ENRG 486 - Electric Utility Resource Planning

Executives of your electric utility want to know if renewable power sources and energy efficiency programs are reliable enough to allow them to stop building fossil-fuel plants and transition to clean energy. This course gives you the tools needed to answer their query. We cover resource planning methods used in the power sector today, with application to electricity generation and distribution planning, integrated resource planning, energy efficiency, and utility economics. Students will “hack” a resource plan of a real Northwest power utility, using methods that include forecasting, resource assessment (including energy efficiency and demand-side management), and analytic tools used in decision-making about which resources to build, operate or retire.

Prerequisites & Notes: One course from: DSCI 305, ECON 375, ENRG 322, ESCI 340 or BIOL 340; One course from: ENRG 386, ECON 386, ENRG 484 or ECON 484; One course from: ENRG 320, ENRG 380, ESCI 380 or ENRG 475.
Credits: 4
Grade Mode: Letter