Renewable Energy Engineering
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"This degree is preparing me to help companies and corporations to become more energy efficient in Australia and overseas. I would love to work overseas in developing countries setting communities up with alternative power." Guljit Mahinder - 2nd year |
The Renewable Energy Engineering program is a four-year full-time program. While approximately half the material in the program is in common with the Photovoltaics and Solar Energy program, this program encompasses a broader range of renewable energy technologies and their use. These include electricity generation from solar thermal systems, photovoltaics, wind generators, biomass, tidal energy, fuel cells, geothermal systems, as well as the important areas of solar architecture and the design of energy-efficient housing. A detailed program outline and corresponding course descriptions can be found in the Online Handbook.
During development of the program discussions on course content were held with Australian manufacturers, major end-users, the former NSW Sustainable Energy Development Authority, the former Australian CRC for Renewable Energy and the former industry representative association, Solar Energy Industries Association of Australia, now incorporated into the Australian Business Council for Sustainable Energy. These organisations have representatives on the Advisory Committee for the Centre for Photovoltaic Engineering.
We have also consulted other UNSW schools. In particular, the plans for this program have been developed in collaboration with the School of Mechanical Engineering, the School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications and the Faculty of the Built Environment and they all offer courses in the program.
Students visited the Crookwell Wind Farm, just north of Goulburn, in NSW. It has eight 600 kW turbines capable of providing enough energy to power 3500 homes.
Assumed Knowledge
In order to successfully undertake this program, it is assumed that students have completed HSC Mathematics Extension 1 and HSC Physics, and it is recommended that they have completed HSC Chemistry. If students are concerned about their level of knowledge in these areas, bridging courses are available before the commencement of session 1. Alternatively, please talk to staff in the School Office.
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Visit to Crookwell wind farm |
Industrial Training
Students must complete a minimum of 60 days of suitable industrial training as part of a Year 4 course on Ethics and Electrical Engineering Practice. At least some of a student's industrial training should be carried out in Australia; overseas employment requires prior approval. Students need to submit evidence from their employers confirming completion of the prescribed training, and a report summarising the work done, training received, and the professional role of an engineer made apparent through the training.