3.0

credits

Average Course Rating

This course explores renewable energy and other sustainable solutions in the oceans and coastal regions. Students will learn about emerging technologies, including offshore wind, wave, tidal, and thermal energy systems, among others. We analyze the fundamental oceanographic and atmospheric processes that make such energy systems possible, including winds, currents, temperature and ocean structure. Students will assess environmental benefits and impacts of ocean energy sources, marine transportation, and nature-based solutions. We examine the regulatory environment, including U.S. and international ocean governance, and how laws and regulations influence efforts to advance ocean energy and sustainability. Students will learn from real-world case studies that illustrate how ocean energy can advance sustainability while balancing environmental, economic, and social considerations.