Introduction to Renewable Energy Technologies

See the bigger picture for renewable energy technologies and their economics – in both urban or rural setting

This course is ideal for those who are new to renewable energies or are starting a career either in renewable technologies or in their commercial aspects. Through a blended mix of instructor-led training and hands-on workshops you will get a comprehensive overview of the main, commercially-viable renewable technologies, and come to understand how they work and how systems are designed. At the end of this course you will be able to assess the appropriateness of different technologies for different situations and undertake your own initial designs for renewable energy systems. Additionally the course will present an overview of the renewable energy markets and latest market trends.

Content

Duration of the course: 3 days

• Impact and terms in renewable: Electricity and heat generation, power, energy efficiency and CO₂ emissions
• Solar electricity – grid-tied and off-grid photovoltaics
• Solar thermal technology – for solar water heating, solar cooling and process heat and generation
• Short introduction to solar thermal electricity generation (Concentrating Solar Power – CSP)
• Wind power – large grid-tied turbines, wind farms, smaller grid-tied turbines and off-grid
• Bioenergy – woodchips and wood pellets, biogas and liquid biofuels
• Micro-hydro –from small systems up to 5 MW, grid-tied and off-grid
• System design and sizing
• Finance and investing in renewable energy
• The German experience with renewable energy

Purpose

On completion of the course participants should be have a comprehensive overview of the main commercially viable renewable technologies, an understanding of how they work, how systems are designed and sized, do initial designs for renewable energy systems, be able to assess the appropriateness of different technologies for different  situations, have an overview of the main renewable energy market sectors and be able to communicate effectively and knowledgably with technology suppliers and customers.

Target group

The course is aimed at those in the business, non-profit, public and academic sectors who wish to get a comprehensive introduction to renewable energy technologies, as well as those wishing to install renewable energy systems in both urban or rural settings. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss their own projects. Ideal for newcomers to the industry.

Program

Renewable energy overview

• Range of commercially viable renewable energy technologies

• Quantifying power and energy
• Electricity and non-electrical energy
• Energy efficiency
• CO₂  emissions of different energy technologies

• The solar resource for PV
• PV modules
• Grid-tied PV systems
• Building Integrated PV (BIPV)
• Feed-in tariffs and other incentives
• Off-grid PV systems
• System design and sizing

• The solar resource for solar thermal
• Solar water heating
• Flat plate collectors, evacuated tubes, storage tanks
• Solar-assisted central heating
• Solar cooling
• System design and sizing
• Short introduction to Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)

• The wind resource
• Wind speeds
• Wind energy principles
• Types of wind turbines, large/small, grid-tied/stand-alone
• Limitations on harnessing wind energy in built-up environments

• Types of bio-fuels (biomass, biogas, bio-liquid fuels)
• Wood fuels, wood chips and wood pellets for building heating
• Effective heat distribution in buildings
• Bioenergy and CHP
• Biogas for electricity generation
• Biogas for the gas network
• Biofuels in transport
• Wider environmental issues

• Principles of hydro-power
• Types of hydro systems
• Site assessment and sizing hydro systems

• Overview of main issues involved in project planning
• Use of software

• Financing projects
• Sources of investment capital
• Risk assessment
• Marketing renewable energy

• Visit to two renewable energy systems (one solar thermal-wood-pellet system, one stand-alone PV system)

Speakers

Albrecht Tiedemann, RENAC

Frank Jackson, RENAC

Katie Brown, RENAC

Further information and contact

For detailed information about seminar content, please contact the project director:

• Mr. Jens Altevogt
• e-mail: altevogt[at]renac.de
• phone: +49 (0) 30-526 895 876

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