2581012 – Renewable Energy – Resources, Technologies and Economics

Welcome to the course! Why this matters Our energy system is in the middle of one of the biggest transformations in history. Growing climate concerns, limited fossil fuels, and rapidly falling costs are pushing the world toward renewable energy. In this lecture you will explore why this shift is happening, what the renewable options are, and how we make sure they are reliable, affordable, and actually buildable. What you will learn We will start with the big picture – the global energy situation and the energy balance of the Earth – and work our way down to the individual technologies: hydro, wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, and a look at other emerging renewables. For each technology you will gain solid, hands-on knowledge: how it works, its technical details, and how to estimate its potential. You will also understand the economic aspects that decide whether and where a technology gets built – generation costs, political promotion, and the marketing of renewable electricity. Finally, we will zoom back out to the systemic context: what changes when a growing share of our power comes from fluctuating sources like wind and sun, and how the grid, storage, and markets have to interact as a whole. By the end of the course, you will be able to characterize – and, where required, calculate – these technologies yourself, and explain the motivation, potentials, and system-wide implications of renewable energy. Practical highlight: our excursion! On 18 December we head to the Black Forest for a guided excursion to a hydro power plant – the chance to see a technology up close and put theory into practice. Don't miss it!