1. Definition of RES, importance for the energy transition and climate change.
2. Photovoltaic systems: operating principle, types (monocrystalline, polycrystalline, thin-film).
3. Wind farms: operating principle, types of wind turbines (horizontal/vertical axis).
4. Applications in onshore and offshore parks.
5. Hydropower and Marine Energy: Small and larger hydropower projects & Marine energy (waves, tides).
6. Biomass & Biofuels: Biomass processing (aerobic and anaerobic conditions).
7. Biofuels (biodiesel, bioethanol).
8. Exploitation of underground thermal sources (high/low enthalpy).
9. Smart Grids and Energy Storage: Battery Technologies (Li-ion, supercapacitors).
10. Economic & Environmental Approaches: Installation Cost, Incentives, Project Financing.
11. Environmental impacts and sustainability.
12. Future Trends: New technologies (e.g., hybrid systems, green hydrogen, Power-to-X).
13. Design of RES systems: Applications.

Learning Outcomes

The purpose of the course is to bring students into contact with:

• The basic principles and technologies of the main renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass, geothermal, etc.).
• The natural processes that are utilised for the conversion into useful energy.
• The devices and systems that are used (e.g., photovoltaic panels, wind turbines).
• The methods of energy storage and demand management (batteries, hydrogen, smart grids).
• The environmental and economic factors that influence the development of RES (CO₂ savings, installation cost, incentives).
• Real applications and case studies (e.g., operational renewable energy stations, sustainability policies).
• The above will allow them to understand the energy landscape, compare technologies, and participate in discussions about the transition to green energy.

With the successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Explain the physical principles governing the main renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass, geothermal).
• Compare renewable energy technologies in terms of performance, cost, and environmental impacts.
• Analyse the main conversion/storage systems.
• Select the appropriate renewable energy source for specific applications (e.g., residential use, industrial use, remote areas).
• Interpret data (e.g., solar radiation, wind speed) for energy production estimates.
• Participate in the design of RES systems (e.g., calculation of photovoltaic park power).
• Evaluate economic and political strategies for the implementation of RES (for example, funding, feed-in tariffs, Green certificates).
• Discusse current trends (e.g., smart grids, hybrid systems, circular economy).