Power Engineering and the Grid module (RE32003)

Electricity powers modern life, and the transition to renewable energy is one of the biggest challenges of our time. In this module, you will explore how electrical power is generated, transmitted, and managed through the grid, and how scientists and engineers are redesigning energy systems for a sustainable future. 

You will study how electricity is produced using both conventional and renewable sources, and how it is delivered reliably across large-scale networks such as the National Grid. You will learn how supply and demand are balanced in real time, and how energy is converted, controlled, and distributed efficiently. 

You will develop an understanding of alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) power systems, including three-phase power, transformers, and power factor. You will also explore power electronics, such as rectifiers and inverters, which enable technologies like wind turbines, solar panels, and battery storage to connect to the grid. 

Through practical work, you will design, build, and test power circuits, using data analysis to evaluate performance and efficiency. You will investigate key challenges in modern energy systems, including renewable variability, energy storage, smart grids, and emerging technologies such as hydrogen systems. 

Alongside this, you will take part in professional physics sessions, developing the experimental and data analysis skills used by physicists. Working in a team, you will design and deliver interactive experiments for a public science fair, explaining energy and physics concepts to a wider audience. 

This module prepares you for careers in renewable energy, power engineering, and sustainability, where understanding and transforming energy systems is critical. 

What you will learn 

In this module, you will: 

• explore how electrical power is generated, transmitted, and distributed 
• analyse AC and DC power systems, including three-phase systems and transformers 
• study power electronics and energy conversion technologies 
• investigate renewable energy integration and grid operation 
• design, build, and test electrical power circuits 
• analyse system performance using data and modelling tools 
• develop experimental, data analysis, and communication skills through professional physics sessions 
• work as part of a team to design public engagement activities 

By the end of this module, you will be able to: 

• explain how modern electrical power systems and the grid operate 
• analyse AC and DC power systems and evaluate their performance 
• apply engineering principles to design and test power circuits 
• assess challenges in renewable energy and grid integration 
• analyse and interpret data from experiments and systems 
• communicate energy and physics concepts to both technical and public audiences

Assignments / assessments

• coursework (40%) 
  • logbook 
  • formal experimental laboratory report 
  • public engagement activity 
• final, written exam (60%)

Teaching methods / timetable

• Lectures 
• Interactive tutorials 
• Practical laboratories 
• Weekly, interactive professional physics session