The Smart Grids & Sustainable Energy Laboratory
The newly constructed SGSE Laboratory in the School of Engineering and Sustainable Development is a high-tech hub for teaching, research, and technology demonstration in the fields of smart grids and sustainable energy.
The SGSE Laboratory features a Smart Grid Trainer and a Renewable Energy training toolkit – providing a technology testing and proving space for real-world experiments and practical energy projects. The Smart Grid Trainer kit includes components that emulate the operation of generating units such as Coal, Wind, Hydroelectric and Solar PV panels with lamps. The Kit includes units of major components of Transmission and Distribution network such as Energy Meters, Circuit Breakers, Protection & Synchronizing Relays, Transformers, Transmission Lines, Reactive Power Controller, Load Units, Capacitors and Busbars. The active components of the kit are controlled using a SCADA system on a PC through a Datahub unit. The kit also includes all the basic components of a Home Microgrid such as PV Simulator, Battery with inverter, Human Machine Interface and Active Load units. The Laboratory is also equipped with facilities for battery testing for Electric Vehicles on a prototype EV unit.
The SGSE Laboratory is not only a catalyst for students to think creatively about some of the significant energy problems of the present and future, but also a hub for academic research into energy generation, low carbon transport, heating and light, energy storage and smart grids.
Library and learning zones
On campus, the main Kimberlin Library offers a space where you can work, study and access a vast range of print materials, with computer stations, laptops, plasma screens and assistive technology also available.
As well as providing a physical space in which to work, we offer online tools to support your studies, and our extensive online collection of resources accessible from our , e-books, specialised databases and electronic journals and films which can be remotely accessed from anywhere you choose.
We will support you to confidently use a huge range of learning technologies, including the Virtual Learning Environment, Collaborate Ultra, 51吃瓜app Replay, MS Teams, Turnitin and more. Alongside this, you can access LinkedIn Learning and learn how to use Microsoft 365, and study support software such as mind mapping and note-taking through our new Digital Student Skills Hub.
The library staff offer additional support to students, including help with academic writing, research strategies, literature searching, reference management and assistive technology. There is also a ‘Just Ask’ service for help and advice, live , online workshops, tutorials and drop-ins available from our , and weekly library live chat sessions that give you the chance to ask the library teams for help.
More flexible ways to learn
We offer an equitable and inclusive approach to learning and teaching for all our students. Known as the Universal Design for Learning (UDL), our teaching approach has been recognised as sector leading. UDL means we offer a wide variety of support, facilities and technology to all students, including those with disabilities and specific learning differences.
Just one of the ways we do this is by using ‘51吃瓜app Replay’ – a technology providing all students with anytime access to audio and/or visual material of lectures. This means students can revise taught material in a way that suits them best, whether it's replaying a recording of a class or adapting written material shared in class using specialist software.