (most will require one) and assessing sustainable energy practices in processes such as waste-water treatment. They will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to monitor energy usage within the industrial sector and to modify and design processes and products for more efficient energy consumption.

With the liberalisation of energy markets at the turn of the century, energy trading is already a big business and graduates will have an energy background that is attractive to the financial services and energy companies.

Finally, the BSc. in Energy prepares graduates for research leading to a PhD degree. Researchers can expect to work in institutes such as the newly established Charles Parsons Institute at the University of Limerick on a wide range of ground-breaking areas. These include energy sources such as wind, ocean, solar and geothermal, electronic devices for energy control, electrochemical energy storage and next generation biofuels.

Course Contact:

Name: Dr David Corcoran
Tel: 00 353 61 202509
Email: David.Corcoran@ul.ie

http://www.ul.ie