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Exploring Renewable Energy Schemes
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 15 hours
  • Course by University of Pennsylvania
  • Offered by

About

What do you picture when you hear the term “renewable energy?” Do you imagine fields of solar panels, giant windmills, or huge hydroelectric dams? Those are all examples of large-scale, grid-tied systems. In this course, we’ll go much smaller and focus on off-grid, stand-alone systems. We will explore the key components of photovoltaic, wind, and hydroelectric systems. We will examine photovoltaic, or PV, system components, and the scientific laws essential to understanding how renewable energy systems work. We will discuss wind energy and low-head hydroelectric systems, focusing on small-scale implementations. During our exploration of these systems, we will focus on safety and regulating bodies that guide proper system design. Throughout the course, you will be able to apply what you’re learning by conducting an energy audit to analyze power consumption, identifying essential system components of small-scale systems, building a budget for a small-scale system design, and creating a design for implementing a small-scale system.

Modules

1.1 Getting Started

    • 1 Videos
    • 4 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Welcome to Exploring Renewable Energy Schemes

4 Readings

  • Start Here: What You Need to Know
  • Participating in Discussions
  • About Dr. Santiago
  • Optional: Pre-Course Survey

1.2 Why Explore Renewable Energy?

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Benefits and Costs of Renewable Energy Schemes

2 Readings

  • Why Is It Important to Study Renewables?
  • What to Expect in Module 1

1.3 The Solar Spectrum, Stefan Boltzmann Law, and Wien’s Displacement Law

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Check Your Knowledge: Solar Spectrum, Stefan Boltzmann Law, and Wien’s Displacement Law

1 Videos

  • The Importance of The Solar Spectrum, the Stefan Boltzmann Law and Wien’s Displacement Law

2 Readings

  • Radiation from the Sun: Our Source of Energy
  • (Suggested) Examples Using the Stefan Boltzmann Law and the Wien Displacement Law

1.4 Solar Panel Orientation

    • 2 Videos
    • 2 Readings
Show info about module content

2 Videos

  • The Roles of Direct Beam Radiation and Diffuse Radiation
  • Panel Orientation in the Real World

2 Readings

  • Thinking about Panel Orientation
  • (Suggested) Tips for Finding the Optimum Tilt Angle

1.5 Apply What You Learned

    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Module 1 Quiz

1 Discussions

  • Finding the Optimum Tilt Angle in Your Location

2.1 Establishing a Foundation: Photovoltaic Basics

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Check Your Knowledge: Photovoltaic Basics

2 Videos

  • Overview of a Simple Photovoltaic System
  • Exploring Photovoltaic Materials and Semiconductor Physics

1 Readings

  • What to Expect in Module 2

2.2 Exploring Solar Cells

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • A Closer Look at a Photovoltaic Cell

1 Readings

  • (Suggested) Photovoltaic Solar Cells

2.3 Increasing Power

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Check Your Knowledge: I-V Curve and Maximum Power Point

2 Videos

  • Increasing the Power of Solar Cells
  • Figuring Out How Much Power Is Delivered

1 Readings

  • (Suggested) Solar Panel Characteristics: Current, Voltage and Power Curves of a Solar (PV) Panel

2.4 Apply What You Learned

    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Module 2 Quiz

1 Discussions

  • Exploring the Benefits of Renewables

3.1 It's About the Battery!

    • 2 Videos
    • 3 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Check Your Knowledge: Charge Controllers

2 Videos

  • Charge Controllers and Inverters in Simple Photovoltaic Systems
  • Enhancing Battery Life

3 Readings

  • What to Expect in Module 3
  • (Suggested) Solar Charge Controllers: All You Need To Know
  • (Suggested) Installation Considerations: Reviewing the Codes

3.2 Inverters and Power Optimizers

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

1 Videos

  • Integrating Inverters

1 Readings

  • Adding Power Optimizers

3.3 Apply What You Learned

    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Module 3 Quiz

1 Discussions

  • What’s Your Consumption?

4.1 Bringing It All Together

    • 2 Videos
    • 3 Readings
Show info about module content

2 Videos

  • Reviewing the Components
  • Balance of System

3 Readings

  • What to Expect in Module 4
  • (Suggested) Stand Alone PV System
  • (Suggested) Balance of System Equipment Required for Renewable Energy Systems

4.2 Designing for Efficiency

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Check Your Knowledge: System Components

1 Videos

  • Figuring Out What You Need

1 Readings

  • (Suggested) Five Steps to Correctly Size your Own Solar Array

4.3 Thinking Through Design

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

3 Videos

  • Designing a System
  • Design Example
  • Understanding Regulations

1 Readings

  • (Suggested) Planning for Home Renewable Energy Systems

4.4 Apply What You Learned

    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Module 4 Quiz

1 Discussions

  • What’s Your Budget?

5.1 Exploring Wind Turbines

    • 2 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Check Your Knowledge: Wind Turbines

2 Videos

  • What Are Wind Turbines?
  • Getting Power from Wind

2 Readings

  • What to Expect in Module 5
  • (Suggested) Wind Turbine Blade Design, Flat or Curved

5.2 Factors Affecting Wind Turbines

    • 3 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

3 Videos

  • The Role of Wind Speed
  • Thinking about Placement
  • Factors that Affect Performance

1 Readings

  • (Suggested) Planning a Small Wind Electric System

5.3 Apply What You Learned

    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Module 5 Quiz

1 Discussions

  • Get Feedback on Your Plan

6.1 Harnessing Water

    • 2 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Check Your Knowledge: Hydroelectric Systems

2 Videos

  • How Hydroelectric Systems Work
  • Examining the Components of Hydroelectric Systems

2 Readings

  • What to Expect in Module 6
  • (Suggested) Microhydropower Systems

6.2 Considerations for Low-Head Hydroelectric Systems

    • 2 Videos
Show info about module content

2 Videos

  • Considerations for Designing Low-Head Hydroelectric Systems
  • Regulations and Other Considerations for Low-Head Hydroelectric Systems

6.3 Apply What You Learned

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Cumulative Quiz (all modules)

1 Peer Review

  • Creating Your Renewable Energy System Plan

1 Discussions

  • Thinking About Different Systems

1 Readings

  • Optional: Post-Course Survey

Auto Summary

"Exploring Renewable Energy Schemes" is a foundational course offered by Coursera in the Science & Engineering domain. Guided by expert instructors, this 900-hour course dives into off-grid, stand-alone systems, focusing on photovoltaic, wind, and hydroelectric energy. Learners will conduct energy audits, design small-scale systems, and ensure safety and regulatory compliance. Subscription options include Starter and Professional, making it ideal for those keen on sustainable energy solutions.

Jorge Santiago-Aviles
Instructor

Jorge Santiago-Aviles