Host University
Reykjavik University
Iceland School of Energy MSc Programme
The Course: Introduction to Renewable Energy
The GREEN Program - ISE01
Credits: 3 ECTS / 1.5 acadmic credits
The GREEN Program is a 50+ hour intensive program held in partnership between The GREEN Program and Iceland School of Energy at Reykjavik University. Our faculty and industry experts teach classes on sustainability, hydro power, geology, bio-fuels, and geothermal energy. The course also includes facility tours to various power plants for hands-on learning such as to a hydro power plant, a geothermal power plant, a wind farm and a bio-fuel location.
During the course, students form interdisciplinary groups and develop a final Capstone Project on a specific renewable energy subject which they present for evaluation in the end of the course. Each group is required to present a project highlighting an identified problem and solution. Students are required to present the project in full detail and cover the financial, political, education, engineering and social impact aspects of their innovative idea.
In class lectures include but are not limited to:
- 1) Introduction to Energy in Iceland:
How to use energy resources in a sustainable manner is affected strongly by local environmental, societal and market conditions. Iceland has successfully transformed its energy sector to an unprecedented degree. In this part of the course we examine how Iceland's natural history has shaped the widespread utilization of renewables.
Learning outcome
Upon completion of this section students will be familiar with the basics geophysical forces that have shaped Iceland; how economic development and development of the energy sector have been shaped by these forces, and by the development of Icelandic society. Students will be able to see parallels between the situation in Iceland and development in other parts of the world. Students will have been exposed to the importance matching the choice of sustainable energy solutions to local conditions.
- 2) Basics of Hydro-power:
This course will give an overview of the basics of hydropower; how water is harnessed to generate electricity, the different types of hydropower designs, and the types of systems in use. The course will touch upon some of the design challenges for hydropower, and how it has advanced to minimize environmental impact of the structures. We will look at hydropower in context, through existing global capacity and future predictions of technical potential of undeveloped resources. The course concludes with giving an overview of hydropower in Iceland, with particular emphasis on the value of the flexibility of this renewable source of energy, and how that is used to build up storage in our closed energy system.
Learning outcome
At the end of the course the students should have a good understanding of true potential of hydropower, its strength and limitations. They should be capable of understanding what it takes to generate hydroelectricity, and the importance of designing such power plant in a responsible way, considering overall social and environmental impact.
3) Geothermal Energy: An overview of exploration, utilization, and use:
In this course an overview of different aspects of geothermal energy will be presented. That includes the origin of geothermal energy, geothermal exploration techniques, geothermal utilization, use of geothermal energy and economic aspects of geothermal energy.
Learning outcome
Basic knowledge of the origin, use and utilization of geothermal energy.
- 4) Introduction to Energy Economics:
A general overview of energy markets is presented along with key economics terms such as supply and demand, elasticities, market failure and externalities. Climate change economics is introduced as well as the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). Financing of geothermal power plants is also presented.
Learning outcome
Students will be familiar with basic economics terms and able to use them to understand changes in market prices and quantities and how externalities should be incorporated into energy analysis.
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5) Biofuel Innovations:
An introduction and preview of Iceland's emerging biofuel market. Utilizing the rapeseed plant, meet the professor and innovator behind a sustainable and cost-effective solution for Iceland's transport sector.
Learning outcome
Students will be familiar with basic market terms for biofuel and able to use them to understand the business plan and economics comparisons between the current diesel economy vs. the feasibility of a biofuel-run economy.
(*Please note that classes are subject to be updated)
You can learn more about the course here.
