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About
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy sources, or RES, are those energy
sources which are not destroyed when their energy is harnessed. Renewable
energy sources are distinct from fossil fuels which must be combusted
to release energy. Human use of renewable energy requires technologies
that harness natural phenomena, such as sunlight, wind, waves, water
flow, biological processes such as anaerobic digestion, and geothermal
heat. Traditional use of wind, water, and solar power is already widespread;
but renewable energy sources are becoming more attractive in the light
of new technologies and the twin threats of energy crisis and climate
change. This subject provides an introduction to the types of renewable energy technologies that are commercially available with an emphasis on small-scale applications. It also provides an awareness of the economic, political, environmental and social issues affecting the application of renewable technologies, together with the development of skills and knowledge in the assessment of energy services and demand. Solar thermal, photovoltaics and wind energy sources will be introduced and described with a focus on their application in small-scale systems. You will also learn how to conduct an energy audit. You will have the ability to determine the power usage of homes and businesses and suggest strategies to reduce energy consumption.
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