Energy Academy
Level 2: System Deep Dives/Renewable Energy
Level 218 lessons · 178 min

Renewable Energy

Solar PV, solar thermal, wind, heat pumps and biomass — sizing, integration and on-site generation.

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01Solar Photovoltaic (PV)

  1. 01How Solar PV WorksPhotons, silicon, cells, modules, string inverters; efficiency limits.11 min
  2. 02Sizing a PV SystemAvailable roof area, orientation, shading, kWp rating, annual yield.10 min
  3. 03Grid Interconnection & Battery StorageGrid-tied inverters, export metering, batteries for off-grid or resilience.10 min
  4. 04PV Economics & PaybackCost per Wp, FiT/export income, payback period, 25-year lifetime value.10 min
  5. 05Solar PV CheckQuiz on PV fundamentals, sizing, integration, and economics.5 min

02Solar Thermal, Wind & Heat Pumps

  1. 01Solar Thermal (Hot Water Heating)Flat-plate collectors, evacuated tubes, COP, seasonal variation, DHW tanks.10 min
  2. 02Wind Turbines (Small-Scale)Wind potential, turbine types, noise, visual impact, planning constraints.10 min
  3. 03Heat Pumps as Renewable (COP as Leverage)How heat pumps use renewable electricity more efficiently than direct heat.9 min
  4. 04Solar Thermal & Wind CheckQuiz on solar thermal, wind, and heat pump performance.5 min

03Biomass & System Integration

  1. 01Biomass Boilers & HeatingWood chips, pellets, carbon neutrality, supply chain, efficiency.10 min
  2. 02Hybrid Systems (Fossil + Renewable)Boiler + heat pump, PV + grid, diversity for resilience.10 min
  3. 03Local Generation & MicrogridsPeer-to-peer export, virtual power plants, community solar.9 min
  4. 04Biomass & Integration CheckQuiz on biomass, hybrid systems, and microgrids.5 min

04Grid Connection & Storage Strategy

  1. 01Grid Code Requirements & Export MeteringDNO approval, export capacity, anti-islanding, metering standards.9 min
  2. 02Battery Storage for Self-Consumption & Demand ShiftingLithium-ion, lead-acid, round-trip efficiency, depth of discharge.10 min
  3. 03Pathway to Net-Zero (Retrofit Sequencing)Insulation → electrification → renewable generation → storage.10 min
  4. 04Grid & Storage CheckQuiz on grid connection, batteries, and net-zero pathways.5 min

05Capstone Project

  1. 01Capstone: Renewable Energy DiagnosticsHands-on: diagnose eight on-site renewables call-outs — PV yield and sizing, string shading, batteries, the wind cube law, load-shifting, monitoring and orientation — then calculate, verify and prescribe the fix.30 min