The Introduction to Renewable Energies course is part of the Renewable Energy Engineering Degree, in the Specific Training module, which includes a group of subjects that delve into aspects specific to Renewable Energy Engineering.



This course is taught in the first year (2nd semester) so that students:



- Appreciate the influence of energy on the history of modern societies.

- Understand the changes in energy use and consumption worldwide and in our society in particular.

- Grasp the concept of sustainable development as one that can meet current needs without compromising the resources and possibilities of future generations.

- Begin to perceive that the future Renewable Energy engineer has an intrinsic social responsibility component.

- Recognize that many of the most ambitious, interesting, and relevant engineering projects we face today come from the field of energy.

- Understand the basic processes of converting renewable energies into usable forms of energy.

Knowledge or content:



RCO1: The graduate will be able to identify concepts and techniques from both basic and specific subjects, enabling the learning of new methods, theories, and modern engineering tools, providing sufficient versatility to adapt to new situations in the exercise of their profession.



RCO9: The graduate will be able to describe renewable energy sources (wind energy, photovoltaic, hydraulic, geothermal, and solar thermal, biomass, and marine energy), their basic operating principles, and their associated technologies.



Competencies



RC04: The graduate will be able to apply the strategies inherent to the scientific methodology: analyzing the problematic situation qualitatively and quantitatively, formulating hypotheses and solutions using the models specific to renewable energy engineering.



Skills



HE01: The graduate will be able to solve problems with initiative, decision-making, creativity, and critical reasoning.



HE05: The graduate will be able to work effectively in a team in a constructive manner, integrating skills and knowledge to make decisions.

Topic 1.- Need for renewable energies.

Evolution of CO2 emissions. Climate change and greenhouse effect. Depletion of fossil fuels.

Energy situation worldwide, nationally, and regionally.

1. Introduction

1.1 Classification of energy sources

1.1.1 Non-renewable energy sources

1.1.2 Renewable energy sources

1.2 Conclusions on the use of energy sources

1.3 The Technical Building Code

1.4 Evolution of CO2 emissions

1.5 Climate change and greenhouse effect

1.6 Depletion of fossil fuels

1.7 Energy situation worldwide, nationally, and regionally

Topic 2.- Demand for electrical energy and its generation structure.

Daily load curves. Percentage of participation of different types of traditional and renewable energy. Load distribution.

2. Introduction

2.1 Daily load curves

2.2 Percentage of participation of different types of traditional and renewable energy

2.3 Load distribution

Topic 3.- The Sun as a source of energy.

Solar radiation on the earth's surface. Variation of daily global radiation. Sun-Earth movement. Sun position. Solar coordinates.

3. Introduction

3.1 Solar radiation on the earth's surface

3.2 Variation of daily global radiation

3.3 Sun-Earth movement

3.4 Sun position. Solar coordinates

Topic 4.- Photovoltaic and thermal solar energy.

Photovoltaic effect. Types of photovoltaic cells. Different types of cell connection. Standalone and grid-connected systems. Fundamental elements of a DHW installation.

4. Introduction

4.1 Photovoltaic effect

4.1.1 Introduction

4.1.2 Additional information

4.1.3 Photovoltaic effect in solar cells

4.2 Photovoltaic cells

4.2.1 Types of photovoltaic cells

4.2.2 Fundamental parts of photovoltaic panels or modules

4.2.3 Parameters and fundamental curves of photovoltaic cells

4.3 Different types of cell connection (assembly in the photovoltaic panel)

4.4 Standalone and grid-connected systems

4.5 Fundamental elements of a DHW installation

4.5.1 Introduction

4.5.2 Operation of a solar collector. Greenhouse effect

4.5.3 Low-temperature solar thermal energy

Topic 5.- Wind energy.

Wind as a wind resource. Types of wind and their measurement. Wind rose. Main components of wind turbines. Operation.

5. Introduction

5.1 Types of wind and their measurement

5.2 Wind rose

5.3 Main components and operation of wind turbines

5.4 Wind as a wind resource

5.4.1 Introduction

5.4.2 Wind power

5.4.3 Betz's law

5.4.4 Tip-speed ratio (TSR)

5.4.5 Wind turbine efficiency

5.4.6 Aerodynamics of the horizontal-axis wind generator

Topic 6.- Hydraulic energy.

The water cycle. Main components of hydroelectric plants. Types of turbines. Mini-hydraulic installations.

6.1 Introduction

6.1.1 The water cycle

6.1.2 Water utilization methods

6.2 Hydroelectric plants

6.2.1 Classification of hydroelectric plants

6.2.2 Main components of hydroelectric plants

6.3 Types of turbines. Characteristics

6.4 Hydraulic power of a jump

6.5 Mini-hydraulic installations

6.5.1 Elements of a mini power plant

6.5.2 Ecological flow

6.6 Final conclusions of hydroelectric installations



Topic 7.- Other renewable energies.

Geothermal, biomass, concentrated solar, tidal, and wave energy.

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Geothermal

7.3 Biomass

7.4 Tidal and wave energy

This course will use active teaching methodologies (flipped classroom, inquiry-based learning, cooperative learning) along with traditional methodology.



In lectures, concepts will be clarified, and students will be guided on the most relevant aspects of the subject; delivering selected, organized, and synthesized information, and if necessary, with the support of audiovisual presentations. Active student participation will be encouraged.



Classroom practices, through exercises/debates/assignments that can be developed individually or in groups, will allow students to delve into, consolidate, and verify the topics of the subject.



Laboratory and field practices. Through experimentation in laboratory practices and fieldwork, students will incorporate, deepen, consolidate, and verify the theoretical foundations of the subject. They can be developed individually or in groups. Before the practical session, students will have the corresponding script. A field practice will be conducted visiting a renewable energy installation.

To work on Sustainable Development Goals, guided work and/or exercises will be carried out for students to apply sustainability criteria.

• Continuous Assessment System
• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Written test to be taken (%): 60
  • Realization of Practical Work (exercises, cases or problems) (%): 15
  • Team projects (problem solving, project design)) (%): 10
  • ENTREGABLES (%): 15

CONTINUOUS EVALUATION SYSTEM

The evaluation of the subject will be carried out with the continuous evaluation system, combining a final written test with continuous evaluation throughout the semester. The grading instruments are as follows:

- WRITTEN TEST TO BE DEVELOPED: (WRITTEN EXAM). The weight of the test is 60% of the final grade of the subject. It will be a written exam. The exam will be held on the official date set for the call. The exam is divided into two parts:

a) Development and/or multiple-choice questions

b) Problems to solve.

To pass the written exam, it is necessary to score at least 4 out of 10 in each part of the exam.

- DIRECTED WORK: The weight of the directed work is 10% of the final grade of the subject. They will be carried out in groups and/or individually. The topics and other specifications of the works will be determined at the beginning of the semester. The work can be done during classroom hours or outside the classroom, and when necessary, the eGela platform will be used for completion or submission of the activity.

- LABORATORY AND FIELD PRACTICES: The weight of the practices is 15% of the final grade of the subject. The results of the practices passed in continuous evaluation will be saved for the extraordinary call. For each laboratory session, a report must be submitted. The grade for laboratory and field practices will be obtained as the average grade of the reports submitted. It will be mandatory to attend all laboratory practice sessions on the assigned day and time to obtain a minimum of 5 out of 10 in the grade.

- DELIVERABLES: The weight of the deliverables is 15% of the final grade of the subject. Deliverables include exercises and/or questions and/or test questionnaires related to the syllabus and/or individual or group work resolution. Activities can be done during classroom hours or outside the classroom, and when necessary, the eGela platform will be used for completion or submission of the activity.

The final grade of the subject will be obtained by adding up the aforementioned grades. It is an indispensable requirement for the calculation that the following requirements are met:

- In the written exam, at least 4 points out of 10 must be obtained in each part of the exam.

- Participation in 100% of the laboratory and field practice sessions and obtaining at least 5 out of 10 in the laboratory and field practice section. If the average grade of the reports does not exceed 5 out of 10, a practical exam may be taken to reach that grade.

If any of the above requirements are not met, the calculation will not be performed. The grade reflected in the record will be the grade obtained in the written exam (out of 10) or 4, whichever is lower.

To pass the subject, it is necessary to obtain an overall grade equal to or higher than 5.

If the health situation prevents face-to-face teaching and/or assessment, online activities will be used, and students will be informed of this change.

FINAL EVALUATION SYSTEM

According to article 8 of the Regulations governing the evaluation of students in official Bachelor's degrees, students have the right to be evaluated through the final evaluation system. To do this, students must submit in writing to the teacher responsible for the subject the waiver of continuous evaluation within 9 weeks from the beginning of the semester. The final evaluation system evaluates learning outcomes through a test that will be carried out during the official exam period, and the sections of this test and their values are as follows:

- PRACTICE EXAM: the weight of the exam is 15% of the final grade of the subject. It will be developed through an experimental test to be carried out in the laboratory and questions and/or calculations related to the test. Questions about field practice may also be asked.

- WRITTEN EXAM: the weight of the exam is 85% of the final grade of the subject. The exam is divided into two parts:

a) Development and/or multiple-choice questions

b) Problems to solve.

To pass the written exam, it is necessary to score at least 4 out of 10 in each part of the exam.

To pass the subject, it will be essential that, in the written exam, at least 4 points out of 10 are obtained in each part of the exam, and a minimum grade of 50% of the value corresponding to the practice exam is obtained. If any of the above requirements are not met, the calculation will not be performed. The grade reflected in the record will be the grade obtained in the written exam (out of 10) or 4, whichever is lower.

To pass the subject, it is necessary to obtain an overall grade equal to or higher than 5. If the student does not attend the written exam, it is understood that they waive the call. If the health situation prevents face-to-face teaching and/or assessment, online activities will be used, and students will be informed of this change.



Information on waiver and use of materials, media and resources: See REMARKS section.

According to article 9 of the Regulations governing the evaluation of students in official Bachelor's degrees, evaluation in the extraordinary call will be carried out exclusively through the final evaluation system. The final evaluation system evaluates learning outcomes through a test that will be carried out during the official exam period, and the sections of this test and their values are as follows:



- PRACTICE EXAM: the weight of the exam is 15% of the final grade of the subject. It will be developed through an experimental test to be carried out in the laboratory and questions and/or calculations related to the test. Questions about field practice may also be asked.

- WRITTEN EXAM: the weight of the exam is 85% of the final grade of the subject. The exam is divided into two parts:

c) Development and/or multiple-choice questions

d) Problems to solve.

Positive results of deliverables and directed work obtained during the course in continuous evaluation will be retained if requested by the student. In this case, the written exam must be taken, which will be worth 60%.

To pass the subject, it will be essential that, in the written exam, at least 4 points out of 10 are obtained in each part of the exam, and a minimum grade of 50% of the value corresponding to the practice exam is obtained. If any of the above requirements are not met, the calculation will not be performed. The grade reflected in the record will be the grade obtained in the written exam (out of 10) or 4, whichever is lower.

To pass the subject, it is necessary to obtain an overall grade equal to or higher than 5.

If the student does not attend the written exam, it is understood that they waive the call.

Theoretical notes, exercises and laboratory practices through eGela platform.

Basic bibliography

MADRID A. Energías Renovables.



MÉNDEZ J.M., CUERVO R. Energía Solar Fotovoltaica.



DE JUANA J.Mª. Energías Renovables para el desarrollo.

In-depth bibliography

RODRIGUEZ J.L., BURGOS J.C., ARNALTE S. Sistemas Eólicos de Producción de Energía Eléctrica.

COMUNIDAD EUROPEA. Energía para el futuro: fuentes de energía renovable.

Journals

Energía.

Web addresses

http://www.censolar.es
http://www.mysolar.com
http://www.europa.eu.int
http://www.greenpeace.es
http://www.ree.es