CEM430: Urban Energy Systems

Module code: CEM430

Module provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment

Credits: 20

Level: 7

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Maria Vahdati, email: m.m.vahdati@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Rory Jones, email: r.v.jones@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 14 August 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The module aims to develop an awareness and knowledge of how a range of urban systems can be designed and operated sustainably. The module places sustainable development within a city-level context across building, district and city scales and considers how urban systems can be best managed at these scales. As a core module for the MSc Renewable Energy programme, a primary focus is placed on urban energy systems. The module will consider the potential impacts of emerging technologies, like alternative vehicles, energy storage and electricity based heating systems on urban energy systems. Particular attention is given to the rapidly changing role of energy distribution networks and power systems, including the emergence of smarter energy grids. In addition, wider urban systems, such as buildings, water, transport and waste, which are closely linked with energy use and introduce specific issues for sustainable urban development are discussed. Systems thinking approaches are introduced which have an evolving place in understanding and managing urban systems and sustainability.Ìý

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Apply systems thinking to urbanÌýsystems
2. Understand how sustainability may be integrated across scales (building, district and city level)
3. Describe the uniquely urban factors that impact on the sustainability of energy supply and the factors that limit sustainable energy generation capacity in urban systems
4. Describe alternative approaches for conveying energy to urban users to meet a variety of needs, including heating, transport and provision of electricity
5. Discuss the characteristics of typical renewable energy sources and demand sectors as well as options to improve balancing, such as energy storage and smarter energy grids
6. Understand how wider urban systems, such as buildings, water, transport and waste, impact urban energy and sustainability

Module content

• Urban systems, such as energy, buildings, transport, etc
• Urban characteristics and considerations with energy implications
• Energy variability and options for supply/ demand alignment including storage
• Developments in urban energy infrastructure, including alternative (non-electricity) energy vectors,e.g. gas, hydrogen and heat networks
• Smart grids
• Concepts of sustainable development and urban sustainability

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Alongside lectures and seminars, tutorials introduce techniques that are then explored further in the main assignment. Group investigations within the module delivery week provide additional engagement with the module content. A site visit will allow engagement with the energy industry.ÌýÌý

Study hours

At least 45 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The below information applies to all full time and flexible modular students on taught PGT programmes in SBE.Ìý

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline, excluding self-certified extensions): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Level 3 (i.e. foundation modules for Part 0) and Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline, excluding self-certified extensions), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline, excluding self-certified extensions): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline, excluding self-certified extensions): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline, excluding self-certified extensions): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to a self-certified extension, it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e. considered to be more that three calendar days late).

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Group work during the module week.ÌýÌý

Reassessment

Additional costs