This course is part of the Renewable Energy Specialization

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stars
124 ratings

Paul Komor

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Renewable Energy SpecializationUniversity of Colorado Boulder

About this Course

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The energy revolution in underway.  Renewable energy is growing at an astounding pace - notably in electricity.  Wind turbines and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems account for most new power plants built worldwide, and are essential to building a low-carbon and sustainable energy future.  As a result, there are countless new opportunities in renewable electricity. 
This course provides a solid grounding in the basics of renewable electricity.  We'll start with how electricity is measured, how electricity systems operate, and how renewable technologies like wind turbines and solar PV work.  We'll then cover technical and market fundamentals:  how and why renewables are driving change in electricity systems worldwide, how electricity systems are changing to accommodate all these new renewables, and what that all means for those seeking to understand and participate in the global transformation of electricity systems.  This global transformation is just beginning; with knowledge gained from this course you'll be ready to jump on board.

Course logo image credit: "Wind Turbine" icon courtesy of Vectors Point from the Noun Project.

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Shareable Certificate

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Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

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Course 2 of 4 in the

Renewable Energy Specialization

Beginner Level

No technical background needed. Just basic math skills.

Approx. 12 hours to complete

English

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What you will learn

How electricity systems work, from both technical and institutional perspectives
-The challenges and opportunities arising from renewables in electricity systems

Skills you will gain

Electricity systems
Wind Power
Renewable Energy
Solar Energy
Sustainable Energy

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Course 2 of 4 in the

Renewable Energy Specialization

Beginner Level

No technical background needed. Just basic math skills.

Approx. 12 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.81/5 (57 Ratings)

Paul Komor

Offered by

University of Colorado Boulder

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week1

Week 1

3 hours to complete

Introduction and Renewable Power Basics

3 hours to complete

12 videos (Total 88 min), 6 readings, 1 quiz

12 videos

Course Introduction and Overview9mCourse Intro II4mWhat's a kWh?7mWhat's a kW?7mWhat is Capacity Factor?5mAncillary Services7mWind Power I8mWind Power II5mWind Power III6mPhotovoltaics (PV) I7mPhotovoltaics (PV) II7mPhotovoltaics (PV) III9m

6 readings

REN21, "Renewables 2020 Global Status Report"10mNEED, "Secondary Energy Infobook"10mFERC, "Energy Primer"10mNEED, "Secondary Energy Infobook"10mWECC, "System Operations Training Manual"10mNEED, "Secondary Energy Infobook"10m

1 practice exercise

Introduction and Renewable Power Basics30m

Week2

Week 2

2 hours to complete

Grid Operations and Grid Integration

Electricity systems - also called grids - must provide reliable electricity, all the time. This task is further challenged by the rapid growth in wind turbines and solar PV, which are subject to fluctuations in the wind and the sun. These lessons explain how electricity systems use different types of power plants to provide reliable electricity, and then explores the rapidly changing topic of ‘grid integration’ - how to integrate large amounts of new wind and solar PV while maintaining grid reliability.

2 hours to complete

10 videos (Total 80 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz

10 videos

Introduction to Grid Operations9mGrid Ops: Electricity Demand6mGrid Ops: Electricity Supply10mGrid Ops: Renewable Electricity Challenges8mGrid Ops: Case Study9mIntroduction to Grid Integration5mGrid Integration: Case Studies I7mGrid Integration: Roles for Fossil-Fired Power Plants7mGrid Integration: Forecasting7mGrid Integration: Case Studies II8m

3 readings

WECC, "System Operations Training Manual"10mIRENA, "Innovation Landscape for a Renewable-Powered Future"10mREN21, "Renewables 2020 Global Status Report"10m

1 practice exercise

Grid Operations and Grid Integration30m

Week3

Week 3

3 hours to complete

Storage and Demand Flexibility

3 hours to complete

14 videos (Total 118 min), 4 readings, 1 quiz

14 videos

Introduction to Electricity Storage5mStorage II6mStorage III6mStorage IV5mPumped Hydro7mBatteries I8mBatteries II5mInterview: John Glassmire14mIntroduction to Demand Response6mHawaii Case Study I6mHawaii Case Study II6mSmart Thermostat Example9mInterview: Rachel Reiss Buckley11mInterview: Brad Davids14m

4 readings

FERC, "Energy Primer"10mREN21, "Renewables 2020 Global Status Report"10mFERC, "Energy Primer"10mIRENA, "Innovation Landscape for a Renewable-Powered Future"10m

1 practice exercise

Storage and Demand Flexibility30m

Week4

Week 4

3 hours to complete

Power Structure Industry and ISOs

Electricity systems’ institutional and regulatory structures are changing worldwide, and competition is playing a growing role in electricity generation. Why is this happening, and what does it mean for renewables? These lessons use case studies of Ghana, France, the UAE, and others to illustrate how the electricity industry is shifting, and discuss the growing role of Independent System Operators (ISOs) in grid operation and planning.

3 hours to complete

11 videos (Total 90 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz

11 videos

Introduction to Industry Structure6mIndustry Structure: Key Concepts 7mCase Study: Ghana10mCase Study: UAE6mCase Study: France5mCase Study: Colorado, USA7mIndependent System Operators (ISOs) I7mIndependent System Operators (ISOs) II7mIndependent System Operators (ISOs) III8mIndependent System Operators (ISOs) IV6mInterview: Jonathan Miller15m

5 readings

UT Austin, "The History and Evolution of the US Electricity Industry"10mFERC, "Energy Primer"10mNEED, "Secondary Energy Infobook"10mKAPSARC, "Abu Dhabi Electricity Sector: Features, Challenges, and Opportunities for Market Integration"10mFERC, "Energy Primer"10m

1 practice exercise

Power Structure Industry and ISOs30m

Reviews

4.7

30 reviews

5 stars
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4 stars
22.22%
3 stars
3.17%
1 star
0.79%

TOP REVIEWS FROM RENEWABLE POWER AND ELECTRICITY SYSTEMS

by AGJun 5, 2022

Quite interesting since it provides an updated view of the market, where we are and where we are going.

by ASSep 18, 2022

I like it and I like the case studies with it, recommend it

by AKJan 30, 2022

Wonderful high level overview. The instructor was able to make everything very understandable.

by CCSep 28, 2021

Very Interesting course about an aspect of the renewable energy industry that I had not yet studied.

View all reviews

About the Renewable Energy Specialization

This specialization is for learners wanting a thorough understanding of renewable energy concepts, tools, and applications. This knowledge can be employed to advance in your current work, to move into the renewable energy field, and to promote sustainability at home and in your community. New technologies, new market structures, and new business models make renewable energy a dynamic, entrepreneurial, and exciting field. This specialization focuses on pragmatic and fact-based information, including real-world costs and technical performance, market trends, and web-based analysis tools. We use lectures, case studies, and interviews with industry leaders to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date education on renewable energy.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

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Renewable Power and Electricity Systems

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