Pathway Information
Duration
1 hour 32 minsLevel
CompetentReviews
4.7CPD credits
2Subtitles
Danish (Dansk), German (Deutsch), English, Spanish (Español), Finnish (Suomi), French (Français), Norwegian (Norsk), Swedish (Svenska)
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Our climate is is danger from the sheer volume of fossil fuels being burned for energy. Therefore, renewable energy will become the most important alternative energy source available. Join Colin Palmer as he explores the various forms of renewable energy (such as wind and solar energy) and the benefits they bring to the economy. This pathway will inform on the past, present and future trajectory surrounding the use of renewable energies.
What you will learn
Understand renewable energy
Explore different forms of renewable energy
Learn about the economic benefits of renewable energy
Who is this for?
This pathway is designed for individuals interested in renewable energy and its impact on the environment and the economy. Whether you're new to the topic or seeking a deeper understanding of green energy sources, this pathway provides insights into various forms of renewable energy and their benefits.
Experts
Colin Palmer
40 years: Renewable energy
Colin has been involved in renewable energy since the late 1970's. In 1988 he launched his own renewable energy company Windcluster Ltd, which financed and built one of the first wind farms in the UK. Colin has also been a director of the British Wind Energy Association and ReGen Southwest as well as a trustee of the Centre for Sustainable Energy in Bristol.
Pathway content
The Drivers of Widespread Renewable Energy Adoption
The oil price shocks of the mid-1970s caused the developed economies to investigate renewable energy based alternatives to fossil fuels. In this video, Colin explains the factors that triggered the rise of renewable energy and enabled its growth. He further describes how the costs of renewable power have changed over time and the technologies required to enable the widespread adoption of renewable energy generation.
Colin Palmer • 13:59
Renewables Jargon Buster
Like any industry, the world of renewables has its own share of jargon which can be inaccessible to outsiders. Renewable energy has changed and grown dramatically in recent years. In a world awash with fake news, it has not been difficult for these people to promote and perpetuate a number of myths designed to undermine confidence in these technologies. A few of the more egregious ones are discussed in this video.
Colin Palmer • 17:32
Introduction to Wind Energy
Energy from the wind has been used by mankind for thousands of years, but has become outdated since the early twentieth century. Join Colin as he explains why there was a revival in wind energy in the 1907s and how the industry developed. He further talks about the square-cube law and its relevance to wind turbines.
Colin Palmer • 15:43
Introduction to Solar Energy
A tenfold cost reduction over the last ten years has caught many unaware, and solar PV is now set to be the largest source of renewable energy in the future. In this video, Colin explains how the conversion of sunlight to electricity in solar panels helped the industry develop. He further explains why and how solar energy generation will become ubiquitous.
Colin Palmer • 13:43
Introduction to Wave and Tidal Energy
Wave and tidal energy are, subjectively, both abundant and powerful sources of natural energy. In this video, Colin explains the reason why wave energy is much less commercialised than wind and solar energy and the challenges surrounding wave energy development. He further talks about the cost differential between wave, tidal and offshore wind energies.
Colin Palmer • 10:56
The Historic Underestimation of Renewable Generation
In this video, Colin explains how the International Energy Agency's predictions for renewable energy have changed in the last 20 years. He also explains the S curve model of technical change and finishes by highlighting the space requirements for renewable energies.
Colin Palmer • 09:47
Introduction to Energy Storage Technology
Key to the generation of high proportions of power from inherently variable renewable energy sources is the use of energy storage. Storage is necessary to both smooth out short term mismatches between supply and demand and to balance longer-term, inter-seasonal differences. In this video, Colin describes the present and future energy storage technologies including how new manufacturing models are being used for batteries and solar panels.
Colin Palmer • 10:53
