Academic management

The Master’s course:

The main goal of the Master’s Degree in “Electrical Energy Conversion and Power Systems” (EECPS Master) is the training of qualified staff in areas related to electrical energy management, emphasizing in power systems for renewable energies. The Master presents a double approach: scientific and professional. In the scientific thread, training focuses on the design of two main applications: Electrical Power Systems and Electrical and Hybrid Traction Systems. On the other hand, in the professional thread, training is focused on the management of electrical energy. Thus, the subjects of this thread have been designed attending to two main issues, such as the management of energy in large consumers and the generation and transmission of electrical energy in a liberalized market. Three main lines have been considered as keystones in the Master:

• Electrical Power Systems
• Electrical and Hybrid Vehicles
• Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energies

The fourth semester:

The subject belongs to the last term; this term has been designed to complete the training of students. The courses taught in this period have a general nature and address issues related to the socio-economic impact of the technologies studied in the Master. In addition, students have to complete their Master's Thesis and the work placement. Besides, this term includes the ECTS credits on the scientific method that allow students to continue with the PhD studies according to the regulations of the University of Oviedo

The subject:

This subject develops the skills to interpret the validity of emerging technologies, as well as its evolution and deployment to be considered as fully implemented technologies. This interpretation is carried out from the point of view of technical, economic, social and environmental aspects. The subject is focused on the technologies related to power systems, electrical and hybrid vehicles and renewable energy systems.

• This is a general subject, the students will take advantage of the contents of this subject once they pass the rest of the subjects of the previous semesters.

Basic Competences:

• Be original in the development and application of ideas, within a research environment. (CB6)
• Solution of problem in new and unfamiliar multidisciplinary environments, related to its knowledge area. (CB7)
• Integration of knowledge, facing the complexity of issuing judgments and sentences parting from some information that includes ethic and social liability constraints. (CB8)
• Ability of communicating justified decisions and conclusions, to specialized and unspecialized listeners. (CB9)
• Ability of autonomous learning. (CB10)

Generic Competences:

• Writing, communicating and presenting scientific documents to specialists, within the scope of the contents of the Master Degree (electric power systems, hybrid and electrical vehicles and renewable energies) (CG1)
• Knowledge of the main multidisciplinary scientific journals and publications within the scope of the Master topics, as well as the main research, development and innovation centres (CG2)
• Skills related to teamwork, recognizing different roles within a group and different ways of organizing research teams. (CG9)
• Ability to manage information: search, analysis and synthesis of the specific technical information. (CG10)
• Ability to assimilate and communicate information in English concerning technical (CG11)
• Ability to plan and organize work (CG12)

• Skills for critical reasoning, making decisions and making judgments based on information that include reflecting on social and ethical responsibilities of professional activity (CG13)
• Concern for quality and achievement motivation (CG14)

Specific Competences:

• Understanding of the importance and the area of utilization of electrical power systems for generation, transmission and distribution of electrical energy (CE1)
• Understanding the fundamental characteristics, as well as advantages and drawbacks of electrical and hybrid traction systems compared to combustion engines (CE10)
• Technical-economical-environmental regulations and directives in different scopes (local, regional, national, European, etc.), which are applied to power systems (CE17)
• Knowledge and analysis of the energetic structures and technologies necessary, considering multiple aspects as the requirements, expected technical evolution, efficiency, security, sustainable development concerns, environmental and service guaranteeing issues (CE19).
• Ability to develop an appropriate management strategy based on the various offers provided in the electric energy market. (CE24)
• Ability to assess the environmental and social implications of the operation of the electrical markets including sustainable development concerns (CE27)

Learning Outcomes:

• RA152 Knowledge of the emerging technologies in the operation of new electrical systems.
• RA153 To understand the operation of emerging technologies, being able to design complex strategies to coordinate them for integration into modern power systems.

• RA154 Critically analysis of the evolution of the electricity sector, from technological, economic, sociological and environmental points of view.

• Fossil energy based generation vs. renewable and CHP.
• Electrical sector and environment.
• Transport of electrical energy, supergrids
• Distributed generation and smartgrids
• Sustainable development from the point of view of environment and socioeconomics conditions. Implications in the evaluation of environment impact.
• Technological comparison in energy conversion technologies and its relation with sustainable development.
• Climate effects and environment evaluation impact depending on the energy conversion strategy.
• Implications in power systems design from environment constrictions. 

As it can be observed in the next table, the numbers of hours assigned to this course are divided in “In-class work” and “homework”. Among the “in-class work” hours are divided in lectures, seminars, and group tutoring and evaluation sessions. Professor will use these hours to expound the theoretical basis of the subject. However, active learning methods such as “class discussions”, “think-pare-share”, “short written exercises“ or ”student debates” will be applied in order to keep an active attitude.  Concepts stated in lectures must be applied to solve different types of problems in seminars.  The group tutoring sessions will be used to discuss about the theoretical concepts explained in lectures or their application seminars.

Exceptionally, in the event that health conditions require it, non-attendance teaching activities may be included. In this case, students will be informed of the changes made.

The professor/s will assign each student a general topic that must be developed in a written work. The evaluation of such work will count a maximum of 40%. Each student must present this work in an oral session; such session will count a maximum of 40%. Other observation techniques like logs, check lists, attendance activities will count a maximum of 40% of the final grade. Late homework will not generally be accepted. 

Exceptionally, in the event that health conditions require it, non-presential evaluation methods may be included. In this case, the student body will be informed of the changes made.

Slides provided by the professors.