Course detail

Selected Topics in Renewable Energy Sources and Energy Storage

FEKT-BPC-OZUAcad. year: 2025/2026

The course deals with current problems in the field of renewable energy sources, focusing on practical information and experience with various sources of electricity, such as wind, solar, hydro, geothermal and even biomass energy. A considerable amount of attention is focused on the possibility of storing electrical energy, introducing different types of accumulation, working principles and a comparison between the pros and cons. The course also includes information on practical use in hybrid electric vehicles, island systems and hydrogen economy.
During laboratory tests the students can obtain practical information based on testing and simulating the studied topics.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

5

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. Ing. Petr Bača, Ph.D.

Department

Department of Electrical and Electronic Technology (UETE)

Entry knowledge

The course is designed as introduction to the topic of renewable energy sources and energy storage. There is no need to any other prerequisites, knowledge obtained during secondary (middle) school is sufficient.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

A maximum of 8 points is awarded for the test (semester test) assessing theoretical knowledge in laboratory classes. The minimum requirement to successfully pass the semester test is 2 points.

An additional 32 points are awarded for correct and complete results and for the completion of all laboratory assignments.

The final examination is graded with a maximum of 60 points. The minimum requirement to successfully pass the final examination is 15 points.

The minimum scope of individual laboratory assignments and other requirements for successful completion of the course are specified in an annually updated regulation issued by the course guarantor.

The requirements for successful completion of the course are specified in an annually updated regulation issued by the course guarantor.

 

Aims

The aim of the course is to familiarize students with the basics of renewable energy sources and energy storage and to provide them with the information necessary for advanced courses. During the course, students will become acquainted with the theoretical foundations. They will primarily learn about the utilization of wind, solar, and water energy for conversion into electrical energy, and the possibilities of its storage, with electrochemical sources, and so on.
In this course, students will acquire both theoretical and practical foundations in the field of renewable energy sources and energy storage. Based on this knowledge, they will be able to competently analyze and propose solutions in the field of renewable energy sources and energy storage. The student will be able to suggest suitable locations for wind, photovoltaic, and hydroelectric power plants, explain the operating principle of a heat pump, and propose appropriate energy storage methods. The student will be familiar with facts concerning the production and utilization of electrical energy from renewable sources, including emission and environmental impacts. The student will be theoretically prepared for subsequent courses in the areas of renewable and alternative electrical energy sources. 

Study aids

Course Textbook for BPC-OZU
Lectures 

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Vojtěchovský, K., Obnovitelné zdroje energie, FCC Public, Praha (CS)

Recommended reading

Boyle, G., Renewable Energy, Oxford University Press, USA (EN)
Dell, R.M.a Rand, D.J., Clean energy, Athenaeum Press Ltd, UK (EN)
Quaschning, V., Understanding Renewable Energy Systems, Earthscan Publications Ltd., USA (EN)

Elearning

eLearning: currently opened course

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BPC-EMU Bachelor's 2 year of study, summer semester, compulsory, profile core courses
  • Programme BPC-AMT Bachelor's 0 year of study, summer semester, elective

  • Programme BPC-AUD Bachelor's

    specialization AUDB-ZVUK , 0 year of study, summer semester, elective
    specialization AUDB-TECH , 0 year of study, summer semester, elective

  • Programme BPC-ECT Bachelor's 0 year of study, summer semester, elective
  • Programme BPC-MET Bachelor's 2 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional, profile core courses
  • Programme BPC-SEE Bachelor's 0 year of study, summer semester, elective
  • Programme BPC-TLI Bachelor's 0 year of study, summer semester, elective
  • Programme BIT Bachelor's 2 year of study, summer semester, elective
  • Programme BIT Bachelor's 2 year of study, summer semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. Petr Bača, Ph.D.
Ing. Jiří Libich, Ph.D.
Ing. Kristýna Jandová, Ph.D.
prof. Ing. Tomáš Kazda, Ph.D.
Ing. Antonín Šimek

Syllabus

1. Wind energy
2. Solar energy
3. Water energy
4. Earth's core energy
5. Biomass energy
6. Energy storages
7. Combined hybrid nitrogen system
8. Electric energy in RAPS applications
9. Hybrid electric vehicles
10. Energy storage with help of flywheel and compressed air
11. Energy storage with help of supercapacitors and SMES systems
12. Utilization of low potential thermal residual energy

Laboratory exercise

26 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Martin Šedina
Ing. Antonín Šimek
Ing. Jiří Libich, Ph.D.

Syllabus

1. Introduction into laboratory exercises
2. The frequency response and spectrum of PV module
3. VA characteristics of PV module at different intensities of light
4. Accumulation of electric energy using flywheel
5. Accumulation of thermal energy in the form of sensible and latent heat
6. Combinations and electrical efficiency of supercapacitors, supercapacitors energy utilization
7. Small water wheel generator
8. Power efficiency of small wind turbine
9. Use of the thermoelectric phenomenon for energy acquisition
10. Verification od Beketov's metal series
11. Energy of compressed gas
12. Heat pump systems

Elearning

eLearning: currently opened course
This course was created by the project Akcelerace zelených dovedností a udržitelnosti na VUT v Brně with registration number NPO_VUT_MSMT-2143/2024-5.