ENN555 Operation and Maintenance of Renewable Energy Systems
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | ENN555 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | Admission to (EN53 or EV53 or EN67 or EN56 or EN73 or EN76) |
| Credit points: | 6 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $596 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $2,184 |
| International unit fee | $3,108 |
Unit Outline: Semester 2 - 6 Week D 2026, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | ENN555 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 6 |
| Pre-requisite: | Admission to (EN53 or EV53 or EN67 or EN56 or EN73 or EN76) |
| Coordinator: | Ehsan Arzaghi | ehsan.arzaghi@qut.edu.au |
Overview
Operational and Maintenance aspects of renewable energy systems are critical for engineers who work with these technologies. This unit will provide you with the knowledge and skills to model and make operational decisions to optimise system outcomes. This unit focuses on reliability, maintenance and energy dispatch modelling for renewable energy production and storage technologies.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of operational and maintenance aspects of renewable energy production and energy storage systems
- Use analytical approaches to evaluate operational and maintenance aspects of renewable energy production and energy storage systems
- Apply systematic approaches to design and manage operation and management strategies for operational and maintenance aspects of renewable energy production and energy storage systems
- Communicate complex, technical information and solutions in professional formats
- Demonstrate ethical and socially responsible professional practice
Content
The content of this unit covers:
- Operation and Maintenance decision making for renewable energy systems
- Reliability and degradation modelling for wind, photovoltaic and concentrating solar power
- Dispatchability and optimisation of renewable power sources under uncertainty
- Condition Monitoring and and condition-based maintenance strategies for energy production and the grid
Learning Approaches
In this unit you can expect to experience the following learning activities:
- A blended approach to content delivery including weekly 2h lectures and online resources delivered by experienced renewable energy engineers to give you insight into the technical aspects of this unit.
- weekly 2h workshop classes that will give you the opportunity to ask questions, discuss and work collaboratively with your peers to develop knowledge, skills and tools to undertake the assessment. These workshops will provide an opportunity to test your understanding and gain feedback on your work.
Details about contents and coverage in these activities by week of semester will be provided on the Canvas unit schedule. You can also expect to be provided with learning resources including video presentations and readings on a unit Canvas site, which you can access flexibly to complete your learning in this unit.
At the beginning of the unit, you will be made aware of the ways in which you can ask questions or seek clarification from the unit coordinator, lecturers and tutor.
You are expected to:
- Engage with timetabled learning activities on campus and ask questions.
- Engage with online resources outside of timetabled learning activities. They will be available on the unit Canvas site. You will receive regular email announcements regarding the release of these resources.
- Work in a group to complete a modelling and planning project. While there will be time during timetabled tutorial classes, you will also need to undertake independent work outside of this time to complete assessment tasks, including for areas of individual responsibility.
- Prepare for learning activities according to the unit schedule, and follow up on any work not completed.
- Complete assessment tasks by working consistently throughout the semester and meeting the due dates that are published via the unit Canvas site.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
During workshop or tutorial classes, with your group you will share your formative ideas for your project and you will receive feedback from your tutor. You are encouraged to view your group as a learning community and to share and discuss emergent ideas in renewable energy and your understandings of engineering professional practice. Each assessment submission will be graded against criteria and standards that will be shared with you at the beginning of semester through Assessment Task Descriptions and Marking Rubrics. Marked assessment will include feedback given by the markers against the criteria.
Assessment
Overview
Assessment in this unit has been designed to give you the opportunity to show your learning against the unit learning outcomes. You will work individually to complete a problem solving task, and both individually and in a group undertake a modelling and planning project for a renewable energy engineering system. You will be expected to work together with your group members and independently to make individual contributions to the modelling and planning project, and deploy work practices that align to engineering professional practice.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Problem Solving Task
In this assessment you will be required to analyse aspects of the operation and maintenance of a renewable energy system. You will be presented with descriptions of the systems and will need to diagnose the problem type, make use of appropriate theory or methods, demonstrate systems knowledge, show your working, and communicate a complete answer in writing and graphically.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
Assessment: Modelling and Planning Project
In this assessment you will work in groups and individually to undertake a modelling task using the tools taught in this unit and use this model to develop an operation and maintenance plan for a real-world system. You will need to make use of appropriate theory or methods, demonstrate systems knowledge, show your working, and communicate a complete answer in writing and graphically.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in this assessment. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
Learning materials in this unit and links to online resources will be managed from its Canvas site.
Risk Assessment Statement
Risks may be associated with you visiting study areas and/or project sites. You are required to have completed a valid Workplace Health and Safety course. You shall not enter project sites without the Unit Coordinator's approval. You shall not to contact members of the public, public officers or staff associated with any project without permission of the Unit Coordinator. More detailed information will be provided in your Week 1 information class.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.EN53 Master of Renewable Energy
- Demonstrate and apply advanced and specialist discipline knowledge, concepts and practices as they relate to contemporary practice in Renewable Energy
Relates to: Problem Solving Task - Analyse and evaluate Renwable Energy problems using technical approaches informed by contemporary practice and leading edge research to achieve innovative, critically informed solutions
Relates to: Problem Solving Task, Modelling and Planning Project - Apply innovative, systematic approaches to plan, design, deliver and manage projects in Renewable Energy in a way that assures sustainable outcomes over their whole lifecycle
Relates to: Modelling and Planning Project - Effectively communicate Renewable Energy problems, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
Relates to: Modelling and Planning Project - Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability and reflective practice when working in individual and collaborative modes
Relates to: Modelling and Planning Project
EN56 Master of Engineering Technology
- Demonstrate and apply advanced and specialist discipline knowledge, concepts and practices as they relate to contemporary practice in Engineering Technology
Relates to: Problem Solving Task - Analyse and evaluate Engineering Technology problems using technical approaches informed by contemporary practice and leading edge research to achieve innovative, critically informed solutions
Relates to: Problem Solving Task, Modelling and Planning Project - Apply innovative, systematic approaches to plan, design, deliver and manage projects in Engineering Technology in a way that assures sustainable outcomes over their whole lifecycle
Relates to: Modelling and Planning Project - Effectively communicate Engineering Technology problems, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
Relates to: Modelling and Planning Project - Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability and reflective practice when working in individual and collaborative modes
Relates to: Modelling and Planning Project
EN67 Graduate Certificate in Renewable Energy Systems
- Demonstrate and apply advanced discipline knowledge, concepts and practices as they relate to contemporary practice in Renewable Energy Systems
Relates to: Problem Solving Task - Analyse and evaluate Renewable Energy Systems problems using technical approaches informed by contemporary practice to achieve innovative, critically informed solutions
Relates to: Problem Solving Task, Modelling and Planning Project - Apply innovative, systematic approaches to plan, design, deliver and manage projects in Renewable Energy Systems in a way that assures sustainable outcomes over their whole lifecycle
Relates to: Modelling and Planning Project - Effectively communicate Renewable Energy Systems problems, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
Relates to: Modelling and Planning Project - Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability and reflective practice when working in individual and collaborative modes
Relates to: Modelling and Planning Project
EN73 Master of Renewable Energy with Project Management
- Demonstrate and apply advanced and specialist discipline knowledge, concepts, methods and practices as they relate to contemporary practice in Renewable Energy and Project Management domains
Relates to: Problem Solving Task - Analyse and evaluate problems in Renewable Energy and Project Management domains using technical approaches informed by contemporary practice and leading-edge research to achieve evidence based, innovative, critically informed solutions and outcomes
Relates to: Problem Solving Task, Modelling and Planning Project - Apply innovative, systematic approaches to plan, design, deliver and manage projects in Renewable Energy and Project Management domains in a way that assures sustainable outcomes and strategic objectives over their whole lifecycle
Relates to: Modelling and Planning Project - Effectively communicate problems in Renewable Energy and Project Management domains, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
Relates to: Modelling and Planning Project - Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability, reflective practice, risk-informed judgements, and leadership
Relates to: Modelling and Planning Project
EN76 Master of Renewable Energy with Data Analytics
- Demonstrate and apply advanced and specialist discipline knowledge, concepts, methods and practices as they relate to contemporary practice in Renewable Energy and Data Analytics domains
Relates to: Problem Solving Task - Analyse and evaluate problems in Renewable Energy and Data Analytics domains using technical approaches informed by contemporary practice and leading-edge research to achieve evidence based, innovative, critically informed solutions and outcomes
Relates to: Problem Solving Task, Modelling and Planning Project - Apply innovative, systematic approaches to plan, design, deliver and manage projects in Renewable Energy and Data Analytics domains in a way that assures sustainable outcomes and strategic objectives over their whole lifecycle
Relates to: Modelling and Planning Project - Effectively communicate problems in Renewable Energy and Data Analytics domains, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
Relates to: Modelling and Planning Project - Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability, reflective practice, risk-informed judgements, and leadership
Relates to: Modelling and Planning Project
EN79 Graduate Diploma in Engineering Studies
- Demonstrate and apply advanced discipline knowledge, concepts and practices as they relate to contemporary Engineering practice
Relates to: Problem Solving Task - Analyse and evaluate Engineering problems using technical approaches informed by contemporary practice and leading edge research to achieve innovative, critically informed solutions
Relates to: Problem Solving Task, Modelling and Planning Project - Apply innovative, systematic approaches to plan, design, deliver and manage Engineering projects in a way that assures sustainable outcomes over their whole lifecycle
Relates to: Modelling and Planning Project - Effectively communicate Engineering problems, related complex data and information, and solutions in contemporary professional formats for diverse purposes and audiences
Relates to: Modelling and Planning Project - Demonstrate ethically and socially responsible practice, recognising the importance of personal accountability and reflective practice when working in individual and collaborative modes
Relates to: Modelling and Planning Project