Program Overview

ELEC3203: Electricity Networks

Overview

Electric power systems are the backbone of modern civilisation, powering everything from our homes to the industries that sustain global economies. Electric power systems are also key enablers of widespread electrification. From integrating renewable energy sources to balancing supply and demand on a global scale, electric power systems lie at the heart of the energy transition. The topics covered in this unit will equip students to understand the technical, economic, and societal dimensions of electric power systems. Students will gain both a high-level overview and detailed analytical skills, preparing them to contribute to the electrification-driven energy transition—whether through immediate application or advanced study.

Topics Covered

The following specific topics are covered:

• analysis of three-phase circuits under balanced conditions
• synchronous generators
• transformers
• transmission lines
• switchgear
• power flow problem (nodal analysis, formulation of the power flow problem, Newton–Raphson method, applications, optimal power flow)
• electrical loads and the demand for electricity
• primary energy conversion
• electronic power conversion
• balancing load and generation
• electricity markets

Unit Details and Rules

Managing Faculty or University School

The managing faculty for this unit is the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, which is part of the Faculty of Engineering.

Details

• Study level: Undergraduate
• Academic unit: School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Credit points: 6

Enrolment Rules

• Prerequisites: None
• Corequisites: None
• Prohibitions: None
• Assumed knowledge: This unit of study assumes a competence in 1000 level MATH (in particular, the ability to work with complex numbers), in elementary circuit theory and in basic electromagnetics

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of this unit, students should be able to:

• Comprehend and explain the fundamental principles and functioning of electric power systems
• Apply circuit and phasor analysis techniques and the per-unit system to model and analyse balanced three-phase electric circuits
• Construct steady-state models of essential electric power system components, including transformers, transmission lines, and generators, to develop and evaluate a simple power system
• Formulate and solve the power flow problem using various methods and assess their effectiveness
• Understand and describe the fundamentals of electrical loads and electricity demand
• Explain the fundamental principles of primary energy conversion
• Explain the fundamentals of electronic power conversion
• Analyse the principles of load balancing and generation in power systems
• Examine the key principles governing electricity markets
• Effectively communicate scientific concepts through oral and written presentations
• Collaborate in teams for scientific investigations and the learning process

Unit Availability

This unit is available in various sessions, including:

• Semester 1 2025: Normal day, Camperdown / Darlington, Sydney
• Semester 1 2026: Normal day, Camperdown / Darlington, Sydney
• Previous years: Various sessions and locations, including remote attendance options