The Research Project will be either research oriented or predominantly research oriented with an engineering/scientific application.

• Select (with the aid of a supervisor) an area of topical interest in the renewable energy field. The topic selected may relate to the prior learning of the candidate in Mechanical, Electronic or other scientific disciplines. • Perform a through literature review in the area in order to determine the current level of knowledge. • Develop an argued position using experimental data, analysis or computer modelling as the exigencies of the case require. • Present these findings in the following methods: 1. Production of Bound Thesis conforming with DKIT derived standards, with minimum of 10,000 words. (Word range expected to be 13,000 +/- 3000) 2. Production of a learned article suitable for publication, limited in scope to a maximum 8 pages and to a format agreed by the group. Sample format appended 3. Defend by means of a public presentation at an open forum, in a talk lasting 15/20 minutes where they will be questioned by department staff.

• Projects may be either group or individually presented. • Projects may involve any branch of economics, engineering, architecture or science which can be demonstrated by the proposer to have relevance to the renewable/conservation energy agenda • Projects need not be novel, but should be chosen to advance the general state of the art. • Projects likely to be published will take preference.

• Experimental investigation of product or process which has apparent potential in improving renewable energy utilisation. • Critical examination on the economic feasibility of a particular renewable energy scheme. • Critical comparison on the relative merits of two or more established technologies. • Development of a component with declared relevance to the Renewable Energy agenda.

• The Project titles and the internal supervisor will be advised to the student by the Project Coordinator. • Each student will be assigned one academic supervisor who typically will have expertise and a research interest in the selected area. Where the required technical expertise either scientific, technological or economic is not available within the course team, an additional project supervisor may be appointed. • Each student will be allocated a maximum sum of 20 hours project supervision over the duration of the project. • The Course team can recommend that that the candidate abandon the thesis and apply for the Certificate award. • As part of the research project plan developed in the research methods module, students will factor the available supervision into their work plan. • The role of the supervisor is to guide the student through the process of completing the research project, by advising on research approaches, milestones, appropriateness of material, analysis and critical evaluation, writing technique and project management.

The project will be assessed on its quality of enquiry, analysis, interpretation, insight and exposition, as well as the contribution it makes to the field of study and the writer's own academic and professional development. An essential ingredient will be the student's ability to master a technical body of knowledge and apply it to a given problem domain. The ability to think and reason, at a conceptual level, with the material at issue is crucial. The design, layout, quality of expression, structure and coherence of all documentation will be taken into account when grading the finished work. The ability of the student to present and defend the material is also of significant importance.

Technical Skills 20% Communication Skills 20% Critical and Evaluative Skills 50% Management Skills 10%

• mathematical models • experimental data and results • project documentation • project demonstration • oral examination • supervisor