Renewable Energy Systems

Course aim

To develop skills in proposing, developing, and implementing renewable energy systems in harnessing electrical energy, especially from solar and wind resources. 

Course content

Fossil fuels, environmental impact and climate changes.

Overview of various renewable energy sources, challenges and opportunities.

Details of wind energy systems - wind power, wind histogram, Weibull and Rayleigh statistics, probability density function, performance coefficient, wind turbines, power curve, wind generators, capacity factor, annual energy, wind farms, and economics of wind energy systems.

Sun and solar resources - earth’s orbit, sun path, solar irradiance, air-mass ratio, optimal tilt angle, and tracking systems.

Details of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems – photovoltaic materials, PV cells, equivalent circuits, I-V characteristic, modules, strings, arrays, shading impacts, hourly I-V curves, maximum power point tracker, predicting PV performance, derate factors, and economy of PV systems.

Battery energy storage systems, grid-connected, and stand-alone PV systems.

Textbook(s)

G.M. Masters 2013, Renewable and Efficient Electric Power Systems, 2nd, John Wiley and Sons, USA

Prerequisite(s)

This pre-requisite does not apply to postgraduate students.

Corequisite(s)

Nil

Teaching method

Note: These components may or may not be scheduled in every study period. Please refer to the timetable for further details.

Assessment

Examination, Report, Test/Quiz

Fees

EFTSL*: 0.125
Commonwealth Supported program (Band 2)
To determine the fee for this course as part of a Commonwealth Supported program, go to:
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Fee-paying program for domestic and international students
International students and students undertaking this course as part of a postgraduate fee paying program must refer to the relevant program home page to determine the cost for undertaking this course.

Non-award enrolment
Non-award tuition fees are set by the university. To determine the cost of this course, go to:
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Not all courses are available on all of the above bases, and students must check to ensure that they are permitted to enrol in a particular course.

* Equivalent Full Time Study Load. Please note: all EFTSL values are published and calculated at ten decimal places. Values are displayed to three decimal places for ease of interpretation.