Alternative Energy online course | Sustainable energy distance education

Understand Your Energy Options

Learn about alternative energy sources and their uses. Learn about the basics of electricity and how to harness with lessons on:

generating electricity from renewable resources
how to store energy
non-electrical systems
energy consumption
energy conservation

ACS Student comment:
"[My tutor] includes some useful comments and obviously has a good store of knowledge on the subject.
Yes, [I find the course a valuable learning experience]. I am in the middle of building a solar-passive designed house in southern Victoria and although I’ve done plenty of research and reading on almost every subject relating to self-sufficiency and alternative energy, the discipline of study has meant I have re-focussed my attention on each topic. I always find out something new that can be applied to the house". William Elder, Australia - Alternative Energy course student

Lesson Structure

There are 8 lessons in this course:

Introduction: The Problems and the Energy Sources.
- Scope and Nature
- Terminology
- Energy consumption through history
- Climate Change
- Energy units
- Problems with Fossil Fuels
- Problems with other energy sources ... hydro electricity, nuclear, wind, solar
Understanding Energy
- Terminology
- Understanding electricity
- Conductors and non conductors
- Measuring electricity ...current, voltage, resistance
- Ohm's Law
- Circuits ... Series; parallel
- Kirchhoff's law
- Power
- Power ratings
- Magnetism
- Electromagnetism and Solenoids
- Electric motors
- Inductors
- Lenz's law
Generating Electricity
- Turbines
- Generators
- Fuel cells
- Wind Power
- Large Scale Wind System Design
- Small Scale Wind System Design
- Solar Energy
- Positioning a solar cell
- Small Scale Solar
- Future Developments in Solar
- Geothermal Energy
- Dry Steam Power Plants
- Flash Steam Power Plants
- Binary Cycle Power Plants
- Advantages of Geothermal
- How Geothermal is used
- Geothermal heat pumps
- Hydropower
- Tide and Current Power
- Tide Barrage
- Tidal Turbines
- Wave Power
- Nuclear Energy
- Fission Reactors
- Fusion
- Half Lives and Radioactivity
- Waste to Energy
Storage and Using Electricity
- Terminology
- Cells - simple cell, car battery, gel, AGM, Nickel etc
- Deep Cycle Battery
- Lithium Rechargeable Batteries
- Calculating Battery Requirements
- Inverters
- Alternators and Regulators
- Converters
- System Types
- EMR & electricity use
- Recommended Exposure Limits
- Safety with Electricity
Non-Electric Systems
- Scope and nature
- Passive Solar
- Fire Wood
- Drying and storing wood
- Comparing different wood types
- Smoke fires
- Creosote formation in fire flues
- Environmental aspects of burning wood
- Biofuels
- Ethanol
- Small scale Biomass
- Passive Solar Energy
- Solar hot water ... flat plate collectors, evacuated tubes, open or closed circuit, passive or active systems, heat pumps
- Greenhouses
- Night insulation
- Solar Garden Water Features
Energy Consumption
- Reducing energy consumption
- Pricing
- Population growth
- Large scale reduction of energy consumption - managing green cities, urban sprawl, peak demands, transport, etc.
Energy Conservation
- How a home owner can reduce energy consumption
- Temperature control
- Minimising light energy consumption
- Minimising appliance energy consumption
- Insulation
- Water conservation
- Solar house design
Converting to Alternative Systems
- Estimating Energy Needs
- Building Efficiency
- System Design
- System Designers

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

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.

What You Will Do

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

All energy sources have problems.

The current trend for alternative energy sources is driven by a host of long-range ubiquitous problems associated with fossil fuels.
Fossil fuels have obvious environmental problems, as does nuclear energy, and even wind, solar and hydro power have some issues that need to be considered. If confined; radioactivity can be a clean and cost-effective source of energy; but if something goes wrong, the costs can rapidly escalate.

Fossil Fuels
Gas, Coal Oil and Wood are easy to burn for energy; but they are not an infinite power source, and do contribute to climate change via greenhouse gasses, atmospheric sulphur dioxide (SO2) which is also known as acid rain; Smog and airborne particulates which contribute to lung diseases; nitrous oxide (N2O) which contributes to ozone formation at low altitudes; carbon monoxide (CO) and heavy metals. Fossil fuels are not renewable, and many sources of supply are rapidly diminishing.

Hydroelectricity
Hydro power is frequently considered green due to the fact that it is renewable and relatively non-polluting, it does come with some fairly significant environmental costs. Hydroelectricity is generally the production of electricity from the movement of water; traditionally this is from the damming of a river to create a reservoir of water which via controlled release is used to drive turbines. Problems associated with damming and channelling water through a turbine include:

reservoir stratification leading to a decline in the amount of dissolved water;
habitat loss through dam construction; changing water levels in reservoir;
sedimentation of the reservoir which can also lead to nutrient loading;
erosion;
dramatic changes in habitat for wildlife and fish.

Wind Energy
People do complain about wind turbines. The most common complaint is that they look ugly, being very tall and dominating otherwise beautiful landscapes (particularly if grouped together). They can also impact upon wildlife. Birds try and fly through them and are killed. They are also prone to being hit by lightning. The energy produced by wind is not stored easily and if often generated far from population centres. Some say wind turbines are noisy. This is not usually a significant issue for anyone more than a kilometre or two away from the turbine.

Solar Energy
To date one of main drawbacks to common usage of solar energy is the cost involved with photovoltaic cells. Other problems include the fact that they only work during sunlight hours, they can be affected by pollution (reduction in solar energy reaching the cell).

Learn to Choose, Implement and Operate Different Types of Energy Solutions

Many people use petrol in their car, electricity in their house and gas or wood burning for heating or cooking; because that's what is readily available, and that is what everyone they know uses.

For some, this may change your living into something that is "greener" or more "environmentally friendly". At the same time, it can result in lower energy costs, and less dependence upon "mainstream" energy supply companies. For others, this may open up opportunities for business or employment.

Where this Course Lead?

When you study this course, your eyes are opened to many other options, and you should begin to see how you can do things differently when it comes to energy.
Renewable and Sustainability energy technologies are changing and growing at a fast rate, therefore research and development in this area will be progressing worldwide.

With the solid foundation formed through this course, you will be set on a path whereby you can follow many different areas of renewable energy or focus on a discipline you are passionate about.

Possible Roles that are available to you from here:

Energy Advisor
Sustainability Consultant
Climatology Roles
Renewable Energy Development Engineer
Towards other Engineering Fields: Hydro-electrical, Solar, Wind
Renewable Energy Farming (Bio-fuels)
Wind-farm Developer
Wind-farm Fabricator/Operator
Solar-farm Developer
Solar-farm Fabricator/Operator
Sustainable Transportation Roles
Energy Saving Building/Manufacturing Roles
Used towards further studies
Research Roles
Internship Roles

What Next?

ENROL or Use our FREE Course Advice Service to Connect with a Tutor

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If a student cannot submit their assignments for 6 months to ACS, they should advise the school to avoid cancellation of their student
registration. Recommencement fees may apply.

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This course has been designed to cover the fundamentals of the topic. It will take around 100 hours to complete, which includes your course reading, assignment work, research, practical tasks, watching videos and anything else that is contained in the course. Our short courses are a great way to do some professional development or to learn a new skill.

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The course consists of course notes, videos, set tasks for your practical work, online quizzes, an assignment for each lesson (that you receive feedback from your tutor from) and ends in an exam (which is optional, if would like to receive the formal award at the end), using our custom built Learning Management System - Login.Training.

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Our custom online learning portal allows you to conduct your learning online. There may be practical tasks that you can do offline. You have the option of downloading your course notes or print them to read later.

There is also the option to pay an additional fee for printed course notes and or USB (availability limited to location and deliverability).

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Each module (short course) is completed with one exam.

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Take a look at their testimonials here.

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Course Contributors

The following academics were involved in the development and/or updating of this course.

Jacinda Cole

Former operations manager for highly reputable Landscape firm, The Chelsea Gardener, before starting her own firm. Jacinda has over 20 years of industry experience in Psychology, Landscaping, Publishing, Writing and Education. Jacinda has a B.Sc., Psych.Cert., M. Psych. Cert.Garden Design, MACA.

John Mason

Writer, Manager, Teacher and Businessman with over 40 years interenational experience covering Education, Publishing, Leisure Management, Education, and Horticulture. He has extensive experience both as a public servant, and as a small business owner.
John is a well respected member of many professional associations, and author of over seventy books and of over two thousand magazine articles.

Tutors

Meet some of the tutors that guide the students through this course.

Jacinda Cole

Jacinda has expertise in psychology and horticulture. She holds a BSc (hons) in Psychology and a Masters in Psychology (Clinical) and also trained in psychoanalytic psychotherapy at the London Centre for Psychotherapy. In horticulture she has a Certificate in Garden Design and ran her own landscaping and garden design business for a number of years. Jacinda also has many years experience in course development and educational writing.

Michael Brugman

Mike is a graduate of Rhodes University and has experience in the Earth Science field. His working experience includes working as a consultant in geology, environmental and atmospheric science.

More recently he has been focused on research and academia including research interests in areas such as air quality and carbon emissions.

Parita Shah

Parita has a Masters Degree in Horticulture specializing in Plantation, Spices, Medicinal and Aromatic crops and Organic farming. She has worked as a freelance consultant, and in an Avocado nursery in NSW as grafting and preparing avocado clones.

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Our Students Say

In my role within a large Aged Care Facility a great deal of my employment is spent in the area of Turf management and garden care/refurbishment. With ACS I was able to study at my own pace allowing me to put into practise and thoroughly research the subject matter broadening my knowledge and study experience further. I enjoyed the way in which the subject matter was presented as it allowed you to study each subject further, allowing for greater depth, clarity and knowledge.
Overall there are not many areas in which the course subject matter will not turn out to be invaluable, everything is covered to allow you to become successful within your own business or place of employment. A big thank you to Gavin Cole [tutor] and all at ACS. It was a pleasure to study with ACS, look forward to further study.

- Craig Ledbury