Renewable energy is energy that can be generated and used without depleting the source. Examples include energy derived from moving water (hydropower), wind power, heat of the Earth (geothermal energy) and the sun (solar energy). Energy derived from the burning of coal, oil or uranium is not considered renewable because they are finite resources. Coal, for example, while naturally occurring, took hundreds of millions of years to form and therefore is not considered renewable on a human timescale.

If you are interested in renewable energies and sustainable energy technology? Then this Renewable Energy course is ideal for you!
This course is intended to enhance your knowledge to make the world a better place by producing energy from renewable resources. Besides, you'll understand various alternative energy resources. You'll be provided with a strong base and information on different types of renewable energies that can be practiced for the betterment of the environment.

This course aims to enhance the capacity of local decision makers, energy/sustainable development officers and other personnel to make an informed decision on which renewable energy technologies will meet their own needs or the needs of their countries, communities, villages or neighborhoods.

The course is open to those in the business, non-profit, public and academic sectors who wish to install renewable energy systems in both urban and rural settings or make their contribution to reducing carbon emissions through energy efficiency and the use of sustainable energy sources. The course aims to provide delegates with a high-level understanding of the key issues as well as sufficient technical insights to allow them to make informed decisions about technology choices.

• Sustainable Development Officers
• Energy Officers
• Strategic Managers of Planning and Environmental Services
• Community Planning Officers
• Local Authority Representatives
• Policymakers and Regulators
• Development Officers
• Social and Economic Development Officers
• Entrepreneur

Unit 1 - Overview of Renewable Energy Sources

• Energy production and energy economics
• Climate change, energy contribution to carbon emissions and the evolution of renewable energy
• Solar Power (from rooftop to solar farm)
• Bioenergy
• Hydroelectricity
• Tidal Power
• Wind Energy
• Wave Energy
• Geothermal

Unit 2 - Renewable Energy Technologies, Sustainability and Costings

• What technologies are needed for each type of renewable energy
• What are the construction costs for renewable energy plants
• How do costs compare with conventional power sources
• Renewable energy lifecycle costs
• Battery technology and energy storage (community, corporate and individual)
• Comparative sustainability analysis
• Public and private applications
• Integration with the grid, including network integration issues and costs

Unit 3 - Government Regulation, Targets and Investment

• Government energy strategies compared
• International climate change regulation and targets
• Government budgeting and spending on renewable energy
• The internal decision-making process for government including legislative oversight
• Working with the private sector: PPP for renewable energy
• International differences in renewable energy and their causes
• Renewable energy and city planning
• Environmental assessment and community involvement

Unit 4 - Markets, Competition, and Pricing

• World energy markets – international differences in market structure and pricing
• Energy markets – wholesale and retail
• Analysing offtakers: industry, agriculture and consumers
• Subsidies and differential pricing/tariffs
• Grid issues including energy resale and microgrids
• Energy competition and power draw-downs
• International energy trade and renewables

Unit 5 - Investors in Renewable Energy

• The renewable research world
• Leading companies developing renewables
• Competition in renewable development
• Renewable energy company management
• Involvement of major energy companies in renewable energy
• Private equity and other independent investment in renewables
• Socially responsible investment (SRI) and renewable energy
• Valuation of renewable energy companies

Unit 6 - Financial Structure of Renewable Energy Projects

• Corporate vs.project finance
• Assessing performance (NPV, IRR, cost of capital, and measures of sustainability)
• Equity and debt integration
• Cashflow waterfalls
• The lender's perspective on a renewable model
• Integrating model results with valuation, policy, regulation and the market
• Handling risk management in the financial model
• Auditing a renewable energy model - telling good from bad

Unit 7 - Ownership/Legal Structures of Renewable Energy projects

• Government, private and other ownership analysis
• Considerations in selecting a structure
• Corporate finance structures
• Project finance structures for renewable energy
• Special purpose vehicle (“SPV”)
• General and limited partnerships
• Trust structures and the role of trustees
• Joint ventures (“JVs”)

Unit 8 - Contracts for Renewable Energy Construction, Finance and Operation

• Requests for Proposals (RFPs)
• Public tender information and requirements
• Expressions of Interest
• Power Purchasing/offtake Agreements (PPAs) for renewables
• Comparing and contrasting international PPP contracts with application to renewables
• Licenses and land agreements
• Construction cost agreements (EPC contracts)
• Operating and Maintenance (O&M) agreements
• Term Sheets
• Shareholder Agreements

Unit 9 - Renewable Energy Project Technologies and Risks

• Technological innovation in renewable energy
• Significant technical risks in renewable energy
• Political risk and its components (nationalization, regulation, tax)
• Risks of the economic cycle (demand and supply)
• Other economic risks (inflation, currency, commodity prices)
• Construction problems and technical risk
• Natural disasters, force majeure and terrorism
• Partner and counterparty risks (equity, debt, input supplies)
• Environmental compliance

Unit 10 - Risk Mitigation Techniques

• The risk matrix, risk allocation and transference
• Derivatives and their use in renewable energy projects
• Insurance and Reinsurance for renewable energy projects
• Contracts as risk mitigation methods
• Credit enhancement and the role of international agencies
• Modelling the implications of risk mitigation
• Risks remaining outside the model
• Risk retention and presentation to management