ENCO 4364: Alternative Energy Markets - Electricity
| NOTE: This is the Fall 2008 syllabus and course outline. If you are looking for the Fall 2009 version, click here.
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Fall 2008
TR 12:30-1:50PM, BA 157
Instructor: Michael Giberson
BA 316
(806) 742-3161
Office hours: Monday and Wednesday, 1:00-2:00 PM; Tuesday and Thursday,
2:00-3:00 PM; and by appointment.
Link to Syllabus and draft course outline in PDF format (Updated: 2008 August 26).
Jump to Syllabus online (on this page below the Course Outline).
Course Outline
Fall 2008
Consult this online version of the document for the latest information on assignments.
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Topic |
Assignment |
Date |
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1 – Introduction to wind power |
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What do we want to know about wind energy? |
CNBC, “Texas OKs Big-Bucks Wind Power Project,” (2008 July 17); U.S. News, “Why T. Boone Pickens could be the best hope for wind energy,” (2008 August 22). |
(Aug 28) |
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2 – Electric power grid |
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a) Electric transmission, reliability |
Brown and Sedano, pp 1-11; 22-28; BACKGROUND: NREL, Wind Energy Basics. |
(Sept 2) |
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b) Economic dispatch of generation |
Brown and Sedano, pp 29-38; Any questions? Bring them to class. |
(Sept 4) |
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c) Power markets |
TX Energy Report, Ch. 32, App I: The Electricity Market. |
(Sept 9) |
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3 – Evaluating wind power |
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a) Wind generation |
TX Energy Report, Ch. 11: Wind Energy. |
(Sept 11) |
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b) Tools for analyzing projects |
Short, et al., A Manual for Economic Evaluation..., pp. 1-14, 26-34. |
(Sept 16) |
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4 – Conventional generation |
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a) Coal power |
TX Energy Report, Ch. 7: Coal. |
(Sept 18) |
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b) Nuclear |
TX Energy Report, Ch. 8: Nuclear Energy; WSJ Special Report, "The Case For and Against Nuclear Power" |
(Sept 23) |
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b) Natural gas |
Li, "Natural Gas for Generation: A solution or a problem? IEEE Power & Energy, July-Aug 2005; BACKGROUND: TX Energy Report, Ch. 8: Natural Gas. |
(Sept 25) |
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c) Hydropower |
TX Energy Report, Ch. 19: Hydropower. |
(Sept 30) |
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Group project |
(Oct 2) |
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5 – Solar energy |
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Technologies and costs |
EPRI, Solar Photovoltaics: Expanding Electric Generation Options, 2007, pp. 4-9, 13-17. TX Energy Report, Ch. 10: Solar. |
(Oct 7) |
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Project discussions |
Class time set aside for discussion with instructor. No readings. |
(Oct 9) |
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6 – Geothermal energy |
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Technologies and costs |
Whisper Energy LLC, "About Geoexchange HVAC Systems." TX Energy Report, Ch. 21: Geothermal. |
(Oct 14) |
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Project discussions |
Class time made available for group work on projects. No readings. |
(Oct 16) |
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8 – Public policy and alternative energy supplies |
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8a) The case for policy intervention |
Komor,
Renewable Energy Policy, Ch. 1, "Why Renewables?" |
(Oct 21) |
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8b) Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) |
Komor,
Renewable Energy Policy, Ch. 10, "The Renewable Portfolio
Standard." |
(Oct 23) |
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Group presentations |
Be prepared! |
(Oct 28) |
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9 – Developing wind power resources |
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9a) Prospecting for wind power resources |
How to look for a wind power site. (No assigned reading). |
(Oct 30) |
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9b) Wind energy data sources |
Conover/EPRI,
Planning your first wind power project, Ch.
1 and Ch. 2, "Wind prospecting" |
(Nov 4 ) |
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9c) More on site evaluation |
Conover/EPRI, Planning your first wind power project, Ch. 3, "Resource validation" Individual project introduced - first assignment. |
(Nov 6) |
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8c) Electric Restructuring and Renewables |
Komor, Renewable Energy Policy, Ch. 3, "Electric Restructuring and Renewables" |
(Nov 11) |
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8d) The U.S. green electricity market |
Komor, Renewable Energy Policy, Ch. 5, "The U.S. green electricity market: Lessons learned" |
(Nov 13) |
| LINK TO WIND POWER PROJECT REPORT DATA | ||
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9d) Development of a wind power project |
Conover/EPRI, Planning your first wind power project, Ch. 4, "Project feasibility" |
(Nov 18) |
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9e) Wind rights and other details |
Conover/EPRI, Planning your first wind power project, Ch. 7, "Wind project details" |
(Nov 20) |
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8e) Understanding green power consumers |
Komor, Renewable Energy Policy, Ch. 7, "Understanding green buyers: Why they choose to pay more for electricity." |
(Nov 25) |
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9f) Building and operating a wind power plant |
Conover/EPRI, Planning your first wind power project, Ch. 9, 10, "Project design, installation, operating & maintenance." |
(Dec 2) |
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FINAL EXAM |
Test scheduled for December 10 at 4:30 AM – 7:00 PM. Be prepared: Final exam - review sheet |
(Dec 10) |
Syllabuss
Fall 2008
|
Instructor |
Michael Giberson |
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Office |
BA 316 |
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Office phone |
(806) 742-3161 |
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michael.giberson@ttu.edu |
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Office hours |
Monday and Wednesday, 1:00-2:00 PM; Tuesday and Thursday, 2:00-3:00 PM; and by appointment. |
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Website |
http://giberson.ba.ttu.edu/ENCO4364 |
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Class |
TR 12:30-1:50PM, BA 157 |
Course description
Compares market economics and technology of conventional and unconventional fossil fuels to emerging alternatives and renewable energy sources of electricity generation.
Course materials
· Paul Komor, Renewable Energy Policy, (iUniverse; 2004).
· Packet of readings for purchase at BA Copy Center. [NOT YET AVAILABLE]
· Brown and Sedano, Electricity Transmission: A Primer, National Council on Electricity Policy (June 2004). Available free online at: http://www.oe.energy.gov/DocumentsandMedia/primer.pdf.
· Short, et al., A Manual for the Economic Evaluation of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Technologies, NREL/TP-462-5173 (March 1995). Available free online at: http://www.nrel.gov/csp/troughnet/pdfs/5173.pdf.
· Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, The Energy Report 2008, (May 2008). Available free online at: http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/energy/.
Also recommended is Bosselman, et al., Energy, Economics and the Environment: Cases and Materials, 2d edition (2006), which provides background for topics addressed in this and other Energy Commerce courses. You should consider the book, but it is not required for this course.
Expected Learning Outcomes
After completing this course, students will be able to:
· Describe the role played by electricity in the energy economy;
· Identify the basic elements of the electric power system – generation, transmission, and local distribution – and describe the role played by each element;
· List common conventional and alternative methods for producing electrical power and describe basic characteristics of each method;
· Describe how wholesale power markets function in both traditional regulated utility power systems and in integrated regional power markets;
· Evaluate project economics for an electric power project and produce a report in a standardized format;
· Identify uncertain factors in long-term forecasts (especially as relate to project evaluation) and employ analytical tools to guide decision making under uncertainty; and,
· List the key public policies affecting renewable power generation and identify the role played by these policies in shaping the electric power industry.
Methods of Assessing Outcomes
The expected learning outcomes will be assessed by review of written assignments (project reports), class participation, and performance on the unit tests and the final exams.
Class participation - The primary focus of most class periods will be classroom discussion of the assigned materials facilitated by the instructor. Students are expected to read assigned materials prior to assigned dates and to contribute class discussions.
Project Reports – Each major unit of the course will require the student to demonstrate understanding of the material covered by submission of a project report.
Unit Tests – Dates to be announced.
Final Exam – Test scheduled for December 10 at 4:30 AM – 7:00 PM.
Grading
·
Class
participation 15%
·
Project Reports
50%
·
Unit Tests
20%
·
Final
Exam 15%
UPDATE - October 30: As the semester has progressed we have made a number of adjustments to our initial plans, and the grading scheme must be updated to reflect the changes. The “unit tests” will not be given this semester, the weight given to “project reports” and the “final exam” will increase, and the weight for Class participation will remain as it was.
The net effect is as follows:
· Class participation___________________________ 15%
· Project Reports_______________________________ 65%
· Final Exam___________________________________ 20%
Additional class policies
In general, the class will follow standard university policies as described in the Texas Tech University Operating Policies (http://www.depts.ttu.edu/opmanual/). In addition, please note:
Academic Honesty: It is the aim of Texas Tech University to foster a spirit of complete honesty and high standard of integrity. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be treated according to the rules outlined in the Student Handbook.
Absences - A student who will miss class due to a university-approved trip or to observe a religious holy day should make that intention known to the instructor prior to the absence so that accommodations can be made in accordance with university policies.
Disabilities - Any student who, because of a disability, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact the instructor to request necessary accommodations.
Syllabus and Course Outline Changes - The instructor may adjust the syllabus or course outline during the course of the semester. Updated versions of the syllabus and course outline will be maintained on the class website (http://giberson.ba.ttu.edu/ENCO4364).