M.Tech in Renewable Energy Engineering
Semester-wise syllabus for an M.Tech in Renewable Energy Engineering
Semester 1: Core Foundations
Courses:
1. Principles of Renewable Energy Systems
- Energy sources (solar, wind, biomass, hydro, geothermal), energy conversion, and sustainability metrics.
2. Solar Energy Technologies
- Photovoltaics (PV cell design, grid-tied systems), solar thermal systems (CSP, collectors), and storage integration.
3. Wind Energy Systems
- Aerodynamics of turbines, wind resource assessment, onshore/offshore systems, and power curve analysis.
4. Energy Storage Technologies
- Batteries (Li-ion, flow), hydrogen storage, pumped hydro, and supercapacitors.
5. Research Methodology
- Technical writing, data analysis (Python/MATLAB), and life-cycle assessment (LCA).
Labs:
- Solar Energy Lab (PV panel testing, solar simulator)
- Energy Storage Lab (battery characterization, hydrogen electrolysis)
Semester 2: Advanced Technologies & Electives
Core Courses:
1. Grid Integration of Renewables
- Smart grids, microgrids, power electronics (inverters, FACTS), and grid stability.
2. Bioenergy and Waste-to-Energy Systems
- Biomass gasification, biogas production, biofuels (biodiesel, ethanol), and anaerobic digestion.
Electives (Examples):
- Hydro and Ocean Energy (tidal, wave, small hydro)
- Hybrid Renewable Systems (solar-wind, solar-diesel)
- Hydrogen Economy (production, storage, fuel cells)
- Energy Policy and Economics (subsidies, carbon pricing, renewable mandates)
- Offshore Wind and Floating Solar Systems
Labs:
- Wind Turbine Simulation Lab (QBlade, WAsP)
- Smart Grid Lab (HOMER, PSCAD for microgrid design)
Semester 3: Specialization & Project Work
Electives (Examples):
- Advanced Solar Thermal Systems (concentrated solar power, district heating)
- AI/ML for Renewable Energy (forecasting, predictive maintenance)
- Geothermal Energy (exploration, heat pumps, EGS)
- Climate Change Mitigation (carbon capture, renewable integration strategies)
- Renewable Energy Entrepreneurship (startups, project financing)
Project/Dissertation:
- Phase 1: Topic selection (e.g., hybrid microgrid design, green hydrogen feasibility, agrivoltaics), literature review, and proposal.
- Seminars: Presentations on trends like floating PV, perovskite solar cells, or AI-driven energy management.
Semester 4: Thesis/Project Completion
Thesis/Project:
- Full-time focus on system design, simulations (e.g., RETScreen, SAM), or field implementation (e.g., solar/wind farm optimization).
- Final documentation, viva voce defense, and collaboration with industry/research institutes.
Additional Components:
- Industrial Internship (optional, with firms like Siemens Gamesa, NTPC Renewable, or startups).
- Workshops: Training in GIS for Renewable Site Selection, PVsyst, or Climate Modeling Tools (CLIMADA).
Elective Tracks (Specializations):
1. Solar Energy Engineering
- PV system design, CSP, solar forecasting, and perovskite technologies.
2. Wind Energy Systems
- Turbine design, offshore wind farms, and resource assessment.
3. Energy Storage and Hydrogen
- Battery management systems (BMS), fuel cells, and green hydrogen production.
4. Policy and Sustainability
- Renewable energy laws, carbon markets, and sustainable development goals (SDGs).