When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
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Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
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There are 4 modules in this course
This course familiarizes you with standards and policies of the electric utility industry, and provides you with basic vocabulary used in the business. It introduces the electric power system, from generation of the electricity all the way to the wall plug. You will learn about the segments of the system, and common components like power cables and transformers.
This course is for individuals considering a career in the energy field (who have a high school diploma, at minimum, and basic knowledge of mathematics), and existing energy sector employees with less than three years of experience who have not completed similar training and would benefit from a course of foundational industry concepts.
The course is a combination of online lectures, videos, readings and discussions.
This is the first course in the Energy Production, Distribution & Safety specialization that explores various facets of the power sector, and features a culminating project involving creation of a roadmap to achieve a self-established, energy-related professional goal. To learn more about the specialization, check out a video overview at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yh9qIYiUDk.
Electricity is a term that covers all the phenomena caused either by static electric charge or by the movement of charge (current) and the electrical and magnetic fields associated with that.
This module looks at: Nature and Effects of Electricity; Basic Electrical Properties and Simple Circuits.
What's included
6 videos2 readings6 assignments
Show info about module content
6 videos•Total 32 minutes
Introduction: Energy: Production, Distribution & Safety•4 minutes
Basic Electricity: Concepts•6 minutes
Basic Electrical Properties•10 minutes
Simple Circuits•4 minutes
Ohm's Law•5 minutes
AC Current•2 minutes
2 readings•Total 40 minutes
Acknowledgements•10 minutes
Basic Electricity (OPTIONAL) Resources•30 minutes
6 assignments•Total 50 minutes
Basic Electricity•30 minutes
Self-Check•4 minutes
Self-Check•4 minutes
Self-Check•4 minutes
Self-Check•4 minutes
Self-check•4 minutes
Generation, Transmission, & Distribution
Module 2•3 hours to complete
Module details
Electrical energy is transmitted and distributed via overhead lines and underground cables operating at different voltage levels. It is necessary to mesh networks to ensure dependable supply for consumers even if individual transmission paths fail.
This module focuses on: Substations & Transformers; Generation; Transmission & Subtransmission and Distribution.
Circuit breakers are complicated electromechanical devices and must be serviced regularly. So that work on them can be perform safely, switches are installed before and after them.
What's included
3 videos1 reading4 assignments
Show info about module content
3 videos•Total 12 minutes
System Design & Switching: Circuit Breakers•5 minutes
Switches•3 minutes
Double-Busbar & Switching Sequence•4 minutes
1 reading•Total 30 minutes
System Design & Switching (OPTIONAL) Resources•30 minutes
4 assignments•Total 74 minutes
System Design & Switching•30 minutes
Self-check•30 minutes
Self-check•8 minutes
Self-check•6 minutes
Renewable Energy & Smart Grid Technologies
Module 4•5 hours to complete
Module details
Our nation’s electric power infrastructure that has served us so well for so long – also known as “the grid” – is rapidly running up against its limitations.
This module looks at Smart Grid Risks; Smart Grid, Utilities & Customers; Smart Grid & the Environment and Renewable Energy.
What's included
4 videos4 readings5 assignments
Show info about module content
4 videos•Total 26 minutes
Smart Grid Risks•7 minutes
Smart Grid, Utilities & Consumers•8 minutes
Smart Grid & the Environment•6 minutes
Renewable Energy•5 minutes
4 readings•Total 105 minutes
Renewable Energy & Smart Grid Technologies (OPTIONAL) Resources•30 minutes
Roadmap to Success Resources: Project Definition•30 minutes
Copy of Roadmap to Success Resources: Project Definition•30 minutes
Electric Power Systems - Key Takeaways•15 minutes
5 assignments•Total 150 minutes
Renewable Energy & Smart Grid Technologies•30 minutes
Self-check•30 minutes
Self-check•30 minutes
Self-check•30 minutes
Self-check•30 minutes
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The University at Buffalo (UB) is a premier, research-intensive public university and the largest, most comprehensive institution of the State University of New York (SUNY) system. UB offers more than 100 undergraduate degrees and nearly 300 graduate and professional programs.
The State University of New York, with 64 unique institutions, is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States. Educating nearly 468,000 students in more than 7,500 degree and certificate programs both on campus and online, SUNY has nearly 3 million alumni around the globe.
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5·
Reviewed on Jun 18, 2020
It was an interesting course, learned a lot of concepts which I haven't heard of earlier with regards to Influencing People in the corporate world. Overall it has been a great learning experience.
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RS
5·
Reviewed on May 9, 2020
The course was very easily explained including all the minor details it's like a journey of powers system where you get to know about all the key elements required to have the knowledge in this field.
M
MM
5·
Reviewed on Jan 17, 2020
What an Extraordinary Course, I really appreciate meeting with such a skilled professor and a tutor too.Though his main focus was on the USA and quiz were mainly focusing on the USA not globally.
What will I actually learn in this electric power systems course?
You'll learn how electricity moves through the power system and how the main parts of that system work together. It starts with electricity basics, including current and Ohm's Law, then builds into generation, transmission, distribution, and newer topics like the smart grid and renewable energy. Along the way, you'll use quizzes to identify equipment, compare system segments, and check that you can explain what each part is doing.
Do I need any math or electrical background before starting?
No, you don't need prior utility or electrical industry experience. A high school diploma and basic math knowledge are the main expectations, because you'll use simple calculations and relationships involving voltage, current, and resistance. The course teaches the power-system concepts themselves rather than assuming you've studied them before.
Is this course beginner-friendly for electric power systems?
Yes, it's beginner-friendly if you want a broad introduction to electric power systems rather than advanced engineering analysis. The course begins with basic electricity and builds gradually toward substations, switching, and grid topics through short lessons, readings, and quizzes. If you're already looking for detailed power-system design or heavy calculations, this will likely feel introductory.
How long does it take to complete this course?
The course takes about 12 hours to complete. That's roughly 1 to 2 weeks if you're studying around 10 hours a week, or a little longer if you prefer shorter sessions. The workload is a mix of lessons, readings, and regular self-checks and quizzes.
Are there exercises, projects, or labs in this course?
There is practice in the course, but it's guided rather than lab-based. Most of the hands-on work comes through self-checks and quizzes where you'll apply ideas such as Ohm's Law, identify parts of the power system, or distinguish switches from circuit breakers. It's a better fit if you want to reinforce each concept as you learn it, not spend the course on open-ended engineering projects.
What topics are covered in this course?
You'll cover electricity basics, how power is generated and delivered, and the equipment used to control and protect the system. The course also introduces switchgear, circuit breakers, disconnect switches, smart grid technologies, and renewable energy in the context of the U.S. grid. Overall, it gives you the vocabulary and system view needed to follow how modern electric utilities operate.
What can I actually do after finishing this course?
After finishing, you should be able to explain the main segments of an electric power system and describe what key components do within each one. You'll also be able to work through simple electrical relationships, tell generation from transmission and distribution, and recognize the role of devices like transformers or circuit breakers. For example, you could look at a basic utility diagram or description and explain how power is being moved, changed, or protected.
Is this course more focused on theory or hands-on learning?
It's more concept-focused, with guided practice built in. Most of the learning happens through lessons and readings, and the quizzes help you apply what you've just learned. That suits learners who want understanding and industry vocabulary before moving into more technical work.
Why would I choose this course over other electric power systems courses?
This course is a strong choice if you want the whole electric power system explained from basics to modern grid topics, not just one narrow part of the field. It moves from simple electrical ideas into how power is generated, transmitted, distributed, protected, and updated through smart grid and renewable energy concepts, with quizzes that keep the material concrete. If you want a broad beginner-level view of utility systems rather than a specialized engineering deep dive, this course is a good fit.