In recent years, the UK government set out a range important sustainability documents from ‘Clean growth strategy-2017’ (Ref.1.), to the ‘net zero strategy (Ref.4.), all which aims for a temperature rise below 2°C
LO1 Determine the nature and scope of the technical challenges of ensuring sustainable development Centre No: 04943
Technical Education Centre for Online Learning
Assessment Brief (Learner to fill in all parts highlighted in yellow)
E5018: Sustainability Technical challenges & infrastructure Programme Title:
BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma Engineering: General / Mechanical / Electrical & Electronic/ Manufacturing, Pathways
Programme No:
HMHB7, HMHC2, HMHB5
Unit Number and Title:
E5018: Sustainability
Edexcel Unit Code:
Y/615/1519
Coursework Title:
Technical challenges & infrastructure
Coursework Number:
E5018A1
Date downloaded*
Duration (weeks)
2 form +3 sum.
Student Name
Assessor
No
Assessment learning outcomes covered
Formative
Submission
Grade / Date Achieved
Summative Submission
Resubmission
Y/N?
01
Determine the nature and scope of the technical challenges of ensuring sustainable development
02
Articulate the importance of collaborating with other disciplines in developing technical solutions to sustainability problems
Scenario: You have been appointed as an assistant research engineer to investigate the climate change - technical challenges and solutions faced by UK and to allow your company prepare for the future.
Evidence you must produce for this assignment: Written report with appropriate examples.
Sources of information: Unit E5018 course notes sections 1 and 2. FENNER, A. and AINGER, C. (2013) Sustainable Infrastructures: Principles into Practice. ICE Publishing.
BOYLE, G. (2012) Energy Systems and Sustainability: Power for a Sustainable Future. Oxford University
Ref.1. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/clean-growth-strategy
Ref.2. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/25-year-environment-plan
Ref.3. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environment-bill-2020
Ref.4 net-zero-strategy-beis.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Ref.5. British energy security strategy - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Ref.6. Energy Trends: September 2025 - GOV.UK
Government information material is regularly updated and is required to complete assessment tasks, also keep up to date with the latest information from .gov.uk website (to check that it’s the latest).
Submission guidelines: 1. Formative submission: Based on further guidance from Pearson; formative feedback will no longer give detailed feedback against each question part. Instead, we will indicate if your work is ‘on track’ and suitable for summative submission. Formative submission details can be found in your HN learner handbook.
The minimum requirement to obtain formative feedback shall be the submission of work within the duration period indicated above, otherwise the submission will be treated as summative feedback. (No copy of the assessment will be returned for this stage). *The duration period starts from the date of your download from Moodle.
2. Summative submission: Your assessor recommends that you now consider the formative feedback (if provided) as a way to best shape your work in preparation for your summative submission, which is normally 3 weeks after formative feedback has been provided.
3. Resubmission: The assessment board (at the discretion of the assessor) will permit only one opportunity to resubmit your summative submission if required, within 3 weeks of summative submission feedback. Note in this case the assessment grade will be capped at a maximum of pass grade if successful
Coursework
Internal Verifier : Sign
(G Tweed)
Date
(revision)
27/2/26
(r2026a)
Assessment Record Sheet
Learner to fill in on Formative submission: Ref no.
Evidence submitted (e.g. written report, calculation, file name).
Ref no.
Evidence submitted (e.g. written report, calculation, file name).
Please carefully read the submission guideline 1; you can also add additional comments here.
Learner Declaration on submission
I certify that the evidence submitted for this assignment is my own. I have clearly referenced any sources used in the work. I understand that false declaration is a form of malpractice.
Learner Signature.
Date.
Assessor to fill in on Formative submission: Formative feedback:
Has an extension to the deadline been approved by the Assessor due to extenuating circumstances?
Assessor Declaration on submission
I certify that the evidence submitted for this assignment is the learner’s own. If it is not their own work, then this is clearly explained and detailed in the feedback and comments above
Assessor Signature.
Date.
Learner to fill in on Summative submission: Ref no.
Evidence submitted (e.g. written report, calculation, file name).
Ref no.
Evidence submitted (e.g. written report, calculation, file name).
Please carefully read the submission guideline2; you can also add additional comments here.
Learner Declaration on submission
I certify that the evidence submitted for this assignment is my own. I have clearly referenced any sources used in the work. I understand that false declaration is a form of malpractice.
Learner Signature.
Date.
Assessor to fill in on Summative submission: Ref no.
Assessor comment
Ref no.
Assessor comment
General feedback:
Assessor Declaration on submission
I certify that the evidence submitted for this assignment is the learner’s own. If it is not their own work, then this is clearly explained and detailed in the feedback and comments above
Assessor Signature.
Date.
3. Learner to fill in on Resubmission: Ref no.
Evidence submitted
(e.g. written report, calculation, file name).
Ref no.
Evidence submitted
(e.g. written report, calculation, file name).
Please carefully read the submission guideline 3; you can also add additional comments here
Learner Declaration on resubmission
I certify that the evidence submitted for this assignment is my own. I have clearly referenced any sources used in the work. I understand that false declaration is a form of malpractice.
Learner Signature.
Date.
3. Assessor to fill in on Resubmission: Ref no.
Assessor comment
Ref no.
Assessor comment
General feedback:
Does the learner need to attempt an assessment Retake? Y/N
Date of Retake:
Assessor Declaration on resubmission
I certify that the evidence submitted for this assignment is the learner’s own. If it is not their own work, then this is clearly explained and detailed in the feedback and comments above
Assessor Signature.
Date.
Sample Type:
(First or resubmission)
Samples IV Signature:
Date:
Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria LO1 Determine the nature and scope of the technical challenges of ensuring sustainable development
P1 Determine the nature and scope of the technical challenges of ensuring sustainable development, considering environmental, resource and demand issues
M1 Review existing sustainable development plans to identify the way technical challenges are met and overcome
D1 Critically analyse how the interrelationship between the three key areas of technical challenges can be managed systemically to ensure maximum sustainability
LO2 Articulate the importance of collaborating with other disciplines in developing technical solutions to sustainability problems
P2 Articulate the interdisciplinary issues associated with the construction of sustainable infrastructures, with attention to the competing pressures within these infrastructures
M2 Analyse how political and economic issues can impact upon technical solutions
D2 Critically analyse how a systemic approach can be used to support interdisciplinary collaboration in developing sustainable infrastructures
Assessment Submission Guidelines: Please follow the instructions listed on Moodle ensuring you avoid plagiarism and include cited referencing as per your HN referencing guide where appropriate. Assessment procedures are also detailed in HN learner handbook As your study is on-line and is not classroom based, it is recommended that you submit a copy of your work after completing at least ‘part a’ of each activity, which will receive formative feedback advice but will not be graded.
Most HN questions and units are not about repeating or summarising your notes or documents, but applying those to a sector, case study or examples, to demonstrate your understanding of the topic. Answers should be structured so that there is an introduction of what you are investigating ‘e.g. zero carbon applied to the transport sector’, then your analysis, and ideally a conclusion.
Using the formative feedback provided, you can then proceed to submit your assessment for summative feedback and grading. Part b fully develops the learning outcome and can be submitted at formative or summative stage.
All answers must be your own worK
In recent years, the UK government set out a range important sustainability documents from ‘Clean growth strategy-2017’ (Ref.1.), to the ‘net zero strategy (Ref.4.), all which aims for a temperature rise below 2°C from preindustrial levels. These forms the basis for the UK to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Although a significant reduction has been achieved, many technical challenges still exist, which your company should be aware of.
Part 1a) –Technical challenges Researching the above sources and the ‘net zero strategy’ in particular, determine and report on the nature and scope of the UK technical challenges of meeting future sustainable development plans, by considering the Transport sectors the issues concerning:
The environment UK resources/supply and demand. Guidance 1a: this needs to be focused on technical issues the UK will face. Example: Transport – motor vehicles: nature and scope of technical challenges to move to electrical vehicles and alternative modes of transport and work locations. The resource/supply includes sufficient EV and battery manufacturing base to make the vehicles and convenient fast charging points. Consider the whole transport sector which includes buses, trains and planes that may look to other sustainable energy sources such as hydrogen. Approx 800 words with cited referencing.
Part 1b) From the sources above, write a formal report for the Buildings or Industry sectors that:
reviews existing sustainable development plans to identify the way, how technical challenges are being met and overcome. To ensure maximum sustainability, develop your report to critically analyse:
the interrelationship between power, industry and transport how the technical challenges from these three interrelated sectors can be managed systemically. Guidance Cite reference your report and if appropriate use diagrams and examples with of around 1500 words to support your report.
Part 2a) – Infrastructure and interdisciplinary issues Many issues in modern days such as climate change are interdisciplinary in nature. With examples from the Power sector, the latest government strategy and energy trends write a report that:
Articulates the interdisciplinary issues associated with the construction of sustainable infrastructures. Pay attention to the competing pressures within these infrastructures. Guidance 2a: Discuss how various disciplines (e.g. finance, engineering, social, planning, government, users) could work together to develop an appropriate sustainable infrastructure. The infrastructure starts with the renewable generation trends, a reliable transmission and distribution grid infrastructure feeding from these locations. Also the technical challenges of mixing Nuclear and gas (centralised) and wind and solar (decentralised) generation in the short term and remavl of fossil power station in the longer term. Approx 800 words with supporting examples and cited referencing.
Part 2b) From the above sources and with examples, write a report that analyses how political and economic issues can impact upon technical solutions for carbon capture and storage (CCS) schemes.
Based on the UK approach, develop your report to also critically analyse how a systemic approach can be used to support interdisciplinary collaboration in developing sustainable infrastructures for distributed generation and the smart grid.
Guidance: With around 1500 words; clearly layout your evaluation and cite reference your work with supporting evidence such as examples of CCS projects. Consider the development and problems with distributed energy sources as caused by renewables (i.e. less use of large, centralised power stations) that are also intermittent is missing and how an interdisplinary approach between the two, work, is missing. (6-800 words)
