Renewable energy's future is bright, yet uncertain. Will it continue to grow rapidly? Is current growth sufficient to achieve climate stabilization? How do related technologies, like electric vehicles and heat pumps, fit in? This course will shed light on the many confusing and at-times inconsistent claims and predictions for renewable energy.
Renewable Energy Futures
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Renewable Energy Futures
This course is part of Renewable Energy Specialization
Instructor: Paul Komor
12,736 already enrolled
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4.8
(197 reviews)
Beginner level
Recommended experience
16 hours to complete
3 weeks at 5 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
What you'll learn
How renewable energy's future is linked to other technologies, such as electricity storage and electric vehicles.
How renewables' recent success is bringing new issues to light, such as electrification and electricity market design.
Where renewable energy is headed, and how to get ahead of the trends.
Skills you'll gain
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Assessments
5 assignments
Taught in English
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This course is part of the Renewable Energy Specialization
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There are 5 modules in this course
Renewable energy's future is bright, yet uncertain. Will it continue to grow rapidly? Is current growth sufficient to achieve climate stabilization? How do other technologies, like electric vehicles and heat pumps, fit in? In these lessons, we take a close look at several leading energy scenarios - models that describe possible futures for renewable energy. These scenarios show where we are headed, and where we need to be headed in order to stop climate change.
What's included
8 videos5 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Wind turbines and solar photovoltaics (PV) are on a path of rapid growth. In these lessons, we review promising new technical approaches for wind and solar PV, such as offshore floating wind platforms and building-integrated PV. We’ll also assess other renewable energy technologies that are on different paths: concentrating solar power (CSP), ocean energy, and biofuels.
What's included
10 videos7 readings1 assignment
For renewables to provide the bulk of global energy needs, ‘enabling’ technologies - those that support and enhance renewables - are needed as well. In these lessons, we describe the critical roles these enabling technologies play, and review their current status and future prospects. Enabling technologies covered include storage (notably batteries), electric vehicles, and hydrogen.
What's included
13 videos8 readings1 assignment
Renewables are driving rapid change in energy systems worldwide, and these systems will look very different in the future. These lessons examine key trends, issues, and concepts for future renewables-based energy systems. These included electrification, distributed energy, electricity market structures, and others.
What's included
19 videos16 readings1 assignment
Renewable energy, aided by enabling technologies such as electric vehicles and storage, will eventually dominate energy systems worldwide. In these lessons, we pull all the course material together and show how the pieces fit together.
What's included
8 videos1 assignment
Instructor
Instructor ratings
4.8 (59 ratings)Offered by
Recommended if you're interested in Environmental Science and Sustainability
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