Alternative Energy Expert 

Alternative Energy Expert

650 Hours/12 Months/Instructor Supported

Course Outline:

Become an Alternative Energy Specialist and learn ways to help conserve, reduce, reuse, recycle, and thus minimize our impact on the planet. Through this "entry-level" green course you will learn that even small changes make a difference and that going green is good for our health, the planet, and even our budgets.

Armed with the knowledge from this course you can form educated and informed opinions on the future of energy and its impact on the economy, health, and the environment.

As an Alternative Energy Specialist you will discover how to establish your business as a green business. You can become a Green Consultant and help others by exploring environmentally-friendly business opportunities to choosing eco-friendly means of production. Learn business basics with a green twist including financing, office setup, day-to-day operations and so much more!

The Photovoltaic System Professional is a comprehensive course and guide to installation of residential and commercial photovoltaic (PV) systems. This course covers the principles of PV electricity and how to effectively incorporate it into stand-alone or utility-connected electrical systems. We give detailed illustrations to clarify the concepts behind PV system operation. The Photovoltaic System Professional course covers topics including PV industry growth, solar radiation, array orientation, components and system configurations, system sizing and design, mechanical and electrical installation, utility interconnection, codes and regulations, PV specific safety practices, maintenance, troubleshooting, and economic analysis. This course also includes a comprehensive CD-ROM.

Heating water with the sun is a practice almost as old as humankind itself. This Solar Water Heating Specialist course is a guide to this clean and cost-effective technology.

Beginning with a review of the history of solar water and space heating systems from prehistory to the present, this course presents an introduction to modern solar energy systems, energy conservation, and energy economics.

This course covers:

• Types of solar collectors, solar water, and space heating systems and solar pool heating systems, including their advantages and disadvantages
• System components, their installation, operation, and maintenance
• System sizing and siting
• Choosing the appropriate system

This course also focuses on the financial aspects of solar water or space heating systems, clearly showing that such systems generate significant savings in the long run.

The availability of clean, renewable power is without question going to be the defining challenge and goal of the 21st century, and wind will lead the way. Wind power can realistically not only replace the lion's share of oil, coal, and natural gas fired electrical plants in the U.S., but also can add enough extra power capacity to allow for most of the cars in the nation to run on electricity.

This Wind Energy Professional course is designed specifically with technicians in mind! Our course covers all aspects of installing and troubleshooting wind turbines, giving technicians the knowledge they need to handle even complex maintenance tasks. This course explains how wind turbine blades harvest wind energy, and how generators convert shaft turning energy into electricity. It shows how electrical and hydraulic systems control the speed of wind turbine blades, energizing blade pitch and yaw position controls. Mechanical subjects such as gears, transmissions and gearboxes are discussed in detail.

Some additional course features include:

• Comprehensive, in-depth coverage—including wind turbine installation and troubleshooting, towers, blades, generators, control, and much more
• History, background, trends, and demand projections—Provides the context needed to understand the growing role of wind energy
• Coverage of all parts of vertical and horizontal wind turbines—including small, medium, and large wind turbines
• Essential electrical coverage—including basic electricity theory, magnetism, motors, generators, PLC controls, and the electrical grid
• Extensive discussion of mechanical topics
• Towers, tower designs, and safety- walks through the advantages and disadvantages of each type of tower, discusses the principles of safe tower design and construction, and explains nacelle installation
• Integration of wind-generated electricity into the grid

The Alternative Energy Expert program includes 4 courses:

• Alternative Energy Specialist
• Photovoltaic System Professional
• Solar Water Heating Specialist
• Wind Energy Professional

Course Outline:

Alternative Energy Specialist

Alternative Energy Specialist Module 1
Picture Yourself Going Green

• What is Green?
• Ten Simple Steps
• Green Your Home
• The Air We Breathe
• Waste Not: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
• Greening Your Home Office
• Green Your Energy
• The History of Energy
• Buying Clean Power Locally
• Offsetting Your Energy Use
• Green Your Appetite
• The Pesticide Proliferation
• Going Local, Going Organic
• Green Your Yard
• Fertilizers, Herbicides, and Pesticides
• Conserving Water

Alternative Energy Specialist Module 2
Green Your Life

• Green Your Wardrobe
• Genetically Engineered Cotton
• Clothing Production & Chemicals
• Green is Beautiful
• Green House cleaning
• Personal Care Products
• Green Your Transportation
• Why Carbon Emissions Matter
• Fine-Tuning for Better Gas Mileage
• Green Your Travel
• Choosing Ecotourism
• Supporting Green Businesses
• Eco Kids and Green Pets
• Healthy Nursery or Bedroom
• Choosing Natural Pet Food Options
• Five Ways to Go UberGreen

Alternative Energy Specialist Module 3
Understanding Energy

• We Need Energy
• Primary and Secondary energy
• Energy and First Law of Thermodynamics
• Entropy and Second Law of Thermodynamics
• Energy Sources We Use
• Oil and Natural Gas
• Properties of Hydrocarbons
• Oil Fields
• Coal: Fossil Fuel of the Future
• Classification of Coals
• Coal Combustion for Power Generation
• Coal-to-Liquid Technologies
• Fossil Fuels and Greenhouse Effect
• Weather and Climate
• Anthropogenic Emissions
• Kyoto Protocol

Alternative Energy Specialist Module 4
Energy Options

• Hydropower
• Dams and Diversions
• Small-Scale Hydropower
• Energy from the Ocean
• Marine Current Energy
• Osmotic Energy
• Producing Biomass
• Direct Combustion Technologies
• Biomass and the Environmental Impact
• Biofuels
• Solar Energy
• Thermal Solar Energy
• Concentrated Solar Power Plants
• Photovoltaic Systems
• Geothermal Energy
• Wind Energy

Alternative Energy Specialist Module 5
Electricity & Transportation

• Nuclear Energy
• Uses of Nuclear Energy
• Thermonuclear Energy
• Electricity: Smart Use of Energy
• Energy Sources for Electricity Production
• From Mechanical Energy to Consumer
• Energy Storage
• Weak Points of Energy Supply Chain
• Large-Quantity Storage Technologies
• Thermal Energy Storage
• Underground Energy Storage
• History of Transportation
• Energy and Transportation
• CO2 Emissions
• Hybrid & Electric Vehicles

Alternative Energy Specialist Module 6
Smart Energy Consumption

• Toward More Efficient Housing
• Different Regions, Different Solutions
• Bioclimatic Architecture
• Energy Use in a Household
• Improving the Way We Consume Energy
• Cogeneration
• Hydrogen
• Production to Distribution
• Hydrogen: Energetic Applications
• Fundamentals of Fuel Cells
• Direct Combined Heat and Power
• Hydrogen Safety

Alternative Energy Specialist Module 7
Your Own Green Business

• What Does "Green" Mean?
• Green Business Decisions
• Customers and Market Research
• Building a Green Business
• Green Business Equipment and Furniture
• Figuring Out Your Costs
• Getting Green Financing
• Making Your Way in a Greener World
• Your Green Team & Community
• Spreading the Green Word
• Green Marketing, Promotion & Advertising
• Social Responsibility
• Maintaining Positive Green Habits
• Green Business Resources

Photovoltaic System Professional

Photovoltaic System Professional Module 1
Photovoltaics, Solar Radiation & Preplanning

• Introduction to Photovoltaics
• PV Applications
• PV Industry
• Solar Energy Technologies
• The Sun
• Sun-Earth Relationships
• Array Orientation
• Solar Radiation Data Sets
• Estimating Array Performance
• Preliminary Assessment
• Site Surveys
• Installation Planning

Photovoltaic System Professional Module 2
System Components & Configurations

• System Components
• Electrical Energy Sources
• PV System Configurations
• Photovoltaic Cells
• Current-Voltage (I-V) Curves
• Device Response
• Modules and Arrays
• Battery Principles
• Battery Types
• Battery Systems

Photovoltaic System Professional Module 3
Controllers, Inverters & Sizing Systems

• Charge Controller Features
• Charge Controller Types
• Charge Controller Setpoints
• Charge Controller Applications
• AC Power
• Inverts
• Power Conditioning Units
• Inverter Features and Specifications
• Sizing Methodologies
• Sizing Calculations

Photovoltaic System Professional Module 4
Mechanical & Electrical Integration

• Mechanical Considerations
• Array Mounting Systems
• Mechanical Integration
• National Electrical Code®
• Voltage & Current Requirements
• Conductors & Wiring Methods
• Overcurrent Protection
• Disconnects
• Grounding
• Battery Systems
• Distributed Generation
• Utility Interconnection Policies

Photovoltaic System Professional Module 5
Permitting, Maintenance & Troubleshooting

• Building Codes and Regulations
• Permitting
• Inspection
• Commissioning
• Maintenance
• Monitoring
• Troubleshooting
• Economic Analysis
• Incentives
• Cost Analysis

Solar Water Heating Specialist

Solar Water Heating Specialist Module 1
Understanding Solar Water Heating

• History of Solar Water Heating
• Economics of Solar Water Heating
• History of Fossil Fuels
• Life-Cycle Costing
• Types of Solar Collectors
• Other System Components
• Storage Tanks
• Heat Exchangers
• Pumps, Piping, & Pipe Insulation

Solar Water Heating Specialist Module 2
Solar Water & Space Heating Systems

• Pressurized Antifreeze Systems
• Drainback Systems
• Integral Collector Storage Systems
• Thermosiphon Systems
• Solar Heated Pools
• Solar Heated Hot Tubs & Spas
• Liquid-Type Solar Heating Systems
• Heat Delivery Methods
• High-Mass Systems

Solar Water Heating Specialist Module 3
Choosing the Right System

• Siting a Solar Energy System
• Sizing a Solar Water Heating System
• Sizing a Solar Space Heating System
• Sizing Components
• Sizing Expansion Tanks
• Sizing Air Heating Systems

Solar Water Heating Specialist Module 4
System Installation, Operation, & Maintenance

• Installing Solar Water Heating Systems
• Handling & Mounting Solar Collectors
• Mounting the Heat Exchanger
• Plumbing the System
• Testing the System
• Installing Solar Pool Heating Systems
• Installing Radiant Floor Tubing
• Charging a Pressurized System
• Controls & Power Sources
• Maintenance

Wind Energy Professional

Wind Energy Professional Module 1
Wind Energy Basics – Part 1

• Overview of Wind Energy
• Wind Turbine Size Classes
• Wind Turbine Technology
• Mini Wind Turbines
• Household Size Wind Turbines
• Small Commercial Wind Turbines
• Large Wind Turbines
• Vertical Axis Revival
• Power in the Wind
• Air Density
• Wind Speed Distribution
• Estimating Wind Performance
• Power Curve Method
• Towers & Tower Placement
• Problems with Wind Turbines

Wind Energy Professional Module 2
Wind Energy Basics – Part 2

• Off the Grid
• Hybrid Wind & Solar Systems
• Wind Pumping
• Interconnection Technology
• Power Quality & the Utility
• Net Metering
• European Distributed Generation
• Distributed Generation in North America
• Community Wind
• Size of Community Wind Projects
• Ownership Requirements
• Investing in Wind Energy
• Economics & Profitability
• Subsidies & Incentives
• Electricity Feed Laws

Wind Energy Professional Module 3
Wind Power & Wind Turbines

• Wind Turbine Classifications
• Wind Turbine Specifications
• Electricity Transmission Limitations
• Total Peak Demand
• Tax Considerations for Wind Power
• Jobs in Wind Power Industry
• Physics of Wind Power
• Geography considerations
• Variations in Wind Speed
• Predicting Wind Speed
• Site Requirements
• Vertical Axis Wind Turbines
• Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines
• Blade Geometry
• Comparison of Blade Types
• Wind Turbine Performance
• Blade Pitch Control
• Testing Wind Turbines

Wind Energy Professional Module 4
Wind Turbines & Generators

• Basic Parts of Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines
• The Nacelle & the Nacelle Bedplate
• Rotor Hubs & Blade Types
• Rotational Speed & Rotor Speed Control
• Yaw Mechanism & Drives
• Yaw Control & Drive Brakes
• Data Acquisition & Communications
• The Anemometer & Wind Vane
• Basic Operation of the Programmable Logic Controller
• PLC Inputs & Outputs
• PLC Analog Control
• Hydraulic Controls & Pumps
• Hydraulic Cylinders & Motors
• Brakes on Wind Turbines
• AC & DC Electricity
• Frequency of AC Voltage
• Magnetic Theory
• DC Generators & AC Motors
• Asynchronous & Synchronous Generators
• Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generators

Wind Energy Professional Module 5
Gearboxes, the Grid & Towers

• Gearboxes & Direct Drive Systems
• Advantages of Gear Ratios
• Types of Gears
• Gearbox Differential & Spur Gears
• Drive Trains
• Understanding the Grid
• Transformers, Transmission, & Distribution
• Grid Code Rules & Regulations
• Utility Grid-Tied Net Metering
• Voltage, True Power, & Reactive Power
• System Grounding
• Underground vs Overhead Feeder Circuits
• Types of Wind Turbine Towers
• Foundations & Concrete Support for Towers
• Climbing Towers
• Safety Issues with Towers
• Lightening Safety for Wind Turbines
• Tower Maintenance

Wind Energy Professional Module 6
Installation, Troubleshooting & Maintenances

• Wind Site Assessment
• Site Issues
• Visual & Landscape Assessment
• Commercial Wind Turbine Systems
• Offshore Installations
• Installation of a Wind Turbine
• Troubleshooting Process
• Troubleshooting Tables & Matrix
• Generation & Transmission Problems
• Mechanical & Tower Problems
• Electrical & Hydraulic Problems
• Major Overhaul of a Wind Turbine
• Basic Electricity
• Measuring Volts, Amps, & Ohms
• Fundamentals of Electrical Circuits
• Capacitors & Capacitive Reactance
• Volt-Ampere Reactance (VAR)
• Three Phase Transformers
• PNP & NPN Transistors
• Inverters: Changing DC Voltage to AC Voltage

All necessary materials included.

Certifications:

• Upon successful completion of our Alternative Energy Specialist course, students will be prepared to sit for the NCCB national certification exam to become a Certified Alternative Energy Specialist (CAES).
• Upon successful completion of our Photovoltaic System Professional course, students will be prepared for an entry-level position as in the solar industry and will be prepared to sit for the NCCB national certification exam to become a Certified Photovoltaic System Specialist (CPSS).
• Upon successful completion of our Solar Water Heating Specialist course, students will be prepared for an entry-level position as in the solar industry and will be prepared to sit for the NCCB national certification exam to become a Certified Solar Water Heating Specialist (CSWHS).
• Upon successful completion of our Wind Energy Professional course, students will be prepared for an entry-level position in the wind energy industry and will be prepared to sit for the NCCB national certification exam to become a Certified Wind Energy Specialist (CWES).

System Requirements:

Internet Access

• Broadband or high-speed internet access is required. Broadband includes DSL, cable, and wireless connections.
• Dial-Up internet connections will result in a diminished online experience. Moodle pages may load slowly and viewing large audio and video files may not be possible.

Hardware

• Windows hardware configurations and processors are acceptable.
• Mac computers MUST have Microsoft Window Operating Systems over Bootcamp (Bootcamp is a free download from Apple's website).
• 1 GB RAM recommended
• Software
• Operating Systems
• Windows XP or Vista and Mac OS X 10 and higher with Windows
• Web Browsers
• Google Chrome
• Safari, Internet Explorer & FireFox are not currently recommended as they cannot display certain Moodle editing menus for both students and instructors
• Adobe PDF Reader
• Media Plug-ins (These may be required depending on your course media-click on the links below to download the latest versions)
• Adobe Flash Player
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• Apple Quicktime
• Windows Media Player
• Real Player
• PowerPoint Viewer (use this if you don't have PowerPoint)

**Outlines are subject to change, as courses are always under improvement for your benefit.**