Renewable & Sustainable Energy

The global energy system is at the early stages of a remarkable transformation: from one largely dependent on fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) to one based on renewable and sustainable energy sources. Energy policy - actions taken by public entities to influence energy - have and will play an essential role in this ongoing transformation. This course takes a critical and pragmatic look at energy policy: what policies are available, how do we evaluate them, who are the stakeholders in the energy policy process, and how do policies drive energy technology adoption.

Examines the basics of energy technologies and energy delivery systems. Covers both conventional energy sources (oil and gas, coal, nuclear and hydroelectric) and renewable/sustainable energy technologies (wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and end-use efficiency). Investigates individual technologies as well as integration of multiple technologies on energy systems such as the electricity grid and liquid and gas fuels infrastructures.

This course will cover technical, regulatory, and economic issues associated with distributed energy resources and microgrids. Microgrids are used to provide energy access in developing countries where there are still close to a billion people without access, on tens of thousands of islands and other remote areas where they have to rely on diesel gensets and everywhere that require a higher level of reliability and resilience than can be provided by a centralized grid. It will also cover technologies such as passive solar construction, heat pumps, induction stoves, pressure cookers, and electric vehicles that are critical to decarbonization of the energy sector.

Renewable Energy Development & Project Finance will present students with a sampling of the day-to-day work of clean energy industry professionals. The course will focus on the business of decarbonizing the energy sector and deploying clean and efficient energy technologies from several distinct perspectives, including (1) renewable energy project development; (2) corporate renewable energy procurement; and (3) energy solutions for the built environment.

The goal of nearly every green building project, corporate entity, or municipality is to reach net zero carbon or net zero energy. For most of these entities, this concept is an abstraction, and is not well understood. This class reviews the fundamentals of green building, from LEED to Energy Star, as well as other rating systems. It discusses the various definitions of Net Zero Energy and Carbon and the various certification programs that support it. It then helps develop an understanding of behind-the-meter renewables and battery storage and the financial case for their development. Lastly, it explores the range of policy levers and best practices for cities to reach their zero carbon goals – focusing on low-carbon electricity supply, electrifying buildings, and electrifying and diversifying transportation options, while also addressing community equity, health, and resilience.

The ability for a given sustainable energy technology to gain widespread adoption depends on the markets and policies that control their access and value. Within the US, we have both regulated and unregulated territories for electricity and natural gas. We have wholesale markets, resale competitions, and vertically integrated regulated territories. We have utilities and state PUCs that embrace and incentivize electrification of various end uses, and we have those that are actively opposed to it. This class will review the various regulatory structures and markets that exist (including the various ISOs and RTOs), the overarching federal policy structure and entities that govern them, and the opportunities for utilities, renewable energy developers, and end-users to engage with those markets and work within and navigate the completed energy landscape.

Transitioning to a zero-carbon future will require major and fundamental changes in energy systems. Numerous advanced energy-related technologies and concepts are being explored - but which ones will succeed? This course takes a closer look at green hydrogen, advanced nuclear, carbon capture and storage (CCS), enhanced geothermal, and others; to better understand their potentials, limitations, and likely future impacts.

Climate action is needed at all levels of government if we are to achieve global climate and sustainability goals. This course will explore the synergistic relationships between U.S. federal, state, and local government climate action planning and the delicate international architecture that supports the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. From this broad perspective, the course will narrow its focus to delve into the “Race to Zero,” and the specific high-impact actions necessary to move local governments toward a carbon-free future.

• Crocs 
• E-Source
• Invenergy

• Colorado Energy Office
• Vail Resorts
• WSP