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2025-2026 / ENVT0069-2

Decentralised production and storage of energy

Duration

30h Th, 10h Pr

Number of credits

 Master in environmental sciences and management, professional focus4 crédits 
 Master in environmental sciences and management, professional focus (Codiplômation Université du Luxembourg)4 crédits 

Lecturer

Vincent Hanus, Olivier Lottin, Sébastien Thomas

Coordinator

Sébastien Thomas

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

This learning unit handles three different domains:

  • fuel cells and hydrogen,
  • combined heat and power (cogeneration),
  • storage of electrical energy.
With regard to fuel cells, the concepts of electrochemistry and thermodynamics essential to understanding how they work are covered, with a quick extension to the basic principle of batteries. Hydrogen is presented from the perspective of production (electrolysis and reforming) as well as current and potential applications.

With regard to cogeneration, students learn to understand the differences between the technologies that can be implemented in order to achieve cost-effective designs.

With regard to electrical energy storage, students learn to understand its importance in reconciling variable production and consumption.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of this learning unit, the student will be able to:

  • establish the energy balance for electrochemical systems;
  • calculate functioning points of full cells or electrolisers;
  • design a cogeneration;
  • calculate the contribution of a storage solution for the grid.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Basis concepts of thermodynamics and balances.
Use of a spreadsheet (Excel).

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Theoretical presentations and projects for the cogeneration and storage sections.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

The slides are provided to the students after each lecture for the part about full cells & hydrogen.

The course notes are provided to the student on e-campus for the part about cogeneration and storage.

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

oral exam

Written work / report


Further information:

For fuel cells and hydrogen, the note is based on a written examination at the end of the term. The questions asked are similar to the exercises and examples covered in class.

A second note is given for the section on cogeneration and electrical energy storage based on a project with a written report (submitted before the start of the session) and an oral presentation (during the session). The project is assessed as follows:

  • 50% - Technical section: quality of calculations, methodological rigour, validity of assumptions.
  • 25% - Financial section: relevance of economic and financial analyses, soundness of assumptions.
  • 25% - Communication skills: quality of the oral presentation, clarity and structure of the written document, ability to convince.
The note is individual, even if the project is carried out in a team. It will be adjusted according to the involvement of each student, assessed in particular during follow-ups and the final presentation.

The note for the teaching unit is the average of the two notes obtained.

The same conditions apply in the second session. If the project is unsuccessful, a new study on a new subject may be requested: the teaching team will specify its expectations on the day the January session papers are reviewed.

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

Contacts

Storage part: Vincent Hanus
vincent.hanus@uliege.be
vincent.hanus@henallux.be
Bâtiment recherche-laboratoires
Aile A - 2e étage - 202
Tél.: +32 63 23 08 51
GSM: +32 493 63 27 09

Fuel cells and hydrogen: Olivier Lottin
Olivier.Lottin@uliege.be
Olivier.Lottin@univ-lorraine.fr
Tél.: +33 372 74 42 42

Combined heat and power part: Sébastien Thomas
sebastien.thomas@uliege.be
Tél.: +32497381444
Bâtiment recherche-laboratoires
Aile A - 2e étage - 206

Association of one or more MOOCs

There is no MOOC associated with this course.