Example environment dissertation topic 3:

A survey as to the feasibility of installing micro-wind turbines upon the roof of the Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham.

The Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) is the larger of the two NHS hospitals in Nottingham. In accordance with the targets set by the NHS, the hospital needs to achieve a 10% reduction in its carbon emissions by 2015 (NHS, 2009). One solution to meeting this is to change the hospital’s current fossil fuel dependency. Accordingly, this dissertation looks at the feasibility of installing micro-wind turbines on the roof of the QMC and the effect that this would have on both the hospital’s carbon emissions as well as its fuel bills. It features both secondary research, in the form of an extensive literature review, and primary research at the Girvan Community Hospital in Ayrshire.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Hirahara, H., Hossain, M.Z., Kawahashi, M. and Nonomura, Y. (2005). ‘Testing basic performance of a very small wind turbine designed for multi-purposes’, Renewable Energy, Vol. 30(8), pp. 1279-1297.
• Hopkins, W. (1999). ‘Small to medium size wind turbines: Local use of a local resource’, Renewable Energy. Vol. 16(1), pp. 944-947.
• NHS (National Health Service) Sustainable Development Unit (2009). NHS carbon reduction strategy for England. Cambridge: NHS Sustainable Development Unit.