Increase your knowledge of renewable energy sources.

By Publisher: OpenLearn | Factsheet | Demo

This free online course is intended to introduce students to the whole area of energy sustainability, climate change and renewable energy technologies. Many greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane, occur naturally. However, during the past two centuries, human activities have also added significantly to the level of these naturally occurring gases. In particular, large amounts of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane are produced by the use of non-renewable energy sources such as oil, natural gas and coal. For a sustainable future these fossil fuels will have to be replaced by renewable energy sources such as wind and solar energy, and biomass fuels. In this online course students will learn the connection between energy use and sustainability, how current energy use is contributing to global climate change, the difference between renewable and non-renewable energy sources, how to identify and distinguish between different forms of renewable energy, and understand the advantages and disadvantages of different renewable energy sources. The course will be of great interest to teachers and students who want to learn more about energy use and how renewable sources of energy will be of vital importance for a sustainable future.