Skip to main content

Renewable Energy Track

The Renewable Energy Track in RESS is recommended for students who aim for careers in renewable energy industry, business, and consulting. Students in RE track acquire expertise in project assessment and technical knowledge pertinent to the fast-changing energy industry. The Master's level skills for renewable energy project development include solar resource assessment for selected locales, knowledge of electric-derived and thermal solar conversion technologies, technical knowledge in hybridized solar systems design, effective communications to maximize the solar economic utility to the client/stakeholders, and the social and policy context of solar systems project design. Courses in renewable energy track address both utility-scale and distributed solar conversion systems for residential and commercial power generation.

For the Renewable Energy Track, a background in science, engineering or professional experience in energy industry is recommended. 

Course Work (33 credits total)

All MPS RESS students are required to take the following core courses (15 credits):

  • EME 504: Foundations in Sustainability Systems (3 cr.)
  • EME 801: Energy Markets, Policy and Regulation (3 cr.)
  • EME 802: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems (3 cr.)
  • BIOET 533: Ethical Dimensions of Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems (3 cr.)
  • EME 589: Management and Design of Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems - Capstone Course (3 cr.)

Students in the Renewable Energy Track are advised to take four of the following track courses (12 credits):

  • EME 810: Solar Resource Assessment and Economics (3 cr.)
  • AE 878: Solar Project Development and Finance (3 cr.)
  • AE 868: Commercial Solar Electric Systems (3 cr.)
  • EME 812: Utility Solar Power and Concentration (3 cr.)
  • AERSP 886: Engineering of Wind Project Development (3 cr.)

In addition to the above, students can choose 6 credits of electives to count towards program requirements.

Click here to review the list of approved electives.

If you plan taking electives outside RESS, please be sure to discuss those options with your academic adviser beforehand. Enrollment in non-RESS electives depend on home program permission and seat availability. For help with elective registration, please contact World Campus Registration at 814-863-5256 or registration@outreach.psu.edu

To review the offerings of RESS courses semester by semester, please visit the RESS Course Schedule page.

If you have additional questions about the course work in the Renewable Energy track, please contact Dr. Mark Fedkin at info@ress.psu.edu.