What is Renewable Energy?Renewable energy comes from sources that are naturally replenished in a relatively short timeframe. Examples of renewable energy resources include, wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, and biomass. On the other hand, things like coal, gas or oil cannot be replaced when used as they take millions of years to form. These energy sources are called fossil fuels.

Why is Renewable Energy important?Climate change has been described as the biggest challenge of our time and energy is a major source of the greenhouse gas emissions causing it. Renewable energy will play a vital role in transitioning the world from its present reliance on fossil fuels toward a sustainable energy system.

Renewable Energygenerating sustainable power from wind, hydro and solar

ENGINEERING

UC Electrical and Computer Engineering

The way of the Future

How is Renewable Energy studied at UC?In the Electrical and Computer Engineering department at UC you can learn all about all about how renewable energy can be turned into electricity; for example how photovoltaic cells or hydro or wind generators work and are designed; how that electricity is transported and stored; and the new technologies which will use that electricity like electric vehicles.

Students also get the opportunity to go on field trips to visit renewable energy generation sites like geothermal power stations, wind farms and the amazing Manapouri underground hydro power station in the heart of Fiordland

A number of undergraduate courses are on offer which cover all aspects renewable energy technologies. There is also a master level course on renewable electricity system design which is part of UC’s new MEngSt in Renewable Energy. We also offer research opportunities for master and PhD students. www.elec.canterbury.ac.nz