EE 4405:Fundamentals of Solar Power and Renewable Energy

3 Class Hours 0 Laboratory Hours 3 Credit Hours
Prerequisite: EE 2301 Corequisite: EE 2401
This course reviews various renewable energy systems to meet the increasing global energy demand of the 21st century in a sustainable manner. Different renewable energy technologies including Solar, Wind, Hydroelectric, Ocean Waves, Tidal, Geothermal, and Biomass energy are discussed. Students will learn the fundamental and quantitative principles of these renewable technologies. The course puts a major emphasis on the various Solar Photovoltaic (PV) technologies to harvest solar energy by direct conversion into electrical energy. The course covers from the fundamental principles of solar cells to in-depth discussions on 1st generation Si cells, 2nd generation thin-film cells, and emerging 3rd generation high-efficiency PV technologies. The course concludes with a real-world project where students effectively apply their knowledge to perform current-voltage measurements on solar cells, extract important electrical parameters of the device, and design a stand-alone photovoltaic system.