Introduction to Distributed Energy Resources in the Electric Grid

The nation's electrical energy generation sources

are rapidly transitioning from large central generation plants that burn fossil fuels to distributed generation systems (often located on rooftops) that use renewable energy sources such as solar photovoltaic. Important standards and regulation, like IEEE 1547-2018 at the federal level or California Rule 21 or Hawaii Rule 14H at the state level, are driving development agenda.

This course is an introduction to Distributed Energy Resources (DER) in the electrical grid and the standards that inform DER deployment. The course requires no prior knowledge of the topic and is intended for students who are interested in exploring technical (e.g. engineering, chemistry, software), professional (e.g. architecture, marketing, finance), and operational (e.g. accounting, logistics) careers in the rapidly growing distributed energy industry. Students will acquire a foundation in the basic electrical concepts that are needed to understand the more detailed considerations associated with DER in the grid. The course will also provide detailed insights into topics concerning DER interconnection standards and regulations, DER networking standards like IEEE 2030.5, and cybersecurity. Key DER technologies such as solar, wind, energy storage, and electric vehicles are also covered in more depth.

Course Highlights:

• Energy and electricity overview - usage, trends, generation, usage concepts, electricity fundamentals
• Electrical grids - overview, large electrical grids, smaller electrical grids, microgrids, business models and trends
• Distributed energy resources - overview, grid interconnection
• IEEE 1547 - functionality, role in DER development and grid regulations
• Photovoltaic (Solar) generation - technology overview and effects on grid
• Wind generation - technology overview and effects on grid
• Energy storage - technology overview and effects on grid
• Electric vehicles - technology overview and effects on grid
• DER networking and communications - DER communication overview, IEEE 2030.5, SunSpec Modbus, IEEE 1815 (DNP3), IEC 61850-7-420
• Grid security - overview with an emphasis on security associated with communications network used to interface with DER

Course Typically Offered: Online in every quarter. 

Prerequisites: N/A

Contact: For more information about this course, please email unexengr@ucsd.edu.

Course Number: ECE-40300
Credit: 3.00 unit(s)
Related Certificate Programs: Communications Software Development for Distributed Energy Resources

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7/11/2023 - 9/9/2023

$895

Online

Cancelled

• SECTION ID:

  174294

• CLASS TYPE:

  Online Asynchronous.
  
  This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
  You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.

• INSTRUCTOR:
  

  Fox, Robert

  Bob Fox is principal engineer of the SunSpec Alliance where he leads standards and software development for the company. An accomplished software developer with experience in data communication, middleware and “device ware,” Fox was senior software engineer at Fat Spaniel, a pioneering company in renewable energy monitoring, and at Power-One (now ABB), a leading solar inverter manufacturer. Fox has written software to interface with virtually all of the major inverter brands. This experience drove him, as an employee of a SunSpec member company, to become a lead participant in the development of the initial SunSpec inverter control standard. He is also one of the first to implement working inverter control interface software based on the SunSpec speci...Read More

• TEXTBOOKS:

  No textbook required.

• POLICIES:

  No refunds after: 7/17/2023.
  

• NOTE:

• DATE & LOCATION:

  7/11/2023 - 9/9/2023
  extensioncanvas.ucsd.edu
  You will have access to your course materials on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.