3.0

credits

Average Course Rating

This course provides an introduction to the structural engineering principles underlying renewable energy systems, focusing on both the demands placed on these structures and the capacity calculations necessary for their safe and efficient design. Students will explore the challenges involved in scaling up renewable energy infrastructure to meet national and global energy demands. The course will cover a wide variety of renewable energy structures including: dams, solar support structures, on- and off-shore wind energy structures, transmission structures, structures for energy storage, and other novel renewable energy structures (e.g. solar chimneys, structures for carbon capture, etc.). A significant portion of the course will be dedicated to a more open-ended design effort, where students will propose, design, and analyze a renewable energy structure, with an emphasis on novel or emerging technologies and/or scale-up.