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Master in Sustainable Energy and Renewable Energy

Overview

Renewable energy, often referred to as clean energy , comes from natural sources or processes that are constantly replenished. For example, sunlight or wind keep shining and blowing, even if their availability depends on time and weather.

While renewable energy is often thought of as a new technology, harnessing nature’s power has long been used for heating, transportation, lighting, and more. Wind has powered boats to sail the seas and windmills to grind grain . The sun has provided warmth during the day and helped kindle fires to last into the evening. But over the past 500 years or so, humans increasingly turned to cheaper, dirtier energy sources such as coal and fracked gas. 

Now that we have increasingly innovative and less-expensive ways to capture and retain wind and solar energy, renewables are becoming a more important power source. The expansion in renewables is also happening at scales large and small, from rooftop solar panels on homes that can sell power back to the grid to giant offshore wind farms. Even some entire rural communities  rely on renewable energy for heating and lighting.

Nonrenewable, or “dirty,” energy includes fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal . Nonrenewable sources of energy are only available in limited amounts and take a long time to replenish.

 

Goals

Strengthen the students understanding of the science and engineering of the different sources of renewable and sustainable energy including solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy and biomass energy. 

  1. Strengthen the student’s ability to critically analyze current obstacles to the growth of renewable energy and formulate solutions.
  2. Provide students with knowledge of the opportunities and challenges of different renewable energy initiatives.
  3. Enable the student to apply fundamental skills and knowledge of renewable energy science to design and lead renewable energy initiatives.
  4. Develop the students’ appreciation of the societal, environmental and economic impact of renewable energy.
  5. Strengthen students’ capacity to engage in renewable energy research and to communicate findings effectively through written reports and oral presentations. 6. It provides the knowledge required to understand: the efficient distribution of renewables; their integration into usage of zero carbon built infrastructure and to determine the economic and climate issues affecting the choice of renewable.

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOME

  • Demonstrate knowledge of the current and emerging innovations in renewable and sustainable energy.
  • Demonstrate understanding of the sources, benefits and limitations of renewable energy and compare them to traditional sources of energy.
  • Assess a region’s energy needs, create renewable energy goals and propose specific renewable energy initiatives. 
  • Apply analytical skills to evaluate renewable energy projects and choose from several alternatives.
  • Develop ability to design renewable energy projects and to measure their environmental and economic impact.
  • Relate energy policy and market environments to renewable energy consumption and production and propose incentives to increase consumption.
  • Employ research skills to collect and analyze data on renewable energy technologies and present results.

 

Careers of Graduates

  1. Contractor / Electrician: Becoming a contractor is one of the easiest ways to get involved in green energy. People need their solar panels installed along with complementary services, like better insulation or special windows that keep heating and cooling needs to a minimum. 
  2. Green Engineering: Green engineering is a broad field. These engineers help design things like wind turbines and solar panels that are budget friendly and highly efficient. They can work in any sector where things need to be built and powered. Almost every industry, from farming to manufacturing to commercial development to real estate will benefit from the help of a green engineer.
  3. Sustainable Farming: Green biotechnology (also called plant biotechnology) is a rapidly expanding field that aims to improve the production and output of crops thanks to eco-friendly alternatives (bio fuels, bio fertilizers and bio pesticides) .
  4. Environmental Consultant: An environmental consultant usually works on a contractual basis for private and public sector clients, addressing issues such as water pollution, air quality, and soil contamination. An environmental consultant has the scientific knowledge and technical expertise to conduct field and desk-based research, carry out environmental assessments, and advise companies on a variety of matters
  5. Mechanic: Renewable energy is having a significant impact on the automotive industry. Cars that are highly efficient on fuel are built completely differently from the cars of generations past. Even larger delivery vehicles are being improved for efficiency.
  6. Architecture and Design: There are plenty career choices in green design: architects, landscapers and urban planners are all part of a growing professional force that aims to make the spaces where we live and work more environmentally-friendly. 7. Renewable energy industry (cars and electricity).