Renewable Energy Systems and Technology

At the end of the course, the students should be able to: 1. identify the types, uses and advantages of renewable energy in relation to climate change; 2. design for use the various renewable energy systems; 3. recognise and analyse the current energy systems in Nigeria, their impacts on development and the global energy demand and supply scenarios; 4. appreciate the environmental impact of energy exploitation and utilisation, and pursue the sustainable development of renewable energy for various applications; and 5. recognise the exploitation, excavation, production, and processing of fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas, and discuss the sources, technology and contribution to future energy demands of renewable energy.

Current and potential future energy systems in Nigeria and globally - resources, extraction, concepts in energy conversion systems; parallels and differences in various conversion systems and end-use technologies, with emphasis on meeting 21st-century national, regional and global energy needs in a sustainable manner. Various energy technologies in each fuel cycle stage for fossil (oil, gas, synthetic), nuclear (fission and fusion) and renewable (solar, biomass, wind, hydro, and geothermal). Energy types, storage, transmission and conservation. Analysis of energy mixes within an engineering, economic and social context. Sustainable energy; emphasise sustainability in general and in the overall concept of sustainable development and the link this has with sustainable energy as the fundamental benefit of renewable energy. Practical Contents Simple measurement of solar radiation, bomb calorimeter determination of calorific value of fuels and biomass; measurement of the velocity of wind, waves and the energy that abound in them; laboratory production of biogas and determination of energy available in it; simple conversion of solar energy to electricity; transesterification of edible oil into biodiesel; simulation of geothermal energy; Geiger-Muller or Scintillation Counters’ determination of uranium or thorium energy; simple solid or salt storage of energy; hybrid application of renewable energy.