Integration of renewable energy in the electrical engineering curriculum

Abstract

Climate change, global warming and increasing in oil price issues have been the major concerns of every human being lately. Conventional sources of energy such as coal, oil, and natural gas will remain part of our energy sources for decades to come. The negative effect of such sources is very clear, especially on air quality. In addition, these sources are non sustainable. Thus, the idea of establishing a safe and efficient environment for new generations has led to the search for alternative energy sources. These sources should not only have zero emission but also be lasting and non-depletable. Sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass have recently been identified as renewable energy. The idea now is to see how these sources can be deployed in an efficient manner. For this, expertise in this field must be provided. The new generation must be educated and knowledgeable to elevate expertise in this field. This is accomplished by exposing the young generations (if not at the high school level, at the college level), to such sources and the related technologies. Such learning experiences will raise the awareness of the environment in our young generation as well as develop their thinking and analytical skills in finding solutions to problems raised by such issues. This paper describes the experience of introducing renewable energy into the curriculum of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the steps taken to enhance the learning process. It also highlights the impact of this experience on the students with respect to the environment and the community. Such experience is an example that can be followed in order to promote renewable energy technologies and to develop expertise in this field. © American Society for Engineering Education, 2008.