Energy Principles and Renewable Energy (edX)

The course covers: basic energy concepts and terms; energy systems; the challenge of fossil-fuel greenhouse gas emissions from power generation; and describes and evaluates a range of renewable energy technologies. Renewable energy technologies analysed include: bioenergy, geothermal, solar, wind power, hydropower and ocean power.
This course is part of the Sustainable Energy MicroMasters series. You may take the course as a single course or complete all four courses in the series.
There are two enrolment options: verified enrolment and audit enrolment. If you enrol as a verified learner and successfully complete all four courses and the Capstone Assessment you will qualify for the Sustainable Energy MicroMasters credential.
A Sustainable Energy MicroMasters credential is worthwhile in itself, but, if you wish to continue your studies, the Sustainable Energy MicroMasters credential could be used towards studying the Master of Sustainable Energy at The University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia.
Learners who choose to enrol as verified, will be required to write an assignment, and achieve an overall passing grade of 70% or above in order to receive the downloadable verified certificate.
This course runs multiple times throughout the year.

What you'll learn

• The language of energy
• The challenges involved in providing sustainable energy supply
• Key scientific principles that underpin energy systems
• The basics of a number of available renewable energy options
• The role of energy storage

Course Syllabus

Topic 0: Energy Literacy
An introduction to the language of energy aimed at those without an engineering or science background, to allow learners to engage with the material that follows.
Topic 1: The Challenge
This topic describes some of the challenges we face in creating sustainable energy systems given the world’s increasing demand for energy and the threat posed by climate change.
Topic 2: Energy Systems
We will introduce learners to some of the fundamental science that governs energy systems and energy transformation.
Topic 3: Bioenergy
This topic describes the uses of Bioenergy, carbon footprint, global uptake and future possibilities.
Topic 4: Geothermal
This topic describes the uses of geothermal energy, carbon footprint, global uptake and future possibilities.
Topic 5: Solar
This topic investigates the different types of solar energy and then describes how solar energy can be used, its carbon footprint, global uptake and future possibilities.
Topic 6: Wind
This topic describes how energy from the wind can be used, its carbon footprint, global uptake and future possibilities.
Topic 7: Hydropower
This topic focuses on how hydropower is used to create energy, how this energy can be used, its carbon footprint, global uptake and future possibilities.
Topic 8: Ocean Power
This topic describes how energy can be extracted from the ocean’s waves and tides, how this energy can be used, its carbon footprint, how much is used around the world and its future possibilities.
Topic 9: Energy Storage
This topic introduces learners to the ways energy can be stored, the characteristics of an energy storage system and the possible uses of an energy storage system.
Topic 10: Electricity Management
In electricity management learners will be introduced to how electricity markets work, transmission and distribution concepts and the requirement for balancing the grid.