Renewable Energy Futures

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/renewable-energy-futures

Introduction

## Course Review: Renewable Energy Futures on Coursera ### Overview "Renewable Energy Futures" is a forward-looking course available on Coursera, designed to delve into the complexities and uncertainties surrounding the growth of renewable energy. With pressing concerns about climate change, this course offers insights into how current technologies and innovative approaches could influence the future of energy production. Whether you have a background in energy systems or are simply curious about the green energy transition, this course provides a well-rounded foundation for understanding the myriad factors at play. ### Course Structure and Content The course is structured to guide students through various important themes within the renewable energy sector. Here’s a breakdown of the syllabus: 1. **Introduction, Energy Transitions, and Scenarios**: This section serves as a primer on the current landscape of renewable energy. It explores various energy scenarios that outline potential pathways for renewables, addressing key questions such as: Will renewables continue to grow at their current pace? And what does this mean for climate stabilization? This foundational knowledge is crucial for grasping the complexities of the field. 2. **Renewable Energy Technology Futures: Wind, Solar PV, and More**: Focusing on the backbone of renewable energy, this module reviews the latest innovations in wind and solar technologies. It discusses offshore floating wind platforms and building-integrated photovoltaics, among others, while also examining the progress of technologies like Concentrating Solar Power (CSP), ocean energy, and biofuels. This unit is particularly enlightening for those interested in the technological advancements shaping the energy landscape. 3. **Enabling Technologies for Renewable Energy**: Enabling technologies are key to realizing the full potential of renewables. This section emphasizes the supportive roles of storage solutions (such as batteries), electric vehicles, and hydrogen technologies. Understanding these components is essential for anyone looking to navigate or contribute to the renewable energy sector effectively. 4. **Emerging Issues and Concepts in Renewable Energy**: This module touches on the rapid changes in energy systems driven by renewables. It focuses on emerging trends such as electrification, distributed energy resources, and evolving electricity market structures. Students will gain valuable insights into the broader implications of these changes in energy systems globally. 5. **Summary and Review**: The concluding section ties together the entire course content, providing a comprehensive overview of how renewable energy and enabling technologies can come together to create a sustainable energy future. It serves as a reflective synthesis, ideal for consolidating what students have learned. ### Course Recommendations "Renewable Energy Futures" stands out for its balanced approach to theory and practice. It is recommended for: - **Students and Professionals**: Anyone studying environmental science, energy policy, or engineering will find the course particularly beneficial. - **Policy Makers and Activists**: For those involved in climate advocacy or energy policy, understanding the technological and systemic changes discussed can help in formulating effective strategies. - **General Enthusiasts**: If you're simply interested in the future of energy and want to comprehend the role of renewables in combating climate change, this course provides the context you need. ### Conclusion This course is a timely and necessary exploration into renewable energy's trajectory and its potential to address the climate crisis. By enrolling in "Renewable Energy Futures," you'll be better equipped to understand not just the technological innovations but also the larger implications that these developments hold for our planet's future. It's an enlightening ride through the current challenges and future possibilities of renewable energy. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in making informed decisions or contributions toward a sustainable future.

Syllabus

Introduction, Energy Transitions, and Scenarios

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.