MSc in Green Technology (Energy)

The aim of our programme is to train technologists in the area of science and technology. We also see an importance in the graduates’ ability to understand and appreciate the implication of the technologies on society. To this end, elective courses that focus on the impact of green technology on social and economic issues are also offered. To stimulate and enhance student learning, we have an experimental laboratory course besides the in-depth independent project all students must complete to graduate.

Graduation Requirements:

The courses are 3-unit each and students need to take a total of 30 units for graduation. The degree of Master of Science in Green Technology (Energy) shall be rewarded to students who have satisfactorily completed all the course requirements. To fulfill graduation requirements, students should obtain Grade C- or above in all courses; and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above.

One-year Full-time or Two-year Part-time

Full-time (1 year):

Part-time (2 years):

*The offer of courses depend on the resources and manpower

Seminars: Seminars given by invited speakers from outside institutions and industries will be organized frequently. Students will be inspired on the most frontier research and latest developments in green technology.

Dissertation: The MSc Dissertation will be submitted in the last semester as an essential part of the course. This is where students demonstrate their mastery of integrating theories and concepts with practical applications to solve real-world problems.

Site Visits: Students will gain practical insight from green energy practitioners or experts by visiting green-tech related industrial sites or relevant departments in government (E.g. Daya Bay Nuclear Power Station, Zero Carbon Building, EMSD Education Path, etc.) to broaden their horizon and industrial network.

Core Courses:

PHYS7320 Renewable Energy Technologies I

After completion of this course, students will learn (i) the origin of renewable energy; (ii) solar energy; (iii) working principle of inorganic and organic solar cells; and (iv) materials science and characterization methods of solar cells.

PHYS7330 Renewable Energy Technologies II

After completion of this course, students will learn (i) the origin of renewable energy flow; (ii) individual renewable energy sources, including solar radiation, wind, ocean waves, water flows and tides, heat flows and stored heat, biomass,; (iii) large scale energy conversion processes; and (iv) Power transmission and energy storage technologies.

PHYS7340 Renewable Energy Technologies III

After completion of this course, students will learn the following: (i) Renewable energy system analysis; (ii) harvesting parasitic energy in daily life; (iii) Harvesting chemical energy; and (iv) energy conservation.

PHYS7360 Green Laboratory

This laboratory course uses personal mobile devices (eg. Android and iOS) as a scientific tool for energy and environmental related experimental measurements and characterizations.

PHYS7371 / PHYS7372 Project in Green Technology I/II

The objective of the course is to enable students to develop mastery of energy harvesting concepts. Students are expected to perform a highly independent work. After completion of this course, they will be able to demonstrate their mastery of course materials and apply what they have learnt in implementing practical problems. Students may propose a topic or select a project from a list of topics provided by the Department.

Elective Courses:

PHYS7410 Physics for Green Technology

This course covers the physics for green technology and environmental science, including classical and fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, electrostatics and electricity, magnetism, optics, and modern physics.

PHYS7420 Energy Usage, the Environment and Sustainability

This course allows students to comprehend the significance of energy sources, their capacity, security, costs and their effects on the environment. The energy production and economic distinction between non-renewable (e.g. coal, gas, oil and nuclear fuel) and renewable sources (e.g. wood, biomass, hydro, solar, wind, geothermal and ocean) upon amongst different countries will be explored. In addition, an examination on the role of nuclear energy and its concerns in radiation, spent fuel waste disposal and safety issue are addressed.

PHYS7350 Smart and Remote Sensing

To provide the knowledge of smart (microcontrollers, smart sensors, IoT) and remote sensing (EM radiation method), instrumentation, data inversion and retrieval algorithm for energy management and environmental monitoring. After completion of this course, students will learn (i) integration of smart sensors, microcontroller interfacing, and mobile device interface , (ii) principles of radiation and energy transfer in the atmosphere, (iii) measurement techniques of atmospheric parameters and constituents, (iv) satellite and remote sensing instrumentation, and (v) data inversion methodology and algorithms for both energy management and environmental monitoring.

PHYS7430 Introduction to Modern Materials

This course aims to provide a broad base on properties of modern materials and their applications. Topics cover structure, properties and functionality of materials. Examples are metals, ceramics, polymers and semiconductors.

PHYS7440 Principles of Optoelectronics

This course aims to provide a broad base on optoelectronic properties of semiconductors and device applications. Topics cover surface and interface of semiconductors, optical properties of semiconductors, light generation in semiconductors and applications.

PHYS7450 Principles of Photonic Physics

This is an introduction into advanced topics in propagation of electromagnetic waves in a medium and interaction of electromagnetic waves with matter. Topics cover includes derivation of optical constants such as susceptibility and dielectric constants, absorption, scattering and refraction.

PHYS7460 Advances in Displays and Lighting

This course provides students an insight on understanding the principles of displays and lighting that are widely used for application in mobile appliance, automotive lighting, traffic signals, signage, LCD backlighting, advanced displays and solid-state lighting.

PHYS7470 Energy Audit and Management

This is an inter-disciplinary training course preparing for a capability development in energy audit and management. The problem-solving skills and collective knowledge of science and technology in energy management are also available to help students to prepare for professional certification examinations, e.g., the certified energy manager (CEM) under the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), USA. The course covers the latest energy cost reduction techniques in commercial building and the manufacturing industries. The training focuses on the technology, the economics, the policies and the regulations for effective energy management.

PHYS7480 Flexible Electronics

This interdisciplinary course describes the fundamentals of organic semiconductor materials, molecular design, synthesis, material processes, discusses the operation principle of flexible electronic devices, enables students to become familiar with relevant terminology and be aware of the latest progresses in the emerging field of flexible electronics, including functional organic semiconductors for applications in solar cells, transistors, sensors, advanced flat panel displays, and next generation solid state lighting etc.

PHYS7540 Advanced Topics in Energy Studies

This course educates students in (a) interactions among energy, economy, and environment; (b) energy market organisation, regulation and deregulation; (c) energy demand, pricing, investment, supply and costs; (d) energy efficiency, conservation and demand management; and (e) risk management, energy security, emissions control, and renewable energy development.

PHYS7550 Smart Grids and Sustainable Power Systems

After completion of this course, students will learn (i) introductory concepts to low carbon power system operation and economics; (ii) concepts of sustainability and emissions; (iii) application and integration of distributed energy resources; (iv) fundamentals of smart grids and low carbon technologies; (v) system level integration challenges for renewables; and (vi) methods of active network management.