COURSE SYLLABUS

RENG 102 – Renewable Energy Resources

Spring Semester
3 Credits (Three 50-minute lectures)
Pre-requisites: none

INSTRUCTOR:
Dr. Benjamin D. Ballard, 323 Crawford Hall
On-campus mailbox: Marshall Hall
Office phone: 315- 684-6780
E-mail: ballardb@morrisville.edu

OFFICE HOURS:
TBA (e.g., Monday, Wednesday, Friday 11-12; Tuesday, Thursday 10-11). If necessary, students are also
encouraged to make appointments to see the instructor at other times. Students with disabilities who
require accommodations to fully-participate in the course activities are requested to contact the
instructor within the first two weeks of the semester.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
RENG 102 provides an introduction to energy systems and renewable energy resources, with a scientific
examination of the energy field and an emphasis on alternate energy sources and their technology and
application. The class will explore society’s present needs and future energy demands, examine
conventional energy sources and systems, including fossil fuels and nuclear energy, and then focus on
alternate, renewable energy sources such as solar, biomass (conversions), wind power, geothermal, and
hydro. Energy conservation methods will be emphasized.

EXPECTED COURSE OUTCOMES:

At the successful completion of RENG 102, the student is expected to have/be able to:
1. List and generally explain the main sources of energy and their primary applications in the US,
and the world.
2. Describe the challenges and problems associated with the use of various energy sources,
including fossil fuels, with regard to future supply and the environment.
3. Discuss remedies/potential solutions to the supply and environmental issues associated with
fossil fuels and other energy resources.
4. List and describe the primary renewable energy resources and technologies.
5. Describe/illustrate basic electrical concepts and system components.
6. Convert units of energy—to quantify energy demands and make comparisons among energy
uses, resources, and technologies.
7. Collect and organize information on renewable energy technologies as a basis for further
analysis and evaluation.

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS:
• Lecture/laboratory/problem solving sessions.
• Reading assignments.
• Homework and laboratory exercises.
 • A “portfolio” of information on a renewable energy topic/technology will be developed by each
student.
• Reading current literature related to energy systems.

REQUIRED TEXT:
Schaeffer, John. 2007. Real Goods Solar Living Sourcebook: The Complete Guide to Renewable Energy
Technologies and Sustainable Living (30th anniversary edition). Gaiam.
Additional handouts, readings, and course materials will be available on-line via WebCT, accessible only
by those students who are enrolled in the course.
The following are recommended texts for RENG 102:
Boyle, Godfrey. 2004. Renewable Energy (2nd edition). Oxford University Press, 450 pages (ISBN: 0-19-
926178-4).
Boyle, Godfrey, Bob Everett, and Janet Ramage (eds.) 2004. Energy Systems and Sustainability: Power
for a Sustainable Future. Oxford University Press, 619 pages (ISBN: 0-19-926179-2)

STUDENT REQUIRED EQUIPMENT:

Notebook, text, and scientific calculator.

CLASS POLICIES:
Student Behavior: As students in a technical program are preparing for a professional career, all
students are expected to conduct themselves, in both manner and dress, as professionals.
Eating, drinking, or the consumption of any tobacco products is prohibited during class meetings
(lecture hall, classroom, laboratory, or field). Doing so may result in the student's dismissal from that
class period and will count as an unexcused absence.

Cell phones, pagers, and similar devices must be turned off during the instruction time. Use of or
disruption of class by these devices will result in the confiscation of the device by the instructor, and
may result in the student's dismissal from that class period which will count as an unexcused absence.
The confiscated device may be retrieved at University Police.

Attendance: Students are required to attend scheduled lectures, labs, and field trips; and to work on
class and lab/field assignments as scheduled by the professor. Students are required to attend their
scheduled sections for labs, lectures, and examinations (unless authorized by the professor). Since class
sessions start on the hour, students are expected to be punctual. There will be no late entries once a
class has begun. In this case, student's absence will be counted as unexcused and will receive a zero for
any assignments due.

If a student must leave class early during a regularly scheduled meeting, he/she must discuss reasons
with the professor. If a student must miss a scheduled class meeting due to an acceptable, verifiable
time conflict, he/she must resolve the time conflict prior to class.
If a student is unable to attend class because of an emergency, the professor or School of Agriculture
and Natural Resources office must be contacted prior to the scheduled class meeting. The telephone
number is 684-6780 (Dr. Ballard) or 684-6083 (School office). Use of e-mail (ballardb@morrisville.edu) is
highly recommended.
Students failing to call ahead or discuss absences prior to the class will be unexcused. If a student
accumulates four unexcused absences, he/she will be given the option of dropping the course or
receiving a failing grade for the semester.

Honesty Policy & Discipline (Due Process): Honesty and integrity are major elements in professional
behavior and are expected of each student. Any assignment (including those in electronic media)
submitted by a student must be of the student's original authorship. Representation of another's work
as his/her own shall constitute plagiarism. Cheating, in any form, is considered unacceptable behavior
within all University courses. Students having academic problems should consult with their advisor or a
college counselor. Instances of cheating will be dealt with in accordance to University policy. Standards
of academic honesty and due process procedures for Morrisville College are located in the Rules,
Regulations & Expectations section of the student handbook.

Safety Guidelines: Certain class assignments may require the student to be absent from the professor's
immediate supervision. Whether the student is under immediate supervision or not, safe conduct and
safe use of equipment shall be the ultimate rule. Failure to comply with prudent safety practice and/or
willful disregard for class participants and/or equipment may be cause for immediate dismissal from
that particular class session by the professor. Subsequent similar activity may be cause for dismissal
from the course by the School Dean.

GRADING/EVALUATION OF THE STUDENT:

Evaluation is a shared responsibility between the teacher and the student. The purpose of the
evaluation is to demonstrate how well the professor has taught and the student has learned specific
course materials, the principles, concepts and terms relevant to the renewable energy field, and to
determine the students’ ability to apply that knowledge to specific situations.

Grade Method: Many lecture periods will have a graded component or exercise. These may be written
assignments, quizzes, in-class assignments, homework, or the evaluation of the student's participation
and attitude. These components will total twenty-five percent (25%) of the total course score. It is
important that students complete their assignments accurately, neatly, and submit them on time.
Assignments received past the due date will be devalued 15% for each day that the item is late. No class
assignment of any student will be graded (for credit) once the same assignment is corrected and
returned to the class.

Up to eight (8) quizzes will be conducted during lecture periods. These quizzes will cover material from
readings, previous assignments, or lectures. The best five (5) quiz scores will be factored into the
student grade. Each quiz will be worth 2% of the total course score.

Two progress exams will be given during the semester and will be worth 30% (15% each) of the total
course score. No make-up examination will be given without a written medical excuse, family
emergency, or prior permission from the instructor. Students are responsible for all material covered in
the class whether presented orally during the lectures or assigned (homework and reading).

Each student will conduct a project addressing a renewable energy resource/topic by researching,
developing, and preparing a renewable energy resource portfolio. Topics must be approved by the
instructor. Final projects will be presented in class (oral presentation), during the 16th week (final week;
date TBA). The project will be worth 25% of the total course score.
The breakdown of grading is as follows:
 Class Participation and Work Ethic 5%
Quizzes 10%
Homework Assignments 10%
Renewable Energy Portfolio 25%
First Progress Examination 15%
Second Progress Examination 15%
Final Examination (comprehensive) 20%
TOTAL 100%

Grading Scale:
100 - 94% = A 89 - 87% = B+ 79 - 77% = C+ 69 - 65% = D+
93 - 90% = A- 86 - 83% = B 76 - 73% = C 64 - 60% = D
82 - 80% = B- 72 - 70% = C- Below 60% = F

TENTATIVE OUTLINE OF TOPICS*:

Week Lecture Topics
1 Introduction to RENG 102
Introduction to energy systems and resources
2 Energy, sustainability & the environment
3 Quantifying energy & energy arithmetic
Heat to motive power
4 Electricity - a primer
Fossil fuels - past, present & future
5 Remedies & alternatives for fossil fuels
CHP/cogeneration
Energy efficiency and conservation
6 Progress EXAM 1
Nuclear
7 Green building
Solar - thermal
Solar - PV
8 Wind – small & large
Hydro – small & large
Week 9 - No classes - SPRING BREAK
10 Wave & tidal
Geothermal
11 Sizing residential systems
Batteries and Inverters
Governmental incentives
12 Biomass & Biofuels overview
Biogas - anaerobic digesters
Bioenergy from wastes
 12 Dedicated bioenergy crops
Woody biomass
Liquid biofuels
13 Progress EXAM 2
Ethanol - issues & future prospects
14 Biodiesel - uses, production, processes
Biomass & Bioenergy wrap-up
15 Fuel cells
Transportation - hybrids, flexfuels, fuel cells
16 Student portfolio presentations
Final lecture: Natural burial
Comprehensive FINAL EXAM
*The topics and corresponding schedule listed in the table above are tentative and may be subject to
change during the semester.
Homework Assignment #1
(due by 8/28/08 at the beginning of class):

I, _________________________(print your name), have read and understand the syllabus provided for RENG
102 – Renewable Energy Resources for Spring 2008.

Student’s Signature: _________________________

I have the following three (or more) questions about the course/syllabus:

1)

2)

3)

_____________________________________________________________________________________

As a participant in this course, you are also a participant in Morrisville State College’s Renewable Energy
Training Center (RETC). Funding for the RETC is provided, in part, by a grant from the President’s
Community-Based Job Training Grant Initiative administered by the US Department of Labor’s (DOL)
Employment & Training Administration (ETA).

As a RETC participant, you are being asked to provide the following information for reporting purposes
to the US DOL:

Current employment status (check one): __ Full-time __ Part-time __ Unemployed

Do you intend to take any additional renewable energy training courses/workshops while at MSC?
__ Yes __No __Not sure/maybe

US DOL requires that we report participants’ future job status/employment records. The preferred
method is by providing your Social Security Number, securely and confidentially, to the US DOL (i.e., US
DOL can collect employment data based on your SSN). To authorize MSC’s RETC to report your SSN to
US DOL, please sign and date here:

_____________________________ Date: _______________