Certificate in Renewable Technology

There are many possible reasons for studying an introductory course on renewable energy technology at this level.  You may wish to explore this field to see if it could be the basis of a new career choice, or because you are considering an investment in some specific renewable energy technology, for your own house or commercially. Maybe you are passionate about living more sustainably and want to find out how renewable energy can play a part in this, or maybe you want to explore for yourself how renewable energy can play a part in developing New Zealand’s energy supply in the future.

This course attempts to address all of these aspects in a way which will let you explore your own areas of interest, and possibly some new ones, at several levels.

Although it is a technical subject, the course can be read in largely descriptive terms, with some simple calculations of the type you met in high school. If you are considering further trades-oriented study, the course provides an introduction to the components of each renewable technology and the relevant New Zealand Standards you will need to work to, and worked examples for some of the calculations involved at this level. If you are interested in going on to design renewable energy systems, there is also more basic science and engineering information which assumes that you have studied Science or Physics to Year 11 or 12 (School Cert or Sixth Form Certificate) and have maths skills to match.  If you are interested in energy policy and sustainability, you will find an approach which should be helpful in assessing the place of renewable energy in relation to these issues, and links to relevant policy documents. Finally, if you are considering investing in small-scale renewable energy technology, you should find that there is enough information presented or indicated in this course to allow you to carry out your own prefeasibility study to establish the options requiring detailed professional analysis, and enable you to manage the process to get the technical solution that best meets your requirements.

Success in this course can be achieved at any of these levels; the more detailed your study needs, the higher the grade you will be aiming for.

ORDER OF STUDY

We recommend that the first group of three papers should be studied for foundation knowledge in the order:

1. Introduction to Renewable Energy RET114
2. Sustainability RET143
3. Energy auditing RET116

Then the remaining papers should be studied in the order:

1. Solar water heating systems RET125
2. Photovoltaic power systems RET122
3. Energy efficient building design RET126
4. Wind energy conversion systems RET127
5. Micro hydro systems RET129
6. Stand alone power system components RET119

For students wishing to enrol in more than one paper at a time, we recommend that the first three units be studied in one intake, with the remaining units taken in a later intake.

RET114  Introduction to Renewable Energy

This module is an introduction to renewable energy technologies with an emphasis on commercially available technology, and small scale applications. It provides:

• An introduction to the full range of commercial renewable energy technologies
• Environmental impacts, advantages and disadvantages of each technology
• The global outlook for each technology
• An introduction to renewable energy micro generation in New Zealand

RET143  Sustainability

This module provides an initial overview of sustainability concepts, which form a general framework for the study of later modules. It includes an assessment of the condition of major global ecosystems, a practical definition of sustainability, and a review of progress towards sustainability in New Zealand. Against this background, energy policy and other institutional factors impacting on sustainable development are examined in the New Zealand context.

RET116  Energy Auditing

This module provides an introduction to the physical concepts of energy and power, leading to knowledge and skills relating to the process of conducting an energy audit. The second part of the module is a technical introduction to the solar energy resource, for application in later modules.

The module involves:

• Identifying and documenting user energy requirements
• Inspection and recording of energy end-use details
• Measuring and reporting user energy utilisation needs
• Identifying energy utilisation improvements; and
• Gaining a technical understanding of how to harness the solar energy resource effectively

RET125  Solar Water Heating Systems

This module provides knowledge and design information to facilitate the determination of the size and type of an appropriate solar water heating system for a given application, using the solar energy resource information from RET 116. It includes:

• Solar water heating system design information
• Solar collector design information
• Knowledge of which NZS Standards are applicable to the design and installation of solar hot water systems

RET122  Photovoltaic Power Systems

This module provides knowledge and understanding of the operation and design of photovoltaic cells and power systems, using the solar energy resource information from RET 116. It also includes an introduction to electricity and electrical systems.

RET126  Energy Efficient Building Design

This module provides an understanding of the principles used to design energy efficient buildings in New Zealand. It covers the theory and application of design variables including insulation, ventilation, thermal mass, window positioning and shading. These are explored in the context of thermal comfort, climate type and site considerations.

RET127  Wind Energy Conservation Systems 1

This module provides knowledge and understanding of the operation and design of wind energy conversion systems, their siting, and the nature of New Zealand’s wind energy resource. The design and operating principles of electrical power generation from wind turbines is also covered.

RET129  Micro Hydro Systems

This module provides knowledge and understanding of the operation and design of micro hydro energy systems (MHS). Hydro resource assessment, hydraulic design and turbine type selection are covered, together with electrical generator selection, and a case study reviews all aspects of a particular micro hydro project in New Zealand.

RET119  Stand Alone Power System Components

This module provides knowledge and understanding of the operation and design of stand-alone power systems (SPS) and their component parts, including battery storage of electrical energy and standby generators. Knowledge of which NZS Standards are applicable to the design and installation of SPS with renewable energy power supplies is also provided.

Enrolment: Application forms are filled out on a year by year basis and students are welcome to apply for multiple intakes on the one application form.  Further enrolment is the responsibility of individual students.  There is no automatic enrolment rollover.

Transfers:  All study selected for a particular intake must be completed within that intake period and cannot be carried over to another intake, unless a transfer is requested within the first two weeks after the start date.  Each transfer requested into an alternative intake will incur an admin fee of $50.  Transfers are not permitted two weeks after the intake start date or between academic years.

Withdrawals:  In order to get a refund of fees, students must advise SIT2LRN of their application withdrawal, in writing, 14 days prior to programme start date.  Students can withdraw up to 75% of the way through the course, but will still be liable for the fees. Students must advise SIT2LRN in writing of their programme withdrawal.

This programme requires a computer and internet access. All students are required to use their SIT webmail only. All course materials and information, including assessments and due dates, are located on the online Blackboard system, for which access will be given during the period of study.

Facilitator Assistance:  During the enrolled intake period, students have email access to Facilitators, who endeavour to respond to emails within 48 hours (week days only).  All students are required, within the first two weeks of intake, to send an email to their Facilitator confirming their start on the programme of study.  Students who have not completed this enrolment process or embarked upon their course of study by the end of the 2^nd week of intake, will be Faculty Withdrawn from the programme.  Such withdrawals may impact on future access to SIT Zero Fee Scheme and Student Direct Material Costs are still liable for payment.

We recommend students new to SIT2LRN read through the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section of our website at http://www.sit.ac.nz/pages/faq/faqs for further study and enrolment information.

All SIT2LRN courses are approved by Studylink.  Any queries regarding Studylink allowances, loans, and terms and conditions should be made directly to Studylink on 0800 88 99 00 or www.studylink.govt.nz. 

Each module is assessed on the basis of a project study. A norm-referenced approach is used and successful grades are awarded from A+ to D with E awarded to work not meeting the required standard. The Certificate in Renewable Technology is awarded to students who complete all units at or above the required standard.

The Zero Fee Scheme applies to this course, so there are no tuition fees as long as you are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident (residing in NZ), BUT there is a student direct material cost of $5.50 per credit of study undertaken, plus the required textbook/s listed below.  You must maintain satisfactory academic progress to retain your Zero Fee Scheme entitlement.

Payment is due on the start date of each intake enrolled in - for just the paper/s or unit/s that you have enrolled in for that intake.

All SIT2LRN courses are approved by Studylink.  Any queries regarding Studylink allowances, loans, and terms and conditions should be made directly to Studylink on 0800 88 99 00 or www.studylink.govt.nz.

The course requires you to purchase the textbook Renewable Energy: Power For A Sustainable Future, (2^nd Edition 2004) edited by G Boyle, published by Oxford University Press in association with the Open University in the UK. This highly regarded textbook will provide you with:

• a coherent and comprehensive account of renewable energy technologies to complement and reinforce the written and online content of this course
• a useful international perspective on renewable energy which is now a global industry driven by developments in Europe, the USA and increasingly in China
• coverage of all scales of renewable energy supply to complement the generally small-scale energy supply focus of this course, for reference.

Upon completion of the programme students will be prepared for work in the Renewable Energy field in a range of technical and system design roles.  Students will also be able to move onto a higher level of study in the field of Renewable Energy (including resource management planning, and environmental management).

How do I enrol for Certificate in Renewable Technology?

It's very easy to enrol. You can print an application form right now - CLICK HERE

Please note the application criteria below apply.

Applicants should typically have one or more of the following:

• A minimum of 12 credits at NCEA level one in both numeracy and literacy is required
• Applicants should be a minimum of 18 years of age
• Mature students are welcome

For students to be considered to have satisfactorily completed this programme and be eligible for the awarding of the qualification 'Certificate in Renewable Technology', they must have completed all scheduled course work requirements and assessments, successfully completed assessment requirements for all unit standards, and achieved a total of 60 credits as specified in the programme schedule.