Alternative/Renewable Energy Technologies

Course Description

ETP1501 – Alternative/Renewable Energy Technologies is a 3-credit-hour introductory course in the Engineering Technologies > Energy Power Technology taxonomy of the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS). The course surveys the full spectrum of alternative and renewable energy sources, examining the scientific principles, system components, installation practices, economic factors, and environmental impacts associated with each technology. Students explore how energy is generated, transmitted, and distributed from both conventional and renewable sources, and develop foundational competencies required of technicians entering Florida's growing alternative and renewable energy workforce. Laboratory-based and hands-on activities are integral to the course.

This course is offered at multiple Florida state colleges, including Tallahassee State College and Gulf Coast State College, and its curriculum framework has been developed in alignment with standards established by the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE), the Florida Advanced Technological Education Center (FLATE), the Florida Energy Systems Consortium (FESC), and the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) Alternative Energy curriculum endorsed by the Florida Energy Workforce Consortium (FEWC).

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Explain the flow of energy from generation through transmission and distribution to the end customer, and describe the history and infrastructure of the U.S. energy industry.
• Identify and distinguish the full range of alternative and renewable energy technologies (solar PV, solar thermal, wind, biomass/biofuels, geothermal, hydropower, ocean/tidal, fuel cells, and hydrogen) and their applications.
• Discuss the value, pros, and cons of various energy-producing technologies and fuels, including fossil fuels and nuclear power, within the electrical infrastructure.
• Compare the environmental impact and economic role of both traditional and alternative energy supplies, including greenhouse gas emissions, climate change variables, and lifecycle energy analysis.
• Demonstrate knowledge of electrical fundamentals — including AC/DC electricity, power transmission principles, and basic circuit concepts — as applied to renewable energy systems.
• Describe safe work practices, health and safety standards, and environmental management requirements relevant to energy technology work sites.
• Discuss the regulatory, permitting, and policy environment governing renewable energy in Florida, including net metering, interconnection standards, and applicable codes (NEC, IEEE, NEMA, ANSI).
• Evaluate and analyze emerging technologies in the energy industry, including smart grid concepts and energy storage systems.
• Explain career opportunities and employability skills in the alternative and renewable energy sector.

Optional Outcomes

Depending on institutional focus and available lab facilities, students may also:

• Conduct a site assessment and perform basic design calculations for a small-scale solar PV or solar thermal system.
• Perform a preliminary residential or commercial energy audit to identify efficiency improvement opportunities.
• Demonstrate the installation, inspection, and troubleshooting of solar PV modules, solar thermal collectors, or small wind generators following manufacturer specifications.
• Describe the operating principles of hydrogen production, storage, and fuel cell systems.
• Explain biofuel production pathways, including ethanol, biodiesel, biogas, and biomass gasification.
• Discuss vehicle-to-grid (V2G), battery storage, and distributed energy resource integration.
• Apply energy economics concepts to evaluate cost-effectiveness and payback periods for renewable energy installations.

Major Topics

Required Topics

The following content areas are commonly covered across Florida college offerings of ETP1501:

1. Energy Foundations and Statistics
   • Energy definitions, units, and conversions
   • U.S. and world energy consumption statistics (EIA data)
   • History of the U.S. energy industry and infrastructure
   • Energy generation, transmission, and distribution overview
   • Fossil fuels: coal, oil, natural gas — role, limitations, and environmental impact
   • Climate change, greenhouse gases, radiative forcing, and fossil fuel perturbations
2. Solar Energy Technologies
   • Solar radiation fundamentals and the solar resource
   • Photovoltaic (PV) system components: modules, inverters, racking, and balance-of-system
   • Solar thermal systems: flat-plate and evacuated-tube collectors, solar water heating
   • Passive vs. active solar design
   • Concentrated solar power (CSP) overview
   • Solar system sizing, site assessment, and monitoring
3. Wind Energy Technologies
   • Wind resource characteristics and site considerations
   • Wind turbine components and operating principles (Betz's Law)
   • Small wind generators vs. utility-scale wind farms
   • Offshore wind energy overview
4. Biomass and Biofuel Technologies
   • Biomass resources, feedstocks, and conversion technologies
   • Ethanol, biodiesel, biogas, and biomass gasification
   • Urban waste-to-energy conversion
   • Environmental and economic impacts of biofuels
5. Geothermal Energy
   • Geothermal principles: earth heat sources and temperature gradients
   • Ground-source heat pump systems for residential and commercial buildings
   • Utility-scale geothermal power generation overview
6. Hydropower and Ocean Energy
   • Hydroelectric systems: conventional, run-of-river, and micro-hydro
   • Ocean wave, tidal, and marine current energy technologies
7. Nuclear Power Overview
   • Nuclear fission principles and reactor types
   • Uranium fuel cycle: mining, milling, enrichment
   • Advantages, disadvantages, safety considerations, and Florida relevance
   • Regulatory environment: NRC, INPO, NEI
8. Electrical Fundamentals for Energy Systems
   • AC vs. DC electricity principles
   • Power transmission equipment and systems
   • Net metering, interconnection standards, and grid integration
   • Smart grid and emerging transmission technologies
9. Safety, Codes, and Regulations
   • Electrical safety practices and personal protective equipment (PPE)
   • Florida permitting and inspection processes for renewable energy installations
   • Applicable codes: NEC, IEEE, NEMA, ANSI, and Florida Building Code
   • Florida energy policy: FEECA, Florida Renewable Energy Technologies and Energy Efficiency Act, net metering rules
10. Energy Economics and Policy
    • Cost comparison of conventional vs. renewable energy sources
    • Florida and federal incentive programs (tax credits, rebates, grants)
    • Public policy affecting renewable power generation
    • Energy independence and sustainability considerations

Optional Topics

The following topics may be included based on instructor expertise, available lab equipment, and program focus:

• Hydrogen energy: production via electrolysis, storage, and fuel cell (PEM) operating principles
• Energy storage systems: battery technologies, pumped hydro storage, and vehicle-to-grid (V2G)
• Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and zero-net-energy building design
• Residential energy auditing and energy efficiency measures
• PV system design software and energy modeling tools
• Algae-based biofuels and advanced feedstock research (relevant to Florida research institutions)
• Electric and alternatively fueled vehicles: charging infrastructure, propulsion systems
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for evaluating energetic viability and environmental performance of technologies

Resources & Tools

• FLATE/FESC Alternative Energy Curriculum: 16-module open course content developed by the Florida Advanced Technological Education Center in partnership with the Florida Energy Systems Consortium — freely available for college-level use.
• NCCER Alternative Energy Trainee Guide: Industry-standard curriculum endorsed by the Florida Energy Workforce Consortium (FEWC), covering biomass, biofuel, nuclear, wind, and solar energy.
• U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA): eia.gov — authoritative source for energy statistics, consumption data, and state-level energy profiles.
• Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) at UCF: Research publications, continuing education courses, and solar equipment certification resources; available at energyresearch.ucf.edu.
• OpenALG – Fundamentals of Renewable Energy: Open textbook covering hydroelectric, wind, solar thermal, solar PV, ocean waves, tidal, geothermal, and biomass energy.
• U.S. Department of Energy – Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE): energy.gov/eere — technical resources, data, and policy updates.
• DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency): dsireusa.org — Florida-specific incentive program data.
• PVWatts Calculator (NREL): Free online tool for estimating solar PV system energy production and cost.
• Lab Equipment: Solar PV trainer panels, solar thermal demonstration kits, small wind turbine models, multimeters, clamp meters, and energy monitoring equipment (as available per institution).

Career Pathways

ETP1501 prepares students for entry-level roles in Florida's expanding clean energy workforce and supports progression into related certificate and degree programs. Typical career pathways include:

• Solar PV Installer / Technician — residential and commercial PV system installation and maintenance
• Solar Thermal Systems Technician — solar water heating installation, service, and inspection
• Wind Turbine Service Technician — maintenance and repair of wind energy systems
• Energy Auditor / Efficiency Technician — residential and commercial energy assessments
• Power Distribution Technician — utility and distributed generation systems
• Energy Generation Technician — operations support at power generation facilities
• Industrial Energy Efficiency Technician — energy cost reduction in manufacturing and commercial settings
• Bioenergy / Biomass Plant Operator (entry level)

This course fulfills a core requirement for the Alternative Energy Systems Specialist Certificate offered at Florida colleges including Tallahassee State College, Brevard State College, and Gulf Coast State College. It also provides foundational credit toward the A.S. in Alternative Energy Systems Technology.

Special Information

Certification Preparation

• NCCER Alternative Energy Credential: Course content aligns with the NCCER Alternative Energy curriculum endorsed by the Florida Energy Workforce Consortium. Students who complete associated assessments may pursue the NCCER Alternative Energy Certificate.
• NABCEP PV Associate: Content in solar PV system fundamentals, safety, and installation provides a foundation for the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) PV Associate credential.
• FSEC Solar Training Certificates: The Florida Solar Energy Center offers continuing education and certificate programs in solar installation and energy efficiency that build upon ETP1501 competencies.
• OSHA 10 – Construction: Safety content in the course supports preparation for OSHA 10-hour construction industry outreach training, which is commonly required by Florida renewable energy employers.

Florida Industry Context

Florida ranks among the top five states nationally for installed solar generating capacity and has a robust and growing renewable energy workforce. The Florida Energy Systems Consortium (FESC), the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) at UCF, and the Florida Advanced Technological Education Center (FLATE) collectively support curriculum development and workforce training to meet the state's growing demand for qualified energy technicians.