Photovoltaics & Solar Energy - SOLAAH3961
Stream Summary
Faculty: ENG - Faculty of Engineering
School: School of the Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering
Contact: http://www.engineering.unsw.edu.au
Program: 3961 - Engineering (Honours) / Arts
Award(s):
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Major)
View stream information for previous years
Stream Outline
The stream includes training in technology development, manufacturing, quality control, reliability and life-cycle analysis, cell interconnection and encapsulation, a range of solar cell applications, system design, maintenance and fault diagnosis, marketing, policy development and the use of other renewable energy technologies. Emphasis is placed on gaining hands-on experience of working with solar energy devices, modules and systems.
Innovative teaching techniques have been developed to enhance the learning environment including the 'Virtual Production Line' and 'Virtual World Solar Car Challenge'. UNSW academics in the photovoltaic field have been consistently ranked amongst the leaders worldwide through international peer review. This team has held the world record for silicon solar cell efficiencies for decades and were responsible for developing the most successfully commercialized new photovoltaic technology internationally throughout the same period. From 2006 onwards we have seen an explosion of interest in the School's technologies from major industry players all around the world.
Second Area of Specialisation
The cross-disciplinary nature of photovoltaics and renewable energy applications necessitates many PV engineers possessing broad engineering backgrounds or else working in teams with other engineers. A good example is the UNSW Solar Car Project involving PV engineers, electronics engineers, control engineers, mechanical engineers, chemical engineers, power engineers, biomedical engineers, computer engineers, and communication engineers. Therefore it is important for photovoltaic engineers to have a broader understanding of other engineering disciplines.
A unique feature of this stream is that in Year 2, students have the opportunity to select a strand to complement their education in Photovoltaics and Solar Energy. Each strand comprises 18 units of credit with the opportunity to subsequently select additional electives in the corresponding area in the final two years, subject to the approval of the Undergraduate Coordinator. The strands available are listed below and cover areas such as computing, electronics, mathematics, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, physics, chemical engineering, and architecture. Students may also formulate their own strands subject to the approval of the Undergraduate Coordinator.
Selection of a second area of specialisation is subject to the stream rule that states that no more than 60 UOC of first-year level courses may be counted toward the BE (Hons) in Photovoltaics and Solar Energy.
Photovoltaics and Solar Energy is also available as a component of the dual degree programs.
Innovative teaching techniques have been developed to enhance the learning environment including the 'Virtual Production Line' and 'Virtual World Solar Car Challenge'. UNSW academics in the photovoltaic field have been consistently ranked amongst the leaders worldwide through international peer review. This team has held the world record for silicon solar cell efficiencies for decades and were responsible for developing the most successfully commercialized new photovoltaic technology internationally throughout the same period. From 2006 onwards we have seen an explosion of interest in the School's technologies from major industry players all around the world.
Second Area of Specialisation
The cross-disciplinary nature of photovoltaics and renewable energy applications necessitates many PV engineers possessing broad engineering backgrounds or else working in teams with other engineers. A good example is the UNSW Solar Car Project involving PV engineers, electronics engineers, control engineers, mechanical engineers, chemical engineers, power engineers, biomedical engineers, computer engineers, and communication engineers. Therefore it is important for photovoltaic engineers to have a broader understanding of other engineering disciplines.
A unique feature of this stream is that in Year 2, students have the opportunity to select a strand to complement their education in Photovoltaics and Solar Energy. Each strand comprises 18 units of credit with the opportunity to subsequently select additional electives in the corresponding area in the final two years, subject to the approval of the Undergraduate Coordinator. The strands available are listed below and cover areas such as computing, electronics, mathematics, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, physics, chemical engineering, and architecture. Students may also formulate their own strands subject to the approval of the Undergraduate Coordinator.
Selection of a second area of specialisation is subject to the stream rule that states that no more than 60 UOC of first-year level courses may be counted toward the BE (Hons) in Photovoltaics and Solar Energy.
Photovoltaics and Solar Energy is also available as a component of the dual degree programs.
Stream Structure
The stream structure below gives one sequence of courses that fulfils the requirements of the degree. The timing of the general education courses and elective courses may be modified to optimize the student's choice of courses. While some courses are given twice a year, many courses are given only once a year and some once every two years. In addition, courses may have prerequisites and exclusions. Thus students should plan their enrolments appropriately.
In order to fulfill the requirements of the degree students must complete 168 UOC comprising of at least 48 UOC of Disciplinary Knowledge and Enquiry-based Courses, at least 30 UOC Introductory Knowledge core courses, and at least 60 days of approved Industrial Training experience.
Full time students complete four (24 UOC) courses per semester.
Recommended plans of study may be found here.
Year 1
Choose ONE of
In order to fulfill the requirements of the degree students must complete 168 UOC comprising of at least 48 UOC of Disciplinary Knowledge and Enquiry-based Courses, at least 30 UOC Introductory Knowledge core courses, and at least 60 days of approved Industrial Training experience.
Full time students complete four (24 UOC) courses per semester.
Recommended plans of study may be found here.
Year 1
Choose ONE of
- MATH1131 Mathematics 1A (6 UOC)
- MATH1141 Higher Mathematics 1A (6 UOC)
And ONE of
- MATH1231 Mathematics 1B (6 UOC)
- MATH1241 Higher Mathematics 1B (6 UOC)
And ONE of
- PHYS1121 Physics 1A (6 UOC)
- PHYS1131 Higher Physics 1A (6 UOC)
And ONE of
- PHYS1221 Physics 1B (6 UOC)
- PHYS1231 Higher Physics 1B (6 UOC)
Plus the following 2 courses:
- ENGG1000 Engineering Design (6 UOC)
- ENGG1811 Computing for Engineers (6 UOC)
Students doing 'Computing Strand' should replace ENG1811 with COMP1911.
Plus choose 2 electives from the Year 1 Elective List
Suggested Year 1 Electives for this stream are:
- ELEC1111 Elec & Telecomm Eng (6 UOC)
- SOLA1070 Sustainable Energy (6 UOC)
- COMP1911 is an acceptable alternative for ENGG1811
- Not all courses are offered in both semesters but students should complete 24 UOC in each semester.
- Students in BE(Hons)/BSc(Computer Science) dual degree should take COMP1521 as one of their first year electives.
Plus the following courses:
- MATH2019 Engineering Mathematics 2E (6 UOC)
- MATH2089 Numerical Methods & Statistics (6 UOC)
- MATS1101 Engineering Materials and Chem (6 UOC)
- SOLA2051 Project in PV and RE 1 (6 UOC)
- SOLA2052 Project in PV and RE 2 (6 UOC)
- SOLA2060 Intro to Elec Devices (6 UOC)
- SOLA2540 Applied PV (6 UOC)
- SOLA3010 Low Energy Buildings and PV (6 UOC)
- SOLA3020 PV Technology & Manufacturing (6 UOC)
- SOLA3507 Solar Cells (6 UOC)
- ELEC4122 Strategic Leadership & Ethics (6 UOC)
- SOLA4012 PV Systems Design (6 UOC)
- SOLA4910 Thesis Part A (6 UOC)
- SOLA4911 Thesis Part B (6 UOC)
- SOLA5057 Energy Efficiency (6 UOC)
- Strand Electives (18 UOC)
- Disciplinary Elective (12 UOC)
and
- 60 days Industrial Training
Students selecting Mathematics and Physics strands and BE/BSc students majoring in 'Mathematics' or 'Physics' should replace MATH2019 with MATH2011 (Several Variable Calculus) and MATH2121 (Theory and Applications of Differential Equations).
Years 2 & 3 Strand Options
Please note that the strands listed below are subject to change and may not be available every year. The strands published here are for students commencing the second year of their program. Third year students should complete the strand courses they have already nominated and consult the School Office as required.
Strand 1 Computing
Years 2 & 3 Strand Options
Please note that the strands listed below are subject to change and may not be available every year. The strands published here are for students commencing the second year of their program. Third year students should complete the strand courses they have already nominated and consult the School Office as required.
Strand 1 Computing
- COMP1921 Computing 1B (6 UOC)
And choose from the following to complete the strand:
Strand 2 Electronics
- ELEC2133 Analogue Electronics (6 UOC)
- ELEC2134 Circuits and Signals (6 UOC)
And Choose from the following to complete the strand:
- ELEC3106 Electronics (6 UOC)
- ELEC3117 Electrical Engineering Design (6 UOC)
- ELEC4614 Power Electronics (6 UOC)
Strand 3 Electric Energy
- ELEC2134 Circuits and Signals (6 UOC)
- ELEC3105 Electrical Energy (6 UOC)
- ELEC3115 Electromagnetic Engineering (6 UOC)
Strand 4 Communications and Control
- ELEC2134 Circuits and Signals (6 UOC)
And choose from the following to complete the strand:
- ELEC3104 Digital Signal Processing (6 UOC)
- ELEC3114 Control Systems (6 UOC)
- TELE3113 Analogue and Digital Comms (6 UOC)
Strand 5 Mathematics
- MATH2011 Several Variable Calculus (6 UOC)
- MATH2521 Complex Analysis (6 UOC)
And choose one from the following to complete the strand:
- MATH3041 Mathematical Modelling (6 UOC)
- MATH3101 Computational Mathematics (6 UOC)
- MATH3121 Mathematical Methods (6 UOC)
- MATH3261 Fluids, Oceans & Climate (6 UOC)
Strand 6 Mechanical Engineering
- MMAN2600 Fluid Mechanics (6 UOC)
- MMAN2700 Thermodynamics (6 UOC)
And choose from the following to complete the strand:
Strand 7 Chemical Engineering
Strand 8 Physics
- MATH2011 Several Variable Calculus (6 UOC)
- PHYS2111 Quantum Physics (6 UOC)
- PHYS3113 Thermal and Statistical (6 UOC)
And choose from the following to complete the strand:
- PHYS3111 Quantum Mechanics (6 UOC)
- PHYS3118 Solid State Physics (6 UOC)
Strand 9 Faculty of the Built Environment
Disciplinary Electives
In consultation with the Undergraduate Coordinator students can choose Year 3 and Year 4 courses from SPREE or other UNSW Engineering Schools, provided that appropriate pre-requisites have been satisfied and they conform to the units of credit requirements.
In consultation with the Undergraduate Coordinator students can choose Year 3 and Year 4 courses from SPREE or other UNSW Engineering Schools, provided that appropriate pre-requisites have been satisfied and they conform to the units of credit requirements.
Professional Recognition
The BE (Hons) in Photovoltaics and Solar Energy is fully accredited by Engineers Australia.
