43123 Energy Storage Technologies
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Undergraduate and Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksRequisite(s): 48 credit points of completed study in Must have completed at least bachelor's owned by FEIT OR 48 credit points of completed study in Must have completed at least bachelor's Honours Embedded owned by FEIT OR 48 credit points of completed study in Must have completed at least bachelor's Combined Degree owned by FEIT OR 48 credit points of completed study in Must have completed at least bachelor's Combined Honours owned by FEIT OR 48 credit points of completed study in Must have completed at least bachelor's Combined Degree co-owned by FEIT OR 48 credit points of completed study in Must have completed at least bachelor's Combined Honours co-owned by FEIT
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.
Recommended studies:
60101 Chemistry and Materials Science or 65111 Chemistry 1
Description
This subject covers in-depth energy storage technologies such as batteries, supercapacitors, hydrogen storage, compressed air, and hydroelectricity (pumped storage) for climate change mitigation and grid stability. Students learn the key theories underpinning different energy storage technologies, grasp essential interdisciplinary knowledge including materials chemistry, mechanics, electrochemistry, and apply that knowledge to analyse, design, and evaluate energy storage technologies for specific applications.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Evaluate energy storage technologies in both electric and nonelectric systems in the context of climate change mitigation and grid stability. (B.1) |
|---|---|
| 2. | Design energy storage solutions for geographically diverse projects. (C.1) |
| 3. | Assess costs, efficiency, and sustainability in relation to specific energy storage technologies. (D.1) |
| 4. | Communicate the choices, theories, methodologies, and professional decisions associated with energy storage to specialist and non-specialist audiences. (E.1) |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):
- Socially Responsible: FEIT graduates identify, engage, and influence stakeholders, and apply expert judgment establishing and managing constraints, conflicts and uncertainties within a hazards and risk framework to define system requirements and interactivity. (B.1)
- Design Oriented: FEIT graduates apply problem solving, design thinking and decision-making methodologies in new contexts or to novel problems, to explore, test, analyse and synthesise complex ideas, theories or concepts. (C.1)
- Technically Proficient: FEIT graduates apply theoretical, conceptual, software and physical tools and advanced discipline knowledge to research, evaluate and predict future performance of systems characterised by complexity. (D.1)
- Collaborative and Communicative: FEIT graduates work as an effective member or leader of diverse teams, communicating effectively and operating autonomously within cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural contexts in the workplace. (E.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies
This subject contributes to the development of the following Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies:
- 1.3. In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline.
- 1.6. Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of sustainable engineering practice in the specific discipline.
- 2.2. Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources.
- 2.3. Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes.
- 3.2. Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains.
Teaching and learning strategies
The limits and possibilities of storing energy, especially from renewables, will be the main site of discussion throughout this subject.
Taking a ‘flipped’ classroom approach, students will preview the subject content, before engaging in interactive discussions in class to enhance understanding of energy storage.
Students will be introduced to a range of interdisciplinary concepts related to energy storage using online materials, including book chapters, videos, journal articles etc. During class, students will discuss and apply key concepts and theories from the pre-lecture materials as part of the interactive workshops.
Working together students will aim to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of different energy storage technologies. Guests from industry will share practical perspectives including safety, maintenance, budgeting of energy storage projects.
Students will evaluate and design energy storage technologies in practical scenarios to make sense of learned content and to link theory with practice in the assessment tasks.
Students will receive feedback on the results of their assessment from the lecturers via Canvas.
Content (topics)
- Climate-energy-cost nexus
- Batteries
- Supercapacitors
- Hydrogen storage
- Compressed air
- Molten salt
- Pumped hydro
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Investigate two energy storage technologies used commercially
| Intent: | To assess the current and existing energy storage systems and their working mechanisms. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2 and 3 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): B.1, C.1 and D.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 45% |
| Length: | 2500 words |
Assessment task 2: Pitch presentation
| Intent: | To practise communication and technical skills, interpret energy storage theories, financial analysis, methodologies, and professional decisions to specialist and non-specialist audiences. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2, 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): B.1, C.1, D.1 and E.1 |
| Type: | Presentation |
| Groupwork: | Group, group assessed |
| Weight: | 25% |
| Length: | 20 minutes |
Assessment task 3: Choose suitable energy storage solutions
| Intent: | To enhance understanding of energy storage technologies from theory to application. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 2, 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): B.1, C.1 and E.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | 2500 words |
Minimum requirements
In order to pass the subject, a student must achieve an overall mark of 50% or more.