The purpose of this course is to provide an engineering assessment of the most important renewable energy resources and the related technologies for harnessing them, from simple methods to state-of the-art advanced energy systems. Aside from a brief overview of fundamental concepts of energy conversion and perspectives on energy supply and demand, the five main course topics include the following:

Solar: photovoltaics and solar thermal
Biomass: resources, biofuels, and biochemical conversion
Wind power: primary mechanical design and system aspects
Hydropower: key components technical designs of large-scale and small-scale systems
Energy storage: key components and system concepts of electrical and thermal storage

A continuous learning philosophy is adopted in this course, with emphasis on problem solving through application of mechanical and electrical engineering fundamentals; energy balances, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics (to cover for PV, and other wind power aspects – equivalent circuits). The course is an integral part of specializations within the Sustainable Energy Engineering MSc Program.

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

1. Analyze the characteristics of renewable energy sources, and contrast these with fossil fuels
2. Identify and quantify the means of harnessing renewable energy sources in terms of fundamental energy conversion
3. Design renewable energy systems that meet specific energy demands and are sustainble

• Lectures and exercises tutorials
  • Lectures are offered all in three forms; on campus, live online and as recorded videos. This is designed with the objective of providing flexibility in learning. Video recordings are then converted and published, normally three days after the lectures.
  • Exercises solving Tutorials are teacher-led problem solving sessions, with students divided into on-campus and distance based sessions. Attendance is highly recommended as exam questions are based on the tutorials.

• Seminar projects (1 ECTS for Project PROA and 1 ECTS for Peer Review Opposition at the Seminar SEM1) : mandatory attendance
  • Each topic has one dedicated seminar, where student groups present solutions to open-ended project questions. Student groups are assigned to present one specific topic and act as reviewer/opponents to another project group.

• Home assignments (HEM1, HEM2, HEM3, HEM4 and HEM5 with 0.4 ECTS each): mandatory
  • Each of these five assignments are to be solved individually. The submission instructions are available in Canvas.
  • Pass/Fail (P/F).

• Drop-in hybrid consulting sessions once per period 12:00-13:00: participation is voluntary.

• Test 1 (KONA, 1.0 ECTS) and Test 2 (KONB, 1.0 ECTS): mandatory
  • Topics for KONA are Solar Energy and Wind.
  • Topics for KONB are Bioenergy, Hydropower and Energy Storage.
  • Letter grade (A-E).

• Field Trip: information to come: participation is voluntary.

BSc in engineering with minimum 5 ECTS in engineering thermodynamics.

Primary textbook

Nick Jenkins and Janaka Ekanayake, Renewable Energy Engineering, Cambridge University Press (2017).

Other sources

Hans Havtun, Applied Thermodynamics: Collection of Formulas, Studentlitteratur (2021). [Compilation of fundamental engineering thermodynamic concepts.]

Francis M. Vanek, Louis D. Albright, Largus T. Angenent, Michael W. Ellis, David A. Dillard. Energy Systems Engineering: Evaluation and Implementation, 4^th edition, McGraw-Hill Education (2021). Available on-line through KTH Library.

Soteris A. Kalogirou, Solar Energy Engineering: Processes and Systems, 2nd edition, Wiley (2014). Available on-line through KTH Library.

Wiebren de Jong & J. Ruud van Ommen, eds., Biomass as a Sustainable Energy Source for the Future: Fundamentals of Conversion Processes, Wiley (2015). Available on-line through KTH Library.

Robert Gasch and Jochen Twele, Wind Power Plants: Fundamentals, Design, Construction and Operation, Springer (2012). Available on-line through KTH Library.

Bikash Pandey & Arajoy Karki, Hydroelectric Energy: Renewable Energy and the Environment, CRC Press (2016). Available on-line through KTH Library.

Luisa F. Cabeza as Editor. Encyclopedia of Energy Storage, Elsevier (2022). Available on-line through KTH Library.

Students at KTH with a permanent disability can get support during studies from Funka:

Funka - compensatory support for students with disabilities

A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

• HEM1 - Home assignment, 0.4 credits, Grading scale: P, F
• HEM2 - Home assignment, 0.4 credits, Grading scale: P, F
• HEM3 - Home assignment, 0.4 credits, Grading scale: P, F
• HEM4 - Home assignment, 0.4 credits, Grading scale: P, F
• HEM5 - Home assignment, 0.4 credits, Grading scale: P, F
• KON3 - Partial exam, 1.0 credits, Grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
• KON4 - Partial exam, 1.0 credits, Grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
• PROA - Project, 1.0 credits, Grading scale: P, F
• SEM1 - Seminars, 1.0 credits, Grading scale: P, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

Final grade determined as weighted average of KONA and KONB

*note that KONA and KONB are denoted in the Ladok system as KON3 and KON4.

The level of difficulty for each of the home assignments is the reference for assessing the minimum level of achievement for the respective topic. Successful completion of a particular home assignment will thus facilitate demonstrating Grade E for this topic on the respective test. Problem solving covered in exercises and seminars are indicative of the level of achievement for higher grades.

KONA and KONB are graded F (fail), E, C, or A according to the Grading Criteria Matrix.

The final course grade is determined by averaging KONA and KONB grades, Course grade =  [(KONA grade  + KONB grade) / 2] in accordance with the following scale: A is 90 points and above, B is 80 and above, C is 70 and above, D is 60 and above, E is 50 and above, Fx is 45-49.

Note that HEM1, HEM2, HEM3, HEM4 and HEM5 must all be passed, the seminar as opponent attended and project presentation passed in order for the final course grade to be issued.

KONA and KONB are offered as re-exams during the subsequent period; see KTH Schedule for more information.

A student receiving Grade Fx will have the opportunity to improve to a passing grade by completing a special home assignment.

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.