Caveat Academy course · Grades 8 to 12

Renewable Energy Engineering

A semester course on how clean power is engineered: energy and the grid, solar cells and system sizing, wind and hydro power, heat pumps and other sources, batteries and grid balancing, and the economics and emissions of real projects. Six modules at your own pace, with a check in every lesson and a certificate at the end.

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$19one-time · every device you sign in on
Buy · $19

Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Or get it in the Middle school course library, $79 for 28 items.

6 modules · 18 lessonsabout 12 hours$19

Six modules, eighteen lessons

Each module ends with a practice set that tracks mastery, an explain-it-back prompt, a short written response and a module exam. The final opens when every module is proficient; passing it earns a certificate with a verification code.

  1. Module 1: Energy, power and the grid

    Compute energy, power, cost, chain efficiency, transmission losses and capacity factors, and explain how the grid balances supply and demand.

    • Energy, power and the kilowatt-hour
    • Energy sources and efficiency
    • How the electric grid works
    about 2.1 h

  2. Module 2: Solar power

    Explain how photovoltaic cells work and size a solar system from peak sun hours, panel ratings and a derate factor.

    • Sunlight as a resource
    • How solar cells work
    • Sizing a solar system
    about 2.1 h

  3. Module 3: Wind and water

    Apply the wind power and hydropower equations, the Betz limit and capacity factors to estimate output, and analyze siting trade-offs.

    • The physics of wind power
    • Wind turbine design and siting
    • Hydropower
    about 2.1 h

  4. Module 4: Heat, plants and other sources

    Compare geothermal, heat pumps, biomass, ocean energy and hydrogen, including coefficients of performance and round-trip efficiency.

    • Geothermal energy and heat pumps
    • Biomass and biofuels
    • Ocean energy and hydrogen
    about 2.1 h

  5. Module 5: Storage and the grid

    Analyze the duck curve and size battery storage by capacity, power, duration and round-trip efficiency, and evaluate grid integration tools.

    • Why storage matters
    • Batteries
    • Integrating renewables into the grid
    about 2.1 h

  6. Module 6: Designing real projects

    Evaluate projects with efficiency savings, simple payback, levelized cost and life-cycle emissions.

    • Efficiency first
    • Project economics
    • Life-cycle emissions and careers
    about 2.1 h

Try it before you start

This is how every lesson works: step through a worked example at your own pace, then answer a check and get the reason right away. Nothing here is saved; the course keeps your progress.

Module 5 · Batteries

Worked example: will the battery cover the evening?

  1. A home's evening use from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. averages 2.5 kW: 2.5 × 4 = 10 kWh.

A lesson check from each module

The checks need JavaScript turned on. The course itself works the same way.

What you get

Academics · Middle SchoolAlso for Academics · High School$19 · included with the Academy pass and Whole-school licenses

What you finish with
A finished semester of renewable energy engineering: you can work with watts and kilowatt-hours, efficiency chains, transmission losses and capacity factors, size a solar system, estimate wind and hydro output with their equations and limits, compare heat pumps, biomass and hydrogen, size battery storage and read the duck curve, and judge projects by payback, levelized cost and life-cycle emissions. Passing the final earns a Caveat certificate of completion.
Who it is for
Students in grades 8 to 12 who want to understand how solar, wind and other clean energy systems are designed and judged, are previewing a school engineering or environmental course, or are considering engineering or a skilled energy trade; homeschool families who want a complete semester unit. The math is algebra with a calculator.
Format
An online self-paced course: 6 modules and 18 lessons with worked examples you reveal step by step, 144 practice and exam items (multiple choice, numeric, fill-in and ordering), an explain-it-back prompt and a rubric-checked short response in every module, module exams with one retake, a 24-question final and a certificate with a verification code. About 12 hours in all; works on a phone or a computer.
Access
$19 one-time, yours on every device you sign in on; the course opens once you are signed in with it. Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Also in the Middle school course library ($79) and the Academics Suite pass ($149), and 1 more bundle. Progress is saved in this browser on this device, and the certificate page lets you download your record.
Where it lives
The Middle School space in Caveat Academics; also listed for the High School space in Caveat Academics (the same course serves the high school Renewable Energy Engineering title).
Support
Access, a receipt, a refund or a correction to the course: team@caveatacademic.com.

How it works

  1. Open the course and start Module 1. Each lesson takes about 25 to 35 minutes; two or three a week finishes the course in about a semester.
  2. Answer the checks as you read. Every answer shows the reason, and a miss links you back to the lesson that covers it.
  3. Finish each module with its practice set and exam. Proficient on every module opens the final; 70 percent passes it.
  4. Print or download your certificate and record from the certificate page.

Start the course

Sources and accuracy

The lessons are original writing by Caveat Academic Services. Facts were checked against these free, open references, which are also good places to read further.

  1. U.S. Energy Information Administration, Energy Explained (sources, the grid, storage and use): eia.gov/energyexplained
  2. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, solar, wind and storage research and data: nrel.gov
  3. U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Saver (efficiency, heat pumps and lighting): energy.gov/energysaver
  4. IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, Working Group III, Annex III (life-cycle emissions of electricity sources): ipcc.ch
  5. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook (solar installers, wind technicians, engineers): bls.gov/ooh

Renewable Energy Engineering is a self-paced course from Caveat Academic Services. It follows the sequence of a typical one-semester course but does not replace a school course, award credit or substitute for supervised lab work. Never open electrical panels, work on household wiring, or climb roofs or towers. Prices, incentives and costs in worked examples are labeled as examples and are not financial advice. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.