Skills for Work - Energy

ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, United Nations Secretary-General, has said “It’s time to stop burning our planet, and start investing in the abundant renewable energy all around us." The IEA estimates that the transition towards net-zero emissions will lead to an overall increase in energy sector jobs: while about 5 million jobs in fossil fuel production could be lost by 2030, an estimated 14 million new jobs would be created in clean energy, resulting in a net gain of 9 million jobs.

There are many technologies used in the production of energy and this course has been designed to contain both an electrical generation practical/skills element using wind turbines and a heat generation practical/skills element using solar panels. These elements were selected to ensure learners receive a range of skills using different technologies that are involved in the generation of energy. Other systems used to generate energy from both the traditional/conventional and renewable systems will be discussed and evaluated during the course.

The specific aims of the course are to:

• Encourage students to consider a career in the energy sector

• Develop an awareness of the role of conventional and renewable energy systems in the UK

• Develop an awareness of what opportunities there may be within the sector in terms of the types and range of career options

• Develop engineering skills and other skills relevant to the microgeneration energy sector

• Provide opportunities for the personal development of skills and attitudes that will improve the students’ employment potential within the energy sector

• Develop the students’ awareness of their individual strengths and weaknesses in relation to the requirements of the sector, and to reflect on how this affects their employability potential.

• Raise awareness of the impact of the energy sector on the environment.

• Raise awareness of the responsibilities of the energy industry regarding the environment.

WHO IS THE COURSE SUITABLE FOR?

The course contains a significant amount of self-evaluation, with some personalisation and choice. This makes it suitable for most pupils as a stand-alone National 5 Course. There is no external exam so pupils must be committed to work through the year since assessment is continuous. This course may be taken in S4, S5 or S6 and may be undertaken by pupils not taking other N5s, Highers or Advanced Highers.

Faculty Principal Teacher

Ms F Keppie

The qualification consists of 3 full units & 2 half units.

Unit 1: An Introduction

This unit provides students with an overview of where we get our energy from, the engineering systems that convert it into a more convenient form, and the energy conversion processes that take place from fuel being input to energy being generated. It gives a broad overview of traditional and renewable energy systems, energy conservation and includes an evaluation of an industrial or domestic energy generation facility. Investigation and presentation skills are developed in this unit.

Unit 2: Domestic Solar Hot Water Systems

This unit introduces a microgeneration system which generates heat from solar energy and transfers this heat energy to a heat exchanger and on to other appliances, e.g. hot water tank or under-floor heating system suitable for use in a domestic or small-scale industrial building. This is a practical skills-based unit which gives students the practical skills to manufacture some of the parts and assemble a small solar hot water panel through team working which is seen as an essential element in this unit.

Unit 3: Domestic Wind Turbine Systems

This unit introduces residential or microgeneration wind turbine systems which generate electrical energy. This is a practical skills-based unit which will give students the ability to wire up an electrical circuit, manufacture parts, assemble, and test a small-scale wind turbine. The students will use prepared components to build the turbine. Team working is seen as an essential element in this unit.

Unit 4a: Employability and Careers

Students will review their performance in the employability skills undertaken in significant practical activities in the units throughout the course and evaluate their own strengths and weaknesses. It will also involve students investigating careers and job roles within the energy sector.

Unit 4b Energy and the Individual

Learners will investigate the energy they use over an average year. This will include producing their own carbon footprint. From the data gained, they will review and evaluate their lifestyles to try and reduce the energy they consume and thereby reduce the size of their carbon emissions/footprint. Presentation skills will also be developed in this unit.