2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Abstract

Renewable energy or green energy is energy from renewable natural resources that are replenished on a human timescale. These sources of energy are considered sustainable because they are naturally replenished and have a lower environmental impact compared to fossil fuels. The transition away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy technologies is now fully underway. The most widely used renewable energy types are solar energy, wind power, and hydropower. A large majority of worldwide newly installed electricity capacity is now renewable [1-4]. In 2022, renewables accounted for 30% of global electricity generation and are projected to reach over 42% by 2028 [5].

The recent rapid global growth in renewable energy production has given rise to a demand for engineers with experience in this area. It is recognized the need for a large, well-trained workforce that can conduct research and development projects in renewables. Currently, renewable energy courses are not well represented in undergraduate academic programs.

To prepare our electrical engineering students for the design and implementation of the renewable energy systems, we encourage them to choose a renewable energy capstone project. To satisfy the ABET requirements, students in electrical engineering programs are required to take a capstone course. This paper describes sample renewable capstone projects that students have done in this program.