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This course is approved for 1 GBCI Continuation Education (CE) credits. After completing the course, you can report your credit towards LEED credential maintenance.

This course does a 360 degrees appraisal of 10 different RE technologies- diving into design requirements, applications, challenges, and zooms out to assess their global potential. Renewable energy has grown to 10.4% of the global energy mix with solar photovoltaic and wind emerging as the most preferred new energy installation types.

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This course is approved for 1 GBCI Continuation Education (CE) credits. After completing the course, you can report your credit towards LEED credential maintenance.

This course does a 360 degrees appraisal of 10 different RE technologies- diving into design requirements, applications, challenges, and zooms out to assess their global potential. Renewable energy has grown to 10.4% of the global energy mix with solar photovoltaic and wind emerging as the most preferred new energy installation types.

Anybody keen on gaining a comprehensive overview of RE in the global context will find this course informative and insightful.

At the end of the course, you will be able to recognize different RE installations, their design criteria as well as challenges involved. You will be able to critically examine policy measures supporting the rapid transition to RE across the world.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • You will be able to discuss potential of renewable sources in meeting future energy demand
  • You will be able to list different renewable energy (re) sources and their applications
  • You will be able to recognize challenges of renewable energy transition
  • You will be able to identify countries and projects leading re energy transition

Syllabus

Introduction
Current status and trends
solar energy
Wind energy
Read more
Bioenergy
Geothermal energy
Hydro Energy
Report your scores to us. Scores of 80% and above will earn you 0.5 CE hours.
End of course Quiz

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Approved for GBCI Continuing Education credits, which may be valuable for professionals maintaining LEED credentials
Explores ten different renewable energy technologies, offering a comprehensive overview of their design, applications, and challenges
Assesses the global potential of renewable energy, which has grown to over 10% of the global energy mix
Examines policy measures supporting the transition to renewable energy worldwide, which is relevant for policy makers and energy professionals
Provides a 360-degree appraisal of renewable energy technologies, which may be useful for those seeking a broad understanding
Covers solar, wind, bioenergy, geothermal, and hydro energy, which are the most common sources of renewable energy

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Renewable Energy with these activities:
Review Basic Physics Concepts
Reinforce foundational physics concepts like energy, power, and thermodynamics to better understand the principles behind renewable energy technologies.
Show steps
  • Review textbook chapters on energy and power.
  • Solve practice problems related to energy conversion.
  • Watch introductory videos on thermodynamics.
Review 'Renewable Energy: Power for a Sustainable Future'
Gain a deeper understanding of renewable energy technologies and their applications by studying a comprehensive textbook.
Show steps
  • Read chapters related to solar, wind, and bioenergy.
  • Take notes on key concepts and technologies.
  • Research case studies mentioned in the book.
Review 'Sustainable Energy - Without the Hot Air'
Gain a quantitative understanding of sustainable energy options and critically examine the potential of different renewable energy sources.
Show steps
  • Read chapters on energy consumption and production.
  • Analyze the data and calculations presented in the book.
  • Discuss the book's findings with peers.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Create a Presentation on a Renewable Energy Technology
Solidify your understanding of a specific renewable energy technology by researching and presenting its design, applications, and challenges.
Browse courses on Solar Energy
Show steps
  • Choose a renewable energy technology to focus on.
  • Research the technology's design and applications.
  • Prepare a presentation with visuals and key information.
  • Present your findings to peers or colleagues.
Compile a List of Leading Renewable Energy Projects
Deepen your understanding of real-world applications by compiling a list of leading renewable energy projects around the world, noting their scale, technology, and impact.
Show steps
  • Research renewable energy projects in different countries.
  • Gather information on project scale and technology.
  • Summarize the impact of each project.
  • Organize the information into a report or database.
Design a Small-Scale Renewable Energy System
Apply your knowledge by designing a small-scale renewable energy system for a specific application, considering design requirements and challenges.
Browse courses on System Design
Show steps
  • Define the energy needs of a specific application.
  • Select appropriate renewable energy technologies.
  • Design the system and calculate energy output.
  • Evaluate the system's feasibility and cost.

Career center

Learners who complete Renewable Energy will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Project Developer
A Project Developer identifies and develops new renewable energy projects. This course may be helpful for an individual seeking to take on a project developer role. The course's discussion of different renewable energy technologies, their applications, and challenges will be useful in identifying viable projects. The course's overview of the global landscape of renewable energy development will give project developers important perspectives for their work. Specifically, the course focuses on design requirements for various RE systems, which are useful to a developer.
Renewable Energy Project Manager
A Renewable Energy Project Manager oversees the planning and execution of renewable energy projects. This course helps to build a foundation for those looking for this kind of role. The course's discussion of various RE technologies, their design criteria, and implementation challenges is relevant. This individual may also be involved in policy and market trends, which this course covers. The course's focus on global renewable energy transition will help a renewable energy project manager understand the global market context.
Energy Policy Consultant
An Energy Policy Consultant advises governments on energy policy. A career track as a policy consultant may be a good fit and this course may be helpful. This course may help those who want to start a policy consultant career. The course's discussion of various renewable energy technologies, their design criteria, and applications will inform policy analysis. It also covers the global potential of these technologies and policy measures, which may help a policy consultant in their duties. An individual will find themselves better prepared to advise their clients with the knowledge they learned from this course.
Corporate Sustainability Officer
A Corporate Sustainability Officer integrates sustainability practices into business operations, and this course may be useful to someone interested in this role. The course's discussion of renewable energy technologies, their applications, and challenges will be useful when implementing corporate sustainability initiatives. The course will help the Corporate Sustainability Officer to understand the big picture context of global trends and how they may apply to a corporation. The course may also help them create corporate strategies involving renewable energy use.
Climate Change Analyst
A Climate Change Analyst researches the impacts of climate change and recommends solutions. This course may be useful to someone who wants to be a climate change analyst. The course's discussion of renewable energy technologies and their potential to reduce emissions is highly relevant to this role. In addition, the course's discussion of policy measures and global trends will be useful. Furthermore, the course's 360 overview of renewable tech may be useful in an analyst's work.
Environmental Policy Analyst
An Environmental Policy Analyst evaluates the effectiveness of environmental policies, including those related to renewable energy. This course may be useful to someone interested in this role. The course's critical examination of policy measures supporting renewable energy transitions will help provide the necessary background for the policy analyst. The course's overview of different RE technologies and their challenges will help inform policy recommendations. Furthermore, the course's discussion of global RE trends may be helpful in addressing policy goals on international levels.
Energy Analyst
An Energy Analyst assesses energy markets and trends, and this course may be useful to someone interested in this role. They often analyze renewable energy projects and their potential to contribute to the energy mix, which is a key focus of this course. The course explores various renewable energy technologies, their applications, and challenges, which is a central task of this role. The course's coverage of global renewable energy trends, and policy measures may be useful to an energy analyst to support their work.
Urban Planner
An Urban Planner designs and develops urban spaces, often with sustainable goals in mind, and this course may be useful to someone interested in this role. The knowledge of renewable energy technologies, their applications, and challenges of implementing them will help the urban planner incorporate RE solutions into city planning, and consider urban form and design in their planning. The course's discussion about the design criteria for the various renewable energy systems will aid in their design work. The discussion of the global markets and policy will also help with planning solutions.
Sustainability Consultant
A Sustainability Consultant helps organizations adopt environmentally responsible practices, and this course may be useful to someone interested in this role. This role often involves advising on renewable energy integration, and the course's overview of various RE technologies, their design requirements, and challenges directly applies to this work. The course's focus on global renewable energy trends also provides the necessary information to inform decisions. This course may aid in helping a sustainability consultant understand the technical and practical aspects of transitioning to and using renewable energy sources, especially when working directly with their clients.
Renewable Energy Sales Representative
A Renewable Energy Sales Representative markets and sells renewable energy products and services. This course may be helpful for such a representative. The course's overview of different renewable energy technologies, their applications, and challenges provides a valuable base of knowledge for someone who will be representing these products and services. The course's discussion of global renewable energy transition and market trends may help the sales representative in their work. The knowledge of design requirements is also valuable.
Energy Auditor
An Energy Auditor assesses energy usage in buildings, and may also make energy-saving recommendations. This course may help someone who is interested in this role. This course introduces the various different renewable energy options that are available. A comprehensive knowledge of renewable energy types will inform an auditor in their recommendations of solutions. Moreover, this course helps an energy auditor understand how renewable energy applies to global contexts.
Wind Energy Technician
A Wind Energy Technician installs and maintains wind turbine systems. This course may be helpful to those interested in this role. Although the course does not focus on the technical aspects of installation, the overview of wind energy design, applications and global trends directly applies. The course's discussion of the challenges of renewable energy transition will help a wind energy technician understand the larger context of their work. An individual can further improve their practice with a firm understanding of the various design criteria discussed in this course.
Solar Energy Technician
A Solar Energy Technician installs and maintains solar energy systems. This course may be useful for those wanting to take on this role. While the course does not focus on the technical aspects of installation, the overview of solar energy design, applications and global trends directly applies. The course's discussion of the challenges of renewable energy transition also helps a solar energy technician understand the larger context of their work. An individual can further improve their practice with a firm understanding of the various design criteria discussed in this course.
Environmental Educator
An Environmental Educator develops and delivers programs to raise awareness about environmental issues. This course may be helpful to someone who wants to be an environmental educator. The course's comprehensive overview of various renewable energy technologies and their potential to meet future energy demands may be useful for an educator. The course's discussion of global trends and challenges within the renewable energy sector is also valuable. An environmental educator can use the knowledge gained from this course to teach about how to transition to renewable energy.
Research Scientist
A Research Scientist conducts research on renewable energy technologies. A career path as a research scientist typically requires a master's or PhD, and this course may help someone interested in beginning their career as an academic. While the course does not focus on in-depth research methods, the broad overview of various RE technologies and their current state is relevant to research work. The course's exploration of various RE design requirements will also help the scientist in a research setting. The course may help a research scientist understand the current trends and what solutions they should pursue.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Renewable Energy.
Provides a comprehensive overview of renewable energy technologies, covering the scientific, engineering, and social aspects. It serves as an excellent reference for understanding the technical details and challenges associated with each renewable energy source. The book is commonly used as a textbook in renewable energy courses and offers in-depth knowledge beyond the scope of the course. It is particularly helpful for understanding the design criteria and applications of different RE installations.
Provides a quantitative analysis of sustainable energy options, focusing on the numbers and avoiding hype. It is valuable for critically examining the potential of different renewable energy sources and understanding the scale of the energy transition. This book adds breadth to the course by providing a realistic perspective on the challenges and opportunities in the renewable energy sector. It is helpful for understanding the policy measures supporting the rapid transition to RE across the world.

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