Alternative Energy Expert

Hours: 660 / Access Length: 12 Months / Delivery: Open, Mentor Supported
Retail Price: $3,845.00

Course Overview:

Become an Alternative Energy Specialist and learn ways to help conserve, reduce, reuse, recycle, and thus minimize our impact on the planet. Through this “entry-level” green course you will learn that even small changes make a difference and that going green is good for our health, the planet, and even our budgets.

If you are concerned about our energy future you will want to learn about the many aspects of the energy value chain:

• Oil and natural gas
• Coal
• Fossil fuels and the greenhouse effect
• Energy from water
• Biomass
• Solar energy
• Geothermal energy
• Wind energy
• Nuclear energy
• Electricity
• Energy storage
• Transportation
• Housing
• Smart energy consumption
• Hydrogen

Armed with the knowledge from this course you can form educated and informed opinions on the future of energy and its impact on the economy, health, and the environment.

As an Alternative Energy Specialist you will discover how to establish your business as a green business. You can become a Green Consultant and help others by exploring environmentally-friendly business opportunities to choosing eco-friendly means of production. Learn business basics with a green twist including financing, office setup, day-to-day operations and so much more!

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Comprehend the core elements of green
• Identify strategies for offsetting your energy consumption
• Identify ways to buy local and buy organic
• Comprehend the basics of energy and thermodynamics
• Identify the various sources of energy and their specific features

The Photovoltaic System Professional is a comprehensive course and guide to installation of residential and commercial photovoltaic (PV) systems. This course covers the principles of PV electricity and how to effectively incorporate it into stand-alone or utility-connected electrical systems. We give detailed illustrations to clarify the concepts behind PV system operation.

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Define the core elements of photovoltaics and solar energy technology
• Define systems components, configurations, and battery types
• Identify elements of charge controllers and inverters
• Identify components of mechanical and electrical integration
• Identify permitting codes and regulations

Heating water with the sun is a practice almost as old as humankind itself. This Solar Water Heating Specialist course is a guide to this clean and cost-effective technology.

Beginning with a review of the history of solar water and space heating systems from prehistory to the present, this course presents an introduction to modern solar energy systems, energy conservation, and energy economics.

This course covers:

• Types of solar collectors, solar water, and space heating systems and solar pool heating systems, including their advantages and disadvantages
• System components, their installation, operation, and maintenance
• System sizing and siting
• Choosing the appropriate system

This course also focuses on the financial aspects of solar water or space heating systems, clearly showing that such systems generate significant savings in the long run.

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Define the core elements of solar water heating
• Identify various solar heating systems
• Identify the steps involved in choosing the right system
• Identify the steps to install and operate a solar heating system
• Identify the steps to maintain a solar heating system

The availability of clean, renewable power is without question going to be the defining challenge and goal of the 21st century, and wind will lead the way. Wind power can realistically not only replace the lion’s share of oil, coal, and natural gas fired electrical plants in the U.S., but also can add enough extra power capacity to allow for most of the cars in the nation to run on electricity.

This Wind Energy Professional course is designed specifically with technicians in mind! Our course covers all aspects of installing and troubleshooting wind turbines, giving technicians the knowledge they need to handle even complex maintenance tasks. This course explains how wind turbine blades harvest wind energy, and how generators convert shaft turning energy into electricity. It shows how electrical and hydraulic systems control the speed of wind turbine blades, energizing blade pitch and yaw position controls. Mechanical subjects such as gears, transmissions and gearboxes are discussed in detail.

Some additional course features include:

• Comprehensive, in-depth coverage—including wind turbine installation and troubleshooting, towers, blades, generators, control, and much more 
• History, background, trends, and demand projections—Provides the context needed to understand the growing role of wind energy
• Coverage of all parts of vertical and horizontal wind turbines—including small, medium, and large wind turbines
• Essential electrical coverage—including basic electricity theory, magnetism, motors, generators, PLC controls, and the electrical grid
• Extensive discussion of mechanical topics
• Towers, tower designs, and safety- walks through the advantages and disadvantages of each type of tower, discusses the principles of safe tower design and construction, and explains nacelle installation
• Integration of wind-generated electricity into the grid

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Comprehend the core elements of wind energy
• Identify features of wind turbine technology
• Identify wind turbine classifications and specifications
• Identify components of wind turbines and generators
• Identify the steps for installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting

Course Outline:

Alternative Energy Specialist Module 1
Picture Yourself Going Green

• What is Green?
• Ten Simple Steps
• Green Your Home
• The Air We Breathe
• Waste Not: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
• Greening Your Home Office
• Green Your Energy
• The History of Energy
• Buying Clean Power Locally
• Offsetting Your Energy Use
• Green Your Appetite
• The Pesticide Proliferation
• Going Local, Going Organic
• Green Your Yard
• Fertilizers, Herbicides, and Pesticides
• Conserving Water

Alternative Energy Specialist Module 2
Green Your Life

• Green Your Wardrobe
• Genetically Engineered Cotton
• Clothing Production & Chemicals
• Green is Beautiful
• Green House cleaning
• Personal Care Products
• Green Your Transportation
• Why Carbon Emissions Matter
• Fine-Tuning for Better Gas Mileage
• Green Your Travel
• Choosing Ecotourism
• Supporting Green Businesses
• Eco Kids and Green Pets
• Healthy Nursery or Bedroom
• Choosing Natural Pet Food Options
• Five Ways to Go UberGreen

Alternative Energy Specialist Module 3
Understanding Energy

• We Need Energy
• Primary and Secondary energy
• Energy and First Law of Thermodynamics
• Entropy and Second Law of Thermodynamics
• Energy Sources We Use
• Oil and Natural Gas
• Properties of Hydrocarbons
• Oil Fields
• Coal: Fossil Fuel of the Future
• Classification of Coals
• Coal Combustion for Power Generation
• Coal-to-Liquid Technologies
• Fossil Fuels and Greenhouse Effect
• Weather and Climate
• Anthropogenic Emissions
• Kyoto Protocol

Alternative Energy Specialist Module 4
Energy Options

• Hydropower
• Dams and Diversions
• Small-Scale Hydropower
• Energy from the Ocean
• Marine Current Energy
• Osmotic Energy
• Producing Biomass
• Direct Combustion Technologies
• Biomass and the Environmental Impact
• Biofuels
• Solar Energy
• Thermal Solar Energy
• Concentrated Solar Power Plants
• Photovoltaic Systems
• Geothermal Energy
• Wind Energy

Alternative Energy Specialist Module 5
Electricity & Transportation

• Nuclear Energy
• Uses of Nuclear Energy
• Thermonuclear Energy
• Electricity: Smart Use of Energy
• Energy Sources for Electricity Production
• From Mechanical Energy to Consumer
• Energy Storage
• Weak Points of Energy Supply Chain
• Large-Quantity Storage Technologies
• Thermal Energy Storage
• Underground Energy Storage
• History of Transportation
• Energy and Transportation
• CO₂ Emissions
• Hybrid & Electric Vehicles

Alternative Energy Specialist Module 6
Smart Energy Consumption

• Toward More Efficient Housing
• Different Regions, Different Solutions
• Bioclimatic Architecture
• Energy Use in a Household
• Improving the Way We Consume Energy
• Cogeneration
• Hydrogen
• Production to Distribution
• Hydrogen: Energetic Applications
• Fundamentals of Fuel Cells
• Direct Combined Heat and Power
• Hydrogen Safety

Alternative Energy Specialist Module 7
Your Own Green Business

• What Does “Green” Mean?
• Green Business Decisions
• Customers and Market Research
• Building a Green Business
• Green Business Equipment and Furniture
• Figuring Out Your Costs
• Getting Green Financing
• Making Your Way in a Greener World
• Your Green Team & Community
• Spreading the Green Word
• Green Marketing, Promotion & Advertising
• Social Responsibility
• Maintaining Positive Green Habits
• Green Business Resources

Photovoltaic System Professional Module 1   
Overview of Photovoltaic Systems

• Photovoltaics
• PV Applications
• PV Industry
• Solar Energy Technologies
• Solar Radiation
• The Sun
• Sun-Earth Relationships
• Array Orientation
• Solar Radiation Data Sets
• Estimating Array Performance

Photovoltaic System Professional Module 2  
Planning, System Components, Configurations

• Site Surveys
• Preplanning
• Preliminary Assessment
• Preparing Proposals
• Installation Planning
• Electrical Energy Sources
• PV System Configurations
• Photovoltaic Cells
• Current-Voltage (I-V) Curves
• Device Response
• Modules and Arrays     

Photovoltaic System Professional Module 3   
Batteries and Charge Controllers

• Battery Principles
• Battery Types
• Battery Systems
• Charge Controller Features
• Charge Controller Types
• Charge Controller Setpoints
• Charge Controller Applications

Photovoltaic System Professional Module 4    
Inverters, Systems Sizing, Mechanical Integration

• AC Power
• Power Conditioning Units
• Inverter Features and Specifications
• Sizing Methodologies
• Sizing Calculations
• Mechanical Considerations
• Array Mounting Systems
• Mechanical Integration

Photovoltaic System Professional Module 5  
Electrical Integration & Utility Interconnection

• National Electrical Code
• Voltage and Current Requirements
• Conductors and Wiring Methods
• Overcurrent Protection
• Disconnects
• Grounding
• Battery Systems
• Distributed Generation
• Utility Interconnection Policies

Photovoltaic System Professional Module 6    
Inspection & Maintenance

• Building Codes and Regulations
• Permitting
• Inspection
• Commissioning
• Maintenance
• Monitoring
• Troubleshooting
• Economic Analysis
• Incentives
• Cost Analysis

Solar Water Heating Specialist Module 1
Understanding Solar Water Heating

• History of Solar Water Heating
• Economics of Solar Water Heating
• History of Fossil Fuels
• Life-Cycle Costing
• Types of Solar Collectors
• Other System Components
• Storage Tanks
• Heat Exchangers
• Pumps, Piping, & Pipe Insulation

Solar Water Heating Specialist Module 2
Solar Water & Space Heating Systems

• Pressurized Antifreeze Systems
• Drainback Systems
• Integral Collector Storage Systems
• Thermosiphon Systems
• Solar Heated Pools
• Solar Heated Hot Tubs & Spas
• Liquid-Type Solar Heating Systems
• Heat Delivery Methods
• High-Mass Systems

Solar Water Heating Specialist Module 3
Choosing the Right System

• Siting a Solar Energy System
• Sizing a Solar Water Heating System
• Sizing a Solar Space Heating System
• Sizing Components
• Sizing Expansion Tanks
• Sizing Air Heating Systems

Solar Water Heating Specialist Module 4
System Installation, Operation, & Maintenance

• Installing Solar Water Heating Systems
• Handling & Mounting Solar Collectors
• Mounting the Heat Exchanger
• Plumbing the System
• Testing the System
• Installing Solar Pool Heating Systems
• Installing Radiant Floor Tubing
• Charging a Pressurized System
• Controls & Power Sources
• Maintenance

Wind Energy Professional Module 1
Wind Energy Basics – Part 1

• Overview of Wind Energy
• Wind Turbine Size Classes
• Wind Turbine Technology
• Mini Wind Turbines
• Household Size Wind Turbines
• Small Commercial Wind Turbines
• Large Wind Turbines
• Vertical Axis Revival
• Power in the Wind
• Air Density
• Wind Speed Distribution
• Estimating Wind Performance
• Power Curve Method
• Towers & Tower Placement
• Problems with Wind Turbines

Wind Energy Professional Module 2
Wind Energy Basics – Part 2

• Off the Grid
• Hybrid Wind & Solar Systems
• Wind Pumping
• Interconnection Technology
• Power Quality & the Utility
• Net Metering
• European Distributed Generation
• Distributed Generation in North America
• Community Wind
• Size of Community Wind Projects
• Ownership Requirements
• Investing in Wind Energy
• Economics & Profitability
• Subsidies & Incentives
• Electricity Feed Laws

Wind Energy Professional Module 3
Wind Power & Wind Turbines                                                                                                                                        

• Wind Turbine Classifications
• Wind Turbine Specifications
• Electricity Transmission Limitations
• Total Peak Demand
• Tax Considerations for Wind Power
• Jobs in Wind Power Industry
• Physics of Wind Power
• Geography considerations
• Variations in Wind Speed
• Predicting Wind Speed
• Site Requirements
• Vertical Axis Wind Turbines
• Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines
• Blade Geometry
• Comparison of Blade Types
• Wind Turbine Performance
• Blade Pitch Control
• Testing Wind Turbines

Wind Energy Professional Module 4
Wind Turbines & Generators

• Basic Parts of Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines
• The Nacelle & the Nacelle Bedplate
• Rotor Hubs & Blade Types
• Rotational Speed & Rotor Speed Control
• Yaw Mechanism & Drives
• Yaw Control & Drive Brakes
• Data Acquisition & Communications
• The Anemometer & Wind Vane
• Basic Operation of the Programmable Logic Controller
• PLC Inputs & Outputs
• PLC Analog Control
• Hydraulic Controls & Pumps
• Hydraulic Cylinders & Motors
• Brakes on Wind Turbines
• AC & DC Electricity
• Frequency of AC Voltage
• Magnetic Theory
• DC Generators & AC Motors
• Asynchronous & Synchronous Generators
• Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generators

Wind Energy Professional Module 5
Gearboxes, the Grid & Towers

• Gearboxes & Direct Drive Systems
• Advantages of Gear Ratios
• Types of Gears
• Gearbox Differential & Spur Gears
• Drive Trains
• Understanding the Grid
• Transformers, Transmission, & Distribution
• Grid Code Rules & Regulations
• Utility Grid-Tied Net Metering
• Voltage, True Power, & Reactive Power
• System Grounding
• Underground vs Overhead Feeder Circuits
• Types of Wind Turbine Towers
• Foundations & Concrete Support for Towers
• Climbing Towers
• Safety Issues with Towers
• Lightening Safety for Wind Turbines
• Tower Maintenance

Wind Energy Professional Module 6
Installation, Troubleshooting & Maintenances

• Wind Site Assessment
• Site Issues
• Visual & Landscape Assessment
• Commercial Wind Turbine Systems
• Offshore Installations
• Installation of a Wind Turbine
• Troubleshooting Process
• Troubleshooting Tables & Matrix
• Generation & Transmission Problems
• Mechanical & Tower Problems
• Electrical & Hydraulic Problems
• Major Overhaul of a Wind Turbine
• Basic Electricity
• Measuring Volts, Amps, & Ohms
• Fundamentals of Electrical Circuits
• Capacitors & Capacitive Reactance
• Volt-Ampere Reactance (VAR)
• Three Phase Transformers
• PNP & NPN Transistors
• Inverters: Changing DC Voltage to AC Voltage

All necessary materials are included.

System Requirements:

• Cable and DSL internet connections are recommended for the best experience.

• CPU: 1 GHz or higher
• RAM: 2 GB or higher
• Resolution: 1280 x 720 or higher
• Speakers / Headphones
• Microphone (Webinar / Live Online sessions)

• Microsoft Windows 7 or 10 (Home, Pro)
• Mac OSX 10 or higher.
• Latest Chrome OS
• Latest Linux Distributions

NOTE: While we understand that our courses can be viewed on Android and iPhone devices, we do not recommend the use of these devices for our courses. The size of these devices do not provide a good learning environment for students taking online or live online based courses.

• Latest Google Chrome is recommended for the best experience.
• Latest Mozilla FireFox
• Latest Microsoft Edge
• Latest Apple Safari

• Office suite software (Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, or LibreOffice)
• PDF reader program (Adobe Reader, FoxIt)
• Courses may require other software that is denoted in the above course outline.