2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

To meet the demand for skilled professionals in renewable energy in the Puget Sound region, an upper-level undergraduate course was developed at the University of Washington at Bothell. The course is primarily focused on renewable energy sources with added emphasis on the electrical aspects and the power electronics associated with such technologies. Simulink and SimPowerSystems based simulation exercises are integrated in the course to enhance student motivation and to provide students with marketable skills. The paper describes the contents of the course, associated power electronics topics, sample Simulink exercises and the teaching methods used. The effectiveness of the course is assessed through student feedback. The elective course in renewable energy was offered in winter 2021 and spring 2022.