Renewable Electricity Technical Certificates

17-482-1 Renewable Electricity - Photovoltaic and/or 17-482-2 Renewable Electricity - Wind--planned for 2011
Offered at Ashland (Certificate may be extended to other campuses in future years)

Overview

This certificate provides you with the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to plan, install, and maintain wind and solar (photovoltaic) renewable electrical energy systems. Renewable electricity refers to the generation of electric power by renewable means. Today, most electric power is generated by burning non-renewable, polluting, fossil fuels (primarily coal and oil). Most states have set goals of producing commercial energy from renewable sources such as photovoltaic (PV) and wind systems. Wisconsin, for example, has set a goal of 25% renewable energy by the year 2025 (25x25).

Special Features

There is a growing field of scientists and others who believe that wind and PV will be fulfilling the majority of energy needs in the future - even as early as 2030.

Student Profile

As a student in the Renewable Electricity certificate you should:

Be enthusiastic about renewable energy concepts and systems
Enjoy working outdoors with technical equipment and related tools
Be meticulous in your work habits
Want to be part of the growing field of renewable (green) energy systems
Have an interest in using computers to analyze complex data
Have experience working as an electrical contractor/electrician and desire training with renewable energy systems
Be interested in ways you can reduce your carbon footprint using renewable energy systems

Preparation for Admission

A background in the following areas will help you prepare for this program:

Familiarity with scientific calculators
Experience using computer word processing and spreadsheet software
Basic math skills, including elementary algebra
Good written and verbal communication skills

Outcomes

Employers will expect you, as a graduate of the certificate, to be able to:

Evaluate a site's electrical energy needs by creating a load profile
Suggest some basic conservation and efficiency strategies that minimize a site's energy demands
Write a report assessing a site's suitability for renewable energy systems
Specify the design of a renewable energy system based on energy needs and budget
Install, test, and troubleshoot/maintain solar photovoltaic and/or wind energy systems

Certificates