Electrical power grids of the future will differ significantly from the power systems of the twentieth century. Current applications of smart grids around the world already solve some issues related to energy transmission. These include the small capacity and intermittent nature of renewable resources; the constraints of existing lines operated close to their thermal and stability limits; and uni-directional transmission from production to user. In addition, new ‘intelligent’ demand of products and devices such as electric vehicles and heat pumps demand changes in the way electricity is transmitted. Why are smart grids the answer? Being robust and flexible, intelligent electrical power grids effectively coordinate energy supply and demand in a dynamic way. This enables the electricity from solar cells or wind farms, for example, to be incorporated within the distribution network. Biogas could be introduced locally within the gas network. Last but not least, smart grids also provide the flexibility needed to stimulate change in the energy market such as product innovation, privatization and internationalization. Understanding smart grids is a must for advancing your career in the energy sector, particularly in the fields of renewable energies, governmental policy, or consultancy. In the first course, you will be introduced to the layout of a smart grid, its components, its dynamics and the challenges in modeling and studying it. In the second course, you will put this knowledge into practice and develop your own models and scenarios to study and analyze the outcomes of some common smart grid disturbances.
An excellent online course offered by edX: how it works
edX courses consist of weekly learning sequences. Each learning sequence is composed of short videos interspersed with interactive learning exercises, where students can immediately practise the concepts from the videos. The courses often include tutorial videos that are similar to small on-campus discussion groups, an online textbook, and an online discussion forum where students can post and review questions and comments to each other and teaching assistants. Where applicable, online laboratories are incorporated into the course.
edX offers certificates of successful completion and some courses are credit-eligible. Whether or not a college or university offers credit for an online course is within the sole discretion of the school. edX offers a variety of ways to take courses, including verified courses where students have the option to audit the course (no cost) or to work toward an edX Verified Certificate (fees vary by course). edX also offers XSeries Certificates for completion of a bundled set of two to seven verified courses in a single subject (cost varies depending on the courses).
An edX learning programme under Other Experiences
