Professional Certificate of Competency in Renewable Energy Systems

One topic is delivered per contact week.

Read more in the course outline.

Topic 1

Sustainable and Renewable Energy (RE)

1. Energy basics, pollution and greenhouse effect
2. Energy efficiency and renewable energy policy
3. Background and motivation for renewable energy
4. Tariffs for electricity and renewable energy
5. Renewable energy deployment policies

Topic 2

Types of Renewable Energy- Hydro

1. Introduction to hydroelectric power
2. Hydraulic engineering
3. Calculating the power generation potential of a water resource
4. Run-of-river schemes with particular reference to mini/micro hydro power plants
5. Types of water turbines and applications
6. Turbine selection criteria
7. Turbine efficiency and performance
8. Pumped storage option for demand management
9. Environmental problems posed by large hydropower plants
10. Reservoir-induced seismicity and seismic design considerations

Topic 3

Types of Renewable Energy- Geothermal and Fuel cell

1. Geothermal power extraction cycle
2. Equipment used in geo-thermal plants and special requirements
3. Hydrogen as a fuel
4. Fuel cells general principles and different types
5. Comparison of efficiencies and performance

Topic 4

Types of Renewable Energy- Biomass, Tidal and Wave energy

1. Ocean and wave energy plants
2. Tidal energy plants and their design features
3. Turbine types for use in tide basins
4. Biomass-types and ways of utilisation
5. Anaerobic digesters for animal and human waste
6. Biomass gasifiers for agro waste
7. Ethanol fuels from agro-products/by-products
8. Biofuels in liquid form (Bio-Diesel)

Topic 5

Types of Renewable Energy- Solar energy and Photovoltaic (PV)

1. Historical overview
2. Solar heat as an energy source
3. Power generation using steam generation units operating on solar heat
4. Photovoltaic basics
5. Modern PV cells
6. PV characteristics
7. Cell design
8. Maximising power output
9. Solar power module arrangement
10. Future of solar energy using polymer cells and transparent-coatings as solar power sources

Topic 6

Types of Renewable Energy- Wind energy

1. Historical overview
2. Wind power data collection and evaluation
3. Wind turbine technology options
4. Horizontal and vertical axis turbines
5. Turbine components
6. Wind turbine blade design
7. Turbine output calculation
8. Citing a wind farm for the maximum benefit
9. Wind farm site selection and environmental issues
10. Offshore wind turbine option

Topic 7

Power Electronics used for renewable energy (Solar and Wind)

1. Role of power electronics
2. Power electronics used in renewable (DC-DC Converters, active Filter, inverters)
3. Complete Solar system and components
4. Complete wind system and components

Topic 8

Renewable System Control and Modelling

Hydro:

1. Hydraulic structures and their function
2. Flow control methods
3.  Electrical generator and associated equipment for hydro-plants

Solar:

1. Tracking systems (single and dual axis)
2. Maximum power point tracking in solar generation
3. A complete solar system with inverter and storage battery

Wind:

1. Wind turbine control
2. Tower and turbine design
3. Types of generators used (Doubly Fed Induction Generator, synchronous)
4. Maximum power point tracking in wind generation

Topic 9

Distributed Generation, Storage and the Complete Renewable Energy Systems

1. Renewable energy for Distributed Generation (DG)
2. Storage as a key technology area for large scale deployment of renewable power sources
3. Different types of storage
4. Complete renewable energy-led systems

Topic 10

Renewable System Integration to Grid and Compliance with Grid

1. Grid connected solar systems
2. Grid connected wind power systems
3. Standards and requirements of grid connected systems (e.g. voltage, frequency, power factor etc.)

Topic 11

Microgrid, Smart Grids and the Economics of Renewable Energy (RE)

1. Cost of solar power
2. Cost of wind power
3. Techno-economic Investigation on Hydrogen production and utilization as a long-term energy storage solution
4. Energy economics and financial analysis
5. Introduction to microgrid and its relevance to DG and RE
6. Introduction to smart grids and its relevance to RE

Topic 12

Artificial Intelligence-AI (Machine Learning) in renewable energy generation, integration and optimization of renewable system operation

1. Use of AI in RE: (prediction, sizing, performance analysis, maintenance, protection, forecasting)
2. Overview of machine learning applied in Generation, Integration, Prediction