Renewable Energy Specialization

University of Colorado Boulder

COURSE 1:
Renewable Energy Technology Fundamentals

Energy Fundamentals
Any understanding of renewable energy requires vocabulary, principles, and tools – that is
the objective of this week’s module. We first define “energy.” What is it? Where does it come
from? How is it measured? What are its rules? We then turn our attention to electricity and
ask similar questions. What is electricity? How is it measured? How can renewable
resources be used to generate electricity? Upon completion of this module, you will have a
solid grounding in the underlying concepts required to understand the promise and
challenges of renewable energy technologies.

Learning Objectives

 Explain how energy arises from universal forces and is subject to the physical laws of
thermodynamics
 Evaluate renewable energy technologies in the context of energy transformations
and thermodynamics
 Understand electricity as a form of energy, how it is measured, and how it is used for
useful purposes
 Distinguish the different ways that renewable energy technologies can be employed
to generate electricity