Renewable Energy Technologies Lab

Catalog description

This is a hands-on, lab-based course in which students from a variety of engineering backgrounds will learn a range of cross-disciplinary engineering skills that are needed for design and fabrication of renewable energy technologies. Through the multi-stage design of a lab-scale horizontal-axis wind turbine and energy storage system, we will practice electrical engineering circuit design and assembly, mechanical engineering turbine blade design and fabrication, materials science blade material choice and testing (and possibly bioengineering, depending on the choice of materials), and chemical engineering battery system design, assembly, and analysis. Students will work together on interdisciplinary teams to build a robust renewable energy technology skillset that will prepare them for future careers in the renewables industry. Undergraduate-level training in electrical engineering (e.g. ESE 2150 ), mechanical engineering (e.g. MEAM 2100 and MEAM 2110 ), materials science and engineering (e.g. MSE 2200 ), chemical engineering (e.g. CBE 2310 and CBE 3500 ), OR bioengineering (e.g. BE 2200 and BE 2700 ) is expected. Students with a level of freshman or sophomore may not enroll.