Renewable resources are the fastest growing electric generation source globally. Renewable Energy Overview explores the primary renewable resources used to generate electricity, the technologies used for each resource, and how each technology works. It also examines the key attributes that determine the benefits, costs, and challenges associated with renewable generation technologies and the future potential for each resource. This learning path is intended for those with limited experience in renewables as well as those with a background in renewable energy who need more details on the various technologies.
This course comprises the following modules:
- Wind Power
- Solar Power
- Geothermal Power
- Biopower
- Hydropower
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Following is a more detailed outline of content contained in the Renewable Energy Overview learning path.
Wind Power
- What wind power is
- Types of wind power: Onshore and Offshore
- How wind power works
- Blades
- Towers
- Wind with storage
- Interconnection
- Key attributes: technology maturity, costs, grid integration, environmental concerns
- Growth in wind power
- Market share
- Resource potential
- The future of wind power
Solar Power
- What solar power is
- Types of solar power: Photovoltaic (PV) and Concentrated solar (CSP)
- How solar power works
- PV modules, panels, and arrays
- PV with storage
- Interconnection
- How CSP works
- CSP technologies
- CSP with storage
- Hybrid systems
- Key attributes: technology maturity, costs, grid integration, environmental concerns
- Growth in solar power
- Market share
- Resource potential
- The future of solar power
Geothermal Power
- What geothermal power is
- Heat sources
- Generation technologies
- Types of geothermal power
- How geothermal power works
- Dry steam, flash steam, binary steam, and flash/binary hybrid
- Interconnection
- Key attributes: technology maturity, costs, grid integration, environmental concerns
- Growth in geothermal power
- Market share
- Resource potential
- The future of geothermal power
Biopower
- What biopower is
- Types of biopower technologies
- Types of biomass
- Conversion processes
- Generation technologies
- How biopower works
- Steam turbines, gas turbines, internal combustion engines, gas microturbines, and fuel cells
- Interconnection
- Key attributes: technology maturity, costs, grid integration, environmental concerns
- Growth in biopower
- Market share
- Resource potential
- The future of biopower
Hydropower
- What hydropower is
- Types of hydropower technologies
- How hydropower works
- Diversion, impoundment, pumped storage, and tidal
- Plant head
- Turbine types
- Hydropower interconnection
- Types of hydrokinetic power
- How hydrokinetic power works
- How WEC power works
- How CEC power works
- Hydrokinetic technologies
- Hydrokinetic interconnection
- Key attributes: technology maturity, costs, grid integration, environmental concerns
- Growth in hydropower
- Market share
- Resource potential
- The future of hydropower