ME 542 Introduction to Renewable Energy
Prerequisite:	ME 310 Fluid Mechanics or equivalent.
Textbook:	Sustainable Energy by J.W. Tester, E.M. Drake, M.J. Driscoll, M.W. Golay, and V.A. Perters, The MIT Press; 2005.
Reference:	Renewable Energy, Godfrey Boyle, Oxford University press; 2nd Edition, 2004. Understanding Renewable Energy Systems, V Quashchning, Earthscan, 2005. Fuel Cell Systems Explained, James Larminie and Andrew Dicks, John Wiley & Sons; 2nd Edition, 2003. A Concise Introduction to Engineering Economics, Cassimatis, Peter J., Taylor & Francis, 1992.
Description:	This is an introductory course on the theory and applications of renewable energy. Energy is becoming increasingly more important in the economic development of our societies. The combination of limited fossil and nuclear fuel supply together with concerns on pollution and global warming has put the development of clean and renewable energy to the forefront of future human endeavor. It has long been recognized that human activities are the cause of many global problems, such as air and water pollution, global warming, fuel shortage, etc., that we face today, and if unchecked, can bring disastrous outcomes to the globe and human beings. In addition, the limited fossil fuel resources and its impact on economy and national security point to an urgent need to develop alternative renewable energy sources. Sustainability, i.e., the ability to achieve economic prosperity while protecting the natural systems of the planet, and providing a higher quality of life for its people, is a crucial issue for all nations now and for the foreseeable future. As the recent energy shortage and energy price increase indicate, renewable energy will be at the forefront of the effort to develop a sustainable economy. Engineers of the future will have to grapple with this energy problem for a long time to come, whether they want to or not, and it is important that the universities prepare them for this task, and this course is offered for this exact purpose. Both graduate and undergraduate research and education, and community outreach in the renewable energy area will accompany the growth in research activities in this area. An introductory course in renewable energy will serve the university’s mission in research, education, and outreach.
Objectives:	The students will learn the fundamental and quantitative principles of the various renewable energy options and their applications and costs. After taking this course, the students will be familiar with the basic technical details as well as the economic and societal impact of renewable energy systems, be able to contribute to the design or selection of renewable energy systems, and be able to estimate the amount of energy available from the renewable energy resource, the efficiency and power output of renewable energy systems, and their benefits and costs. .
Grading:	Exams (2 midterms and 1 final) 60% (20% each) Homework 20% Quizzes and Attendance 20%
Outcomes:
Topics:	1. Introduction to Energy and Sustainability 2. Evaluation of Energy Resources 3. Quantitative Analysis of Energy and Review of Thermodynamics 4. Environmental Effects of Energy 5. Economic Evaluation 6. Energy Systems and Sustainability Metrics 7. Fossil Fuels 8. Nuclear Power 9. Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cells 10. Biomass Energy 11. Geothermal Energy 12. Hydropower 13. Solar Energy 14. Ocean Waves, Tide, and Thermal Energy 15. Wind Energy