ΔΠΠ621: Renewable Energy Sources

Module Purpose and Objectives 

ΔΠΠ 621 is a specialization module. The aim of the student is to provid student with skills that will help him / her professionally in the field of Renewable Energy Sources. Energy production around the world is a complex and diverse issue that requires careful and careful management. It covers many aspects and combines paramount economic, environmental and social considerations.

Green forms of energy (or renewable energy sources, or new sources of energy, or green energy) are forms of energy utilized by various natural processes, such as wind, geothermal energy, water circulation and more. The term "green" refers to two basic characteristics. Firstly, no active intervention is needed to exploit them (e.g. mining, pumping or burning) compared to the hitherto used energy sources, but simply exploiting the existing energy flow in nature. Second, they are "clean" forms of energy, very "environmentally friendly", that do not release hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide or toxic and radioactive waste, like other large-scale sources of energy. So renewable energy is considered by many to be the starting point for solving the ecological problems facing the planet. 'Renewables' are generally considered alternatives to traditional sources of energy (e.g. oil or coal), such as solar and wind. Their use is either direct (mainly for heating) or after conversion to other forms of energy (mainly electricity or mechanical energy). It is estimated that the technically exploitable energy potential of the green forms of energy is a multiple of the global total energy consumption. But the recent high cost of new energy applications, technical implementation problems, and political and economic considerations related to maintaining the status quo in the energy sector have prevented widespread adoption.

The module aims to familiarise students with the

• Concept of Renewable Energy Sources
• Existing situation and future targets for Cyprus and Greec
• Legislative requirements for RES and European Legislative Framework
• Concept of Strengthening Energy Efficiency
• Concept of energy policy
• Air pollution and gaseous pollutants
• Solar energy and legislation on solar energy and photovoltaic parks
• Determination of the environmental impact of the creation of PV parks
• Wind power and wind energy legislation
• Determination of Environmental Impacts from the creation of wind park
• Energy recovery technologies
• Anaerobic digestion and Parameters influencing anaerobic digestion
• Energy efficiency of buildings and Impacts of internal pollution

Module Content

The module first presents a historical overview on the use and transfer of energy, the forms of energy as well as renewable energy. Reference is made to the legal requirements of RES, as well as to the current situation of both Cyprus and Greece regarding RES issues and the objectives to be achieved under European Directives.  The EU priorities in energy policy and energy market are discussed. The course reports and delves into traditional and emerging new energy suppliers and tackles geostrategic issues. It analyzes the importance of the EU's 2020, 2030 and 2050 targets. In addition, it focuses on solar energy as a source of electricity, as well as the current situation in Cyprus and Greece, and the objectives that EU Member States must meet. It presents the education of students in a Power Generation Lab. It includes experiential training with visits to Photovoltaic Parks and an explanation of the theory in practice. Equipment used to control the panels will be presented.

The purpose of this module is to help students understand the state of their photovoltaic controls. It emphasizes wind energy as a source of electricity production as well as the current situation in Cyprus and Greece, and the objectives to be achieved by EU Member States.  It deals with Biomass, where reference is made to the concept of biomass, the sources of biomass and its applications, as well as the disadvantages, while at the end the situation in Cyprus and Greece on biomass issues is presented. Emphasis is placed on energy crops, organic waste. At the same time thermochemical and biochemical processes are analyzed. Moreover, it presents the technologies used for energy recovery. The technologies of gasification, combustion, pyrolysis as well as the energy analysis of each method will be presented. The advantages and disadvantages of each method will be analyzed and presented.

It includes experiential training with visits to a biogas plant and an explanation of the theory in practice. It presents the basics related to bioclimatic design and indoor air quality. This is done with the view to make students understand the importance of reducing the energy consumption of buildings, the way this can be achieved, the basic laws of Cyprus and Greece, the concept of zero-consumption building as well as the basic requirements of bioclimatic planning. Bioclimatic planning in addition to energy consumption in a room is also related to the concept of indoor air quality as well as the factors that influence and the effects caused by indoor air pollution.

The module also includes key elements related to the energy performance of buildings. The purpose is to understand the importance of reducing the energy consumption of buildings, the way this can be achieved, the basic laws of Cyprus and Greece, the concept of zero-consumption building. Processes and methodologies for building energy efficiency will also be developed.

The following thematic topics are covered:

• Introduction to Energy Matters. the State of play today - Legislation
• Energy Policy - Energy Market
• Air Pollution
• Solar power
• Laboratory exercises
• Wind power
• Biomass
• Recovery of Energy from Waste
• Recovery of Energy from Waste
• Hydropower
• Bioclimatic design
• Energy efficiency in buildings