Course description

This course caters to Engineers, Technicians, Facilities Managers, Energy Professionals, Architects and others who are interested in enhancing their understanding of renewable energy, and would like to learn about methods, best practices and strategies for selection of the most suitable renewable energy alternative, with technical, geographic and financial feasibility in mind. Introduction to a few important fundamentals of energy and the “grid” sets the tone for better comparison of current source of energy with optimal renewable energy alternative. Importance of the concept of most direct application of renewable source to the final energy demand point is highlighted. After the introduction, this seminar dives into some of the more proven and mainstream renewable energy topics. Current footprint and relative cost differences between some of the major renewable energy systems are examined. Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats pertaining to some of the mainstream renewable energy solutions are discussed.
Some of the cutting edge, and yet unproven, renewable energy systems are introduced. The discussion on the topic of renewable energy is sustained by diagrams, schematics and pictures pertaining to major renewable energy systems.

Learning Objectives -Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Perform technical/engineering and cost comparisons between energy obtained from the grid versus the energy harnessed from renewable sources.Identify and quantify technical and financial benefits of renewable energy systems.
• Specify and implement renewable energy systems that leverage direct application of renewable energy sources to the point of use, thus maximizing the efficiency and net benefit of renewable energy systems.
• Examine and assess alternative renewable energy technologies on the basis of physics and engineering principles. Assess the performance of renewable energy systems on the basis of physics and engineering equations that correlate physical parameters to the power and energy output of wind turbines. These equations serve as tools in design, analysis, suitable location selection and application of wind turbines. Utilize physics and engineering principles and equations to evaluate the performance of hydroelectric turbines.
• Evaluate technical/engineering strengths and weaknesses of major renewable energy technologies like: hydroelectric, tidal, wave, wind, geothermal, solar heat, solar light, solar PV, solar chimney and biomass.
• Follow progress on some of the major, more recent, notable renewable projects in the world. Benefit from the
  lessons on these projects in avoiding pitfalls in the design/specification of renewable energy systems.
• Identify some of the more unbiased and reliable technical and commercial information sources in the renewable energy arena; thus, staying abreast of progress and current data in the renewable energy realm, beyond this seminar.

Topics:

1. Energy Facts
2. Energy Basics
3. Electricity Basics
4. Electrical Bill Calculation and Load Factor
5. Overview of Renewable Energy Technologies
6. Hydroelectric Power
7. Tidal Energy
8. Wind Energy
9. Geothermal Energy Technology
10. Solar Technologies
11. Solar Heating
12. Solar Heat –Renewable Electrical Energy Technologies
13. Photovoltaic Renewable Energy
14. Major Solar Energy Projects –Domestic and International
15. Biomass Renewable Energy Technologies
16. Emerging Renewable Energy Technologies
17. Financial Justification and Implementation of Energy Projects
18. Renewable Energy Information Sources