INTRODUCING RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES TO UNDERGRADUATE ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION

Abstract

The need for efficient renewable energytechnologies has been increased significantly during the lastfew years, especially with the dramatic unexpected changesin oil prices. As a matter of fact, renewable energytechnologies would provide an increase of total energysupply diminishing the role of the oil. Additionally, thesetechnologies provide green energy which would helpreducing air pollution. Accordingly, introducing thesetechnologies at the undergraduate level of engineering andtechnology education is vital. In this paper, an introductorycomprehensive curriculum for renewable energytechnologies is introduced. The curriculum covers energycollection, utilization, conversion, transmission and storagefor renewable technologies such as solar, photovoltaic,wind, geothermal, hydropower, tides and waves, fuel cellsand biomass. The course examines the environmentalconsequences of energy conversion including howrenewable energy can reduce air pollution and globalclimate change. A thorough understanding about theeconomical side for using these technologies is alsoincluded.Index Terms ⎯ Renewable energy, curriculum, thermalenergy storage, transmission.