ALTERNATIVE ENERGY VSS102

Supply your own power
Learn about alternative energy
 
Learn to become less reliant on the electricity and gas companies and save money through alternative energy sources.

Alternative Energy is a growth industry, and career opportunities are opening up all the time; from sales and marketing positions in retail outlets and manufacturing businesses through to technical assistants, developmental scientists and entrepreneurial businessmen. Some people get a start in this industry as a hobby, others with a short course like this. Some are lucky enough to get a position where they can train on the job, and others undertake a more substantial certificate, diploma or degree course.

This is not an industry where you necessarily need a high qualification; but you do need to understand the industry, be technically minded and have a creative and open mind that can apply lateral thinking to problem solving. This course aims to encourage and develop these characteristics as a foundation for working in alternative energy.

Course Structure

  • 8 lessons
  • 8 assignments
  • 100 nominal hours of study

Course Structure

  1. Problems & Energy Sources
  2. Understanding Energy
  3. Generating Electricity
  4. Electricity Storage and Use
  5. Non Electric Systems
  6. Energy Consumption
  7. Energy Conservation
  8. Converting to New Systems

Aims

  • Describe the nature and scope of alternative energy.
  • Describe the nature and application of electricity.
  • Compare different methods of generating electricity
  • Compare different techniques for storage and use of electricity.
  • Describe the application and operation of different non electric energy systems
  • Identify ways to better manage energy consumption.
  • Describe energy conservation techniques.
  • Discuss how to convert a building's energy supply to an alternative system.

    • Examples of typical assignment work you may encounter:

    • List different insulating materials which may be commonly found inside electrical equipment?
    • Determine a practical example to show the relevance of each of Kirchoff's Laws to a technician, in their daily work?
    • Contact a number of suppliers of alternative energy generating systems (e.g. wind, solar). Find out all that you can about the types of systems they supply. Collect any relevant leaflets and brochures. If possible observe such systems in action
    • Design a floor plan and describe the current electricity use of a home which you are familiar with (but which uses only mains power supply).
      This might be the home of a friend, relative, or even your own home.
    • Recommend ways in which this home might reduce reliability on mains supply (either in part or full) by introducing its own electricity generation system
    • Compare the relative significance of alternative sources of energy including wind, solar, fossil fuels, hydro, etc.
    • Explain electricity, including its nature, terminology and options for applying it as an energy source
    • Explain the generation of electricity through a variety of means including: Photo voltaic cells, Wind powered generators, Petrol powered generators and Batteries.
    • Describe procedures for appropriate use of electricity, including storage and safety
    • Develop ways of reducing energy consumption, including effective temperature control.
    • Evaluate a building and recommend appropriate measures for minimising it's consumption of energy.
    • Identify the restrictions or regulations which can affect the adoption of more appropriate energy applications for a specific property.
    • Plan the conversion of a property from high energy consumption systems to an appropriate network of sustainable and lower energy consumption systems