The course is mandatory in order to develop the necessary background for the assessment and design of renewable energy systems.

The subject matter of the course combines knowledge of previous semester courses (thermodynamics, transport phenomena, processes) and enables students to develop further skills and perceptions for the use of clean energy systems technologies.

The course begins with the correlation between environment and energy. Thereafter, the relation of renewable energy sources (solar, photovoltaic, biomass, hydro, wind, geothermal, wave energy) to the power, heat / cooling generation systems. It follows the environmental impact of renewable energy sources and a comparison with conventional energy sources. Emphasis is put on the evaluation, composition and dimensioning of RES applications with examples. Finally, pilot applications from Greece, Europe and internationally are presented.

The aim of the course is to understand students' importance of the environmental, economic and functional evaluation of RES systems, designing and choosing the optimal mix.

Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

• Understand the critical characteristics of RES technologies and their principles.
• Know the basic tools and techniques of analysis of RES systems 
• Design energy projects
• Calculate the basics of individual clean energy systems.
• Evaluate the optimal energy solution environmentally

• Project design and management
• Protection of the natural environment

1. Environment and energy
2. Fundamentals of Sustainable Energy Systems and Renewable Sources
3. Solar energy utilization systems - solar thermal systems
4. Photovoltaic systems
5. Solar thermal power generation systems
6. Biomass - Biofuels
7. Wind power
8. Small hydroelectric systems
9. Geothermal energy
10. Standard energy applications
11. Environmental impacts from renewable and conventional energy sources
12. Design of RES applications with examples
13. Assessment of energy systems

• Specialized software
• Power point presentations
• E-class support

Assessment Method

Student single project (voluntary, 20% bonus).

Textbooks in Greek (Eudoxus):

• Ανανεώσιμες πηγές ενέργειας, Τσούτσος Θ., Κανάκης Ι., Εκδόσεις Παπασωτηρίου, ISBN 978-960-491-067-0, σελίδες: 500 σελ.
• Βιομάζα: Βιοενέργεια και Περιβάλλον, Βάμβουκα, Δ., Εκδόσεις Τζιόλα, ISBN: 978-960-418-167-4, σελίδες: 702, 2009

Relevant Scientific Journals:

• Applied Energy; Biofuels;
• Bioproducts & Biorefining;
• Biomass & Bioenergy;
• Desalination and Water Management;
• Ecological Indicators;
• Energies;
• Energy;
• Energy & Buildings;
• Energy Conversion and Management;
• Energy Exploitation and Exploitation;
• Energy for Sustainable Development;
• Energy Policy;
• International Journal of Sustainable Energy;
• Physics & Chemistry  of the Earth;
• Renewable Energy;
• Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews;
• Science of the Total Environment;
• Solar Energy;
• Sustainable Cities & Society