AASHE Campus Sustainability Hub

Students will begin by building foundational knowledge in the electrical, electronic and mechanical disciplines and how they function in the renewable energies sector. Students will also study the design and installation techniques required to work with various renewable energy solutions such as solar energy, wind turbines, biomass energy and geothermal energy systems. Industry best practices for health, safety and environmental conservation will be examined along with completion of safety trainings for working at heights and in confined spaces. Additionally, students will be introduced to the general concepts of global climate change and the practicalities associated with sustainable energy including conservation techniques.

Graduates will have an in-depth working knowledge of current practice in the installation, commissioning and routine maintenance and repair of photovoltaic and wind turbine generating systems enabling them to function effectively in the utility scale wind turbine and solar photovoltaic industries.

Graduates will reliably demonstrated the ability to: 1. Adhere to all precautions to be taken when working on or near electrical power sources, conductors, transformers, motors, rotating equipment, hoisting equipment, rooftops, high elevations and confined spaces and apply all applicable health and safety policies, laws, codes, regulations and industry standards. 2. Install, operate, troubleshoot, repair and maintain renewable energy systems including wind turbine and photovoltaic systems. 3. Install, maintain, troubleshoot and contribute to the control of renewable energy systems through the application of basic electrical AC and DC current and analog and digital electronics theory; hydraulic and mechanical concepts; as well as, motor control and automation theory including sensors, data acquisition devices, and programmable controllers. 4. Install, assemble, examine, test, replace, or repair electrical wiring, components, modules, feeders, fibre optic cables, mechanical assemblies, electric motors and controls, generators and hydraulic components associated with renewable energy systems. 5. Analyze, diagnose, troubleshoot and repair renewable energy components, processes, and systems through the application of engineering principles and practices. 6. Analyze, interpret and produce electrical, electronic and mechanical drawings and schematics and other technical documents associated with renewable energy systems to appropriate engineering standards. 7. Interpret relevant data monitored by supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems related to renewable energy systems and take corrective measures as appropriate to achieve maximum energy production and power transmission efficiency. 8. Identify, select and correctly install various types of solar photovoltaic mounting systems according to various roof styles or ground mount applications consistent with the load effects of the photovoltaic arrays on the structures on which they are to be mounted. 9. Assess and evaluate buildings according to “Green Building” principles and building energy auditing techniques and make energy efficiency and conservation recommendations outlining how conservation and sustainable living benefits human and environmental health. 10. Select, size, design, site and compute energy production calculations as part of the evaluation, installation and commissioning of energy generation systems by applying knowledge of electrical, mechanical, and control systems in accordance with accepted practices outlined by utilities, building codes, federal and provincial regulations. 11. Access and adhere to all legislation, industry standards and codes as they apply to renewable energy technology including MicroGrid and FIT (Feed-In-Tariff) Regulations. 12. Work as a productive member of a team in the research, design and implementation of renewable energy projects with the ability to communicate effectively through written, oral and graphic communication.

• Link: Renewable Energies Technician (Co-op)