SUS 8700B: Renewable Energy

Syllabus

Catalog Description:
Overview of renewable energy sources and systems, and introduction to renewable energy grid- integration.
Instructor: Dr. Ahmed Mohamed, Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering.Office: ST-638.
Office Hours: WeTh 02:00 PM-03:00 PM (or by appointment). You can email me atamohamed@ccny.cuny.edu  to setup an appointment. Please, include “[EE G6910]” (without the quotes) in the subject line.
Academic Load: 3 hr./wk.; 3 cr.

Course Topics:

• Review on basic electric and magnetic circuits, and fundamentals of electric power systems.

• Overview on the electric power industry.

• Energy in context: introduction to global energy challenges, and the "sustainability"

  concept.

• Specific energy technologies: fossil energy , nuclear, wind, solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, biomass, tidal, fuel cells, hydropower and geothermal.

• Grid integration issues of renewable energy systems (with focus on wind and solar photovoltaic): microgrids, distributed generation and distributed generation economics.

  Student Learning Outcomes: Having successfully completed this course, you will:

• Develop a solid, quantitative and practical understanding to a wide range of renewable

  energy systems.

• Understand the value and barriers associated with various energy resources.

• Be introduced to the essential theoretical background of renewable energy sources as well as practical engineering considerations associated with designing renewable energy systems and predicting their performance.

• Evaluate the economics of renewable energy systems.

• Be introduced to grid integration problems of renewable energy sources, e.g. uncertainty and variability. You will also be introduced to relatively newly emerged concepts, such as microgrids and demand response.

  Textbook: "Renewable and Efficient Electric Power Systems, 2nd Edition," by Gilbert M. Masters, Wiley, June 2013. ISBN: 978-1-118-14062-8.http://ccny.textbookx.com/institutional/index.php?action=browse#books/1…

  Other Readings:

• "Energy Systems and Sustainability Power for a Sustainable Future, Second Edition," Edited by Bob Everett, Godfrey Boyle, Stephen Peake, and Janet Ramage, Oxford

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A. Mohamed, EE Department, CUNY City College

University Press, Dec. 2011. ISBN: 978-0-19-959374-3.

• "Renewable Energy: Power for a Sustainable Future, Third Edition," Edited by Godfrey

  Boyle, Oxford University Press, Sept. 2012. ISBN: 978-0-19-954533-9.

• J. Kassakian, R. SCHMALENSEE, "The Future of the Electric Grid," MIT, 2011, available online at: http://mitei.mit.edu/publications/reports-studies/future-electric-grid

• The research papers that will be given to the students within the course.

  Academic Integrity Policy:

  Plagiarism and cheating are prohibited. Cell phones will be turned off and not on the table in all the exams (you will not be allowed to use them as a calculator). If you copy from the internet or a friend, you are simply putting yourself into trouble. It is an easy task for an instructor to find out whether you copied from somewhere/somebody or this is your own effort (some software tools also help). If you are caught with plagiarism or cheating in an exam, the least that can happen is failing the course. Further actions and penalties, such as permanent notations on the transcript, suspension or expulsion may also be applied on you according the CCNY’s policy.

Please, read more about the Academic Integrity Policy of CCNY at:http://www1.ccny.cuny.edu/current/integrity.cfm.

Attendance Policy:

Students must attend at least 50% of the classes. Otherwise you will be penalized with up to 10% reduction of your total points. Attending all the classes is not mandatory however attending all the exams is. Re-scheduling the tests for a student is possible based upon my approval, if there is a valid reason. You have to notify me at least a week in advance that you will need to reschedule the test.

Courtesy Policy:

Eating, drinking, or use of unauthorized hand held electronic equipment is not allowed in the classroom.

Disability Policy:

Appropriate academic accomodations are offered for students with disabilities. Students must register with the AccessAbility Center for reasonable academic accomodations. The AccessAbility Center is located in the North Academic Center, Rm 1/218. Tel: (212) 650-5913. Under the Americans with Disability Act, an individual with a disability is a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. If you have any such issues, I encourage you to visit the AccessAbility Center to determine which services may be appropriate for you.

Evaluation and Grading Policy:

Homework Assignments	≥4	15%
In-class Participation		5%
Mid-term Exams	2	40%
Term Project	1	15%
Final Exam	1	25%

Grading Scale

Grade	A+	A	A-	B+	B	B-	C+	C	C-	D+	D	D-	F
%	≥96	92-95	89-91	86-88	83-85	80-82	77-79	74-76	71-73	68-70	65-67	60-64	≤59

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A. Mohamed, EE Department, CUNY City College

Assignments and Projects: (15%)

At least four homework assignments will be assigned to the students throughout the semester. The grades of the homework represent 15% of your total grade. Please, note that I may assign more assignments if needed. In this case, I will use the highest grades to calculate the homework overall grade.

• You are encouraged to study in groups. However, you have to think independently of the problems first to reach the point where you do not need help to complete the problems.

• All the assignments are due in-class before the class starts.

• A cover page with your name, assignment number and date is required.

• No late submissions will be accepted. No excuses unless there is a valid reason that I have to approve. You have to notify me in advance.

  In-class Participation (5%)

  Students are encouraged to be active and participate effectively during the lectures. Your answers to my questions, and your meaningful questions and discussion are all considered positive participation.

  Mid-term and Final Exams: (2×20%+25%=65%)

• There will be two mid-term exams. Each mid-term exam’s grade represents 20% of your final grade.

• The first mid-term exam (20% of final grade) will be on the fifth week of the semester and will include the materials covered until the fourth week.

• The second mid-term exam (20% of final grade) will be on the ninth week of the semester and will include the materials covered between the first mid-term exam and the eight week.

• The final exam (25% of final grade) will be comprehensive, and will include all the materials covered within the course.

• You need to bring a calculator and extra papers to all exams.

• The exams are closed book.

  Term Project: (15%)

  You will be assigned a project by late September. The students will be allowed to form teams however a significant contribution from each individual is expected. More details will be provided during the semester.

  Changes to the syllabus:

  I reserve the right to amend all policies stated above. Please make sure to check the class page on Blackboard regularly, where I will post announcements and any changes to the syllabus.

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