ENERGY, WATER AND WASTES

Code: PAO13419O

6 ECTS

Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours

Scientific Area: Environment and Ecology Sciences

Teaching languages: Portuguese

Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese

Presentation

The contents taught are related with the generation and rational use of energy, including renewable energies, with the treatment of water and its quality, and with the characterization, separation and treatment of waste. These are key areas for a sustainable development.

Sustainable Development Goals

4. Educação de qualidade - Assegurar a educação inclusiva, e equitativa e de qualidade, e promover oportunidades de aprendizagem ao longo da vida para todos.

6. Água potável e saneamento - Garantir disponibilidade e manejo sustentável da água e saneamento para todos.

7. Energias renováveis e acessíveis - Garantir acesso à energia barata, confiável, sustentável e renovável para todos.

13. Ação climática - Tomar medidas urgentes para combater a mudança climática e seus impactos (*).

Learning Goals

Provide knowledge on the theoretical background of the curricular unit and the understanding of the problems existing in the areas of energy, water and wastes in tropical regions. Develop the ability of students to integrate and make autonomous use of this knowledge. Develop the students' ability to work on complex phenomena, issues and situations in these areas, and develop the students' potential for professional activities that demand considerable autonomy, including research and development activities. Develop students skills to critically analyse the possible solutions to the existing problems, evaluating the pros and cons, and defining the most appropriate alternatives considering the opportunities and constraints

Energy: Sources, power plants and environmental impacts. Energy demand. Hydroelectricity, thermal power plants, solar thermal SWH and photovoltaic energy, small and medium scale solutions and distributed production, biomass and the importance of reducing the wood consumption.

Water: Sources and uses. Water characterization and quality. Main water treatment processes and operations. Stages of water treatment. Water storage and distribution.

Wastewater: Water pollutants. Sources, fate and pollutants impact in the aquatic environment. Wastewater types and characterization. Main wastewater treatment processes and operations. Stages of wastewater treatment and low-maintenance, cost-effective solutions suited for the tropics. Wastewater reclamation and reuse. Sludge treatment, reuse and disposal.

Solid wastes: the domestic waste composition, the decomposition process of organic wastes and environmental risks; waste management; separation, composting; landfills.