Renewable Energy Futures
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. We’ll review promising new renewable technologies and approaches, such as floating platforms for wind turbines and building-integrated photovoltaics (PV), and point out key opportunities and limitations. We’ll take a close look at possible futures of enabling technologies such as electricity storage, electric vehicles and hydrogen, which can support and enhance renewables. We’ll then unravel key trends and new approaches, such as distributed energy and electrification, and explain how they affect renewable energy’s future.
Renewable energy, aided by enabling technologies such as electric vehicles and storage, will eventually dominate energy systems worldwide. From this course, you’ll learn the current status and likely future paths of renewable energy. With this knowledge, you’ll be able to pinpoint the opportunities in this vibrant industry and get in front of the change.
Course logo image credit: “Wind Turbine” icon courtesy of Vectors Point from the Noun Project.
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.
Syllabus
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week 1
Introduction, Energy Transitions, and Scenarios
Week 2
Renewable Energy Technology Futures: Wind, Solar PV, and More
Week 3
Enabling Technologies for Renewable Energy
Week 4
Emerging Issues and Concepts in Renewable Energy
Week 5
Summary and Review
FAQ
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:
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.
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.
Reviews
I found the course very helpful with a good intro to find most current data and statistics!
Excellent collection of study materials and even better explaination.
I feel proud to be a part of this course.
The course has very interesting information and analysis of future renewable energy trends.
Renewable energy futures by Colorado Boulder is a very good introductory course on futue of renewable energy resource technologies and utilization.
