Engi 9896: Renewable Energy Systems
Winter 2024
Instructor: Tariq Iqbal, ECE, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Email (through the course website): tariq@online.mun.ca
Introduction: Renewable energy comes from natural resources such as sun, wind, water, biomass and earth. A conversion system is required to convert renewable energy into electrical energy. This course covers several types of renewable energy conversion systems. It is a lecture-based course with four design assignments and a research oriented project. Available renewable energy estimation, system sizing, design, dynamic modelling and control of renewable energy systems will be covered in the course. The course includes the following topics: introduction to Wind Energy Conversion Systems (WECS), assessment of wind energy potential, wind turbine aerodynamics, types of WECS, wind turbines modelling and control strategies, isolated and grid connected WECS systems, hybrid energy systems, energy storage, solar energy systems, photovoltaic cells, module and array concepts, PV system engineering, stand-alone systems, grid connected systems, concentrator systems, system sizing and maximum power tracking, solar water pumping, micro-hydro electro-mechanical systems and control, introduction to tidal power, wave energy converters, ocean thermal systems, and hybrid power system sizing using Energy3D, BEOpt, SAM, REopt and HOMER Pro.
Delivery: Two lectures per week. Monday and Wednesday 2:00pm to 3:15pm in EN 4035
Assignments due dates: A1 (January 26); A2 (February 16); Midterm Test (February 28); A3 (March 8); A4 (March 29); Project report (April 5)
Evaluation Scheme:
System sizing and design assignments (4) 20%
Midterm test 20%
Final exam 30%
Design Project (3%+4%+3%+5%+P=5%+R=10%) 30%
Website: A D2L based course website is available at https://online.mun.ca/
A list of suggested group projects:
1. Design and simulate a PV system to meet all energy needs of an electric scooter
2. Design and simulate a rooftop PV system to meet all electricity needs of HS multi-storey car park
3. Design and simulate a PV system to power Natuashish community
4. Design and simulate a PV system for a pleasure boat
5. Design and simulate a floating solar reverse osmosis drinking water system
6. Design and simulate a grid connected PV system for MUN Engineering Building
7. Design and simulate a smart solar lawn mower for use in St. John’s
8. Energy analysis of MUN CSF building using NREL OpenStudio
9. Design and analysis of a hybrid power system for an Iranian island
10. Design and analysis of PV system for a cellphones charging shop in a remote location in Africa
11. Design and simulate a PV system to meet all energy needs of an apartment in Middle East
12. Design and simulate a wind turbine power system for a telecommunication tower in NL
13. Design and simulate a 500 MW wind farm for H2 project near Stephenville Newfoundland
14. Design and simulate a hybrid power system for Makkovik Labrador
15. Design and analysis of a wind farm for Agrentia NL Wind Hydrogen Project
16. Design and simulate an electric ferry for Bell Island NL
17. Design and simulate a hybrid power system for Mud Lake Labrador
18. Design and simulate a hybrid power system for Rigolet Labrador
19. Design and simulate a hybrid power system for Norman Bay Labrador
20. Design and simulate a hybrid power system for Hopedale Labrador
Project Deadlines:
1. Complete literature search, resources data collection. Submit a literature review and collected data document on January 19. (3%)
2. Complete sizing, specifications, system steady state modelling and analysis before February 23. (4%)
3. Complete system dynamic modelling, simulation and analysis in Matlab before March 9. (3%)
4. Complete control and protection system design and analysis before March 23. (5%)
5. Complete project presentation and report writing by the end of the term. (15%)
Course Outline:
Lecture 1: Course introduction and overview of world energy resources and consumption trends
Lecture 2: Renewable energy system types, current status and future
Lecture 3: Energy in the wind, types of wind turbine and their output characteristics
Lecture 4: Assessment of annual energy output of a wind turbine using bins method
Lecture 5: Wind turbine aerodynamics
Lecture 6: Mathematical modelling of wind energy conversion system
Lecture 7: Control of wind energy conversion systems
Lecture 8: Variable speed wind turbines and their grid interface
Lecture 9: Grid interconnection standards, protection and economics of WECS
Lecture 10: Wind diesel hybrid power systems
Lecture 11: Large solar energy systems
Lecture 12: Photovoltaic cell, modules, panels and their characteristic
Lecture 13: Photovoltaic system engineering and design
Lecture 14: Introduction to power electronics and control of PV systems
Lecture 15: Maximum power point tracking for PV systems
Lecture 16: Current energy storage technologies
Lecture 17: Introduction to solar water pumping systems
Lecture 18: Micro-hydro power
Lecture 19: Micro-hydro sizing and electro-mechanical systems
Lecture 20: Micro-hydro power electrical connection and control
Lecture 21: Ocean energy systems
Lecture 22: Wave energy conversion systems
Lecture 23: Student project presentations - I
Lecture 24: Student project presentations – II
Reference Books:
Renewable Energy: power for sustainable future, edited by Stephen Peake, 4th edition, Oxford university press 2018. (ISBN: 978-0198759751)
WIND POWER TECHNOLOGY, Third Edition Joshua Earnest and Sthuthi Rachel 2019 (ISBN-978-93-88028-49-3)
Photovoltaic Systems Engineering for Students and Professionals Solved Examples and Applications by Mugdesem Tanrioven, 2024 (ISBN: 978-1-032-54185-3)