Online Microcredential in Science, Engineering & Maths

Renewable Energy Microgrid: Market and Policy

Learn about microgrid systems, markets, and policy to help advance energy transition and unlock green careers.

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Deakin UniversityDeakin University

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Explore the potential of renewable energy with Deakin University

With fossil fuel prices soaring and global temperatures rising, the need to find cleaner and cheaper energy sources has never been more urgent. As a low-cost and locally-administered means of harnessing renewable energy, microgrids could offer a combined solution to energy poverty and global warming.

On this six-week microcredential from Deakin University, you’ll become an expert in renewable energy microgrids. Focusing on the Australian market, you’ll delve into renewable energy science, economics, and policy, and discover how microgrids help advance energy transition.

Understand energy policy and energy market economics

Once you’ve covered the basics of microgrids and renewable energy, you’ll dig deeper into energy market policy and economics.

You’ll learn how the energy market works, who its participants are, and what economic principles you need to understand it. You’ll also examine the regulatory and policy framework governing the energy market.

Investigate the challenges of integrating renewable energy microgrids

In Weeks 3 and 4, you’ll take a closer look at the specific challenges of integrating renewable energy microgrids into the market. You’ll analyse the conventional energy market to determine what new regulations are needed to make adjustments for microgrids.

Exploring technical, social, and regulatory issues, you’ll discuss barriers to the implementation of microgrid systems.

Apply your knowledge in the context of the Australian energy industry

After an overview of the global energy market, you’ll focus on the specific context in Australia. You’ll apply your knowledge to a real-world case study, and draw your own conclusions about the future of the renewable energy market.

By the end of the microcredential, you’ll have a detailed knowledge of issues impacting the implementation of microgrids around the world. You’ll understand what role microgrids could play in energy transition, and what provisions are needed to promote them in the future.

How will this microcredential help in my career?

This microcredential will equip you with transferable skills and specialist knowledge that you can apply to a wide range of green careers. You’ll develop your ability to analyse and manage different renewable energy systems, and evaluate their efficacy within different energy markets. These skills could unlock jobs in energy project management, design, engineering, and consulting.

You’ll also gain an in-depth understanding of renewable energy regulation, which will help you apply for roles within government and policy-making organisations, or in the development of energy-related legislation.

Finally, throughout the course, you’ll have the opportunity to network and engage with other professionals working in the renewable energy industry. Whether you’re looking to explore new positions or to evolve in your current career, this microcredential will empower you to take the next step professionally.

How will I be assessed?

At the end of the course, you’ll need to submit a written report analysing current and emerging energy markets.

Will I receive university credits?

Upon successful completion of the written assessment, you’ll be awarded 0.5 postgraduate level credits from Deakin University, and a Credly digital badge. You can build up your credits by completing more of the microcredentials offered by Deakin University.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 11 seconds DR.

Skip to 0 minutes and 11 seconds SAMAN GORJI: Hello and welcome

Skip to 0 minutes and 13 seconds to Renewable Energy Microgrid: Market and Policy course. I’m Dr. Saman Gorji, Senior Lecturer of Electrical and Renewable Engineering at the School of Engineering at Deakin University. Our short course aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the renewable energy microgrid market and policy landscape. Throughout the course, we’ll explore the basics of the energy market, the organisation of the energy market, participation, and the differences between the global and Australian energy markets. We’ll also examine the technical and economic aspects of microgrid, as well as the policies that govern their development and operation. Our course is designed to be interactive and engaging, and we encourage you to participate actively in the discussions and activities.

Skip to 1 minute and 7 seconds In addition to the online course materials, we also provide you with insight to our living lab microgrid, which is built by 7.5 megawatts of solar panels and 1 megawatt of battery. This will allow you to gain hands on experience and apply the concepts that you learned in the course.

What skills will you learn?

  • Project management
  • Policy analysis
  • Renewable energy optimisation
  • Energy system management
  • Energy system design
  • Engineering
  • Consulting
  • Policy evaluation
  • Policy design

What you will achieve

By the end of the microcredential, you’ll be able to...

  • Describe the roles in the energy market and describe how this connects economics and engineering.
  • Calculate basic economic equations relevant to energy markets.
  • Identify the benefits and challenges in the context of integrating renewable energy microgrid into the conventional energy market.
  • Evaluate the similarities and differences between the global energy market and the Australian energy market.

Are you eligible for this microcredential?

No particular skills or experience are required to be eligible for this microcredential, although you should have a strong interest in renewable energy, energy transition, microgrids, and energy policy.

Is this microcredential right for you?

This microcredential is designed for anyone interested in learning more about renewable energy microgrids.

It will suit both professionals already working in energy-related roles and learners looking to retrain or kickstart their careers.

Syllabus

What happens before, during, and after your microcredential

  • Before learning

    You’ll be given access to the course welcome area so that you can introduce yourself, meet other learners, and familiarise yourself with the microcredential structure and course materials.

  • Course

    From 22 May 2023

    Renewable Energy Microgrid: Market and Policy

    This course provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of the renewable energy microgrid market.

    6 weeks

    10 hours per week

    • Week 1

      Renewables and microgrid
      • Let's get started
      • Understanding Renewable Energy
      • Microgrids
      • Weekly wrap
    • Week 2

      Basics of the energy market
      • Economics and markets
      • Understanding the energy market
      • How can understanding economics help us understand energy markets?
      • Weekly Wrap
    • Week 3

      Organisation of the energy market
      • Conventional market (without REM)
      • Market with REM
      • Benefits and challenges of integrating REM into the conventional market
      • Weekly Wrap
    • Week 4

      Participation in the market
      • Conventional energy markets
      • Energy markets with REM
      • Similarities, differences and challenges
      • Weekly wrap
    • Week 5

      Global vs Australian energy market
      • Comparing energy markets
      • How is Australia different?
      • Success stories
      • Weekly wrap
    • Week 6

      Assessment, summary and next steps
      • Assessment Preparation and Submission
      • Course Wrap
  • After learning

    You’ll receive a statement of completion from FutureLearn and a digital certificate from Deakin University.

What you will receive

0.5 Deakin Credit Points at Postgraduate level from Deakin University

You’ll receive a digital Credly badge worth 0.5 postgraduate level credits. With these credits, you can build towards a degree from Deakin University.

Find out how credits work and where you can use them in our FAQs.

A Digital Badge from Deakin University and Credly

image ⬅️ Click this image to see more information about the digital badge you will receive upon successful completion, validated by Credly.



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Additional benefits

Complete your course within 6 weeks, including the assessment, or take extra time and use the regular assessment submission windows to complete within 20–26 weeks of your enrolment.

What is a microcredential?

Microcredentials are designed to upskill you for work in rapidly-growing industries, without the time and cost commitment of a full degree. Your microcredential can stand alone as an independent credential, and some also offer academic credit to use towards a degree.

Learn online with expert instructors

Complete online courses led by experts over multiple weeks with a dedicated group of professionals.

Complete project-based assessments

Test your understanding with online tutor-marked assessments and exercises.

Earn a professional credential

Finish your learning and pass your assessments to gain an accredited credential.

Advance further in your career

Use your microcredential as evidence of your specialised skills and progress further in your industry.

Career-focused learning by Deakin University

Deakin University is one of Australia’s largest universities with more than 61,000 students and over 15,000 online.

  • Established

    1974
  • Location

    Melbourne, Australia
  • World ranking

    Top 280Source: QS World University Rankings 2021

Delivered by experts

Dr Saman A. Gorji, a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), is currently a Senior Lecturer of electrical and renewable energy engineering at Deakin University.

Zahra is Research Assistant and PhD Student, researching an energy storage system. Zahra also has over 10 years of industry experience as a power plant engineer.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

What are our learners saying?

Add a new skill or forge a new path

"I recommend Futurelearn to anyone looking to learn and upskill...If you are in the job market, you might want to add a new skill or forge a new path."

They bring the classroom right to you

"FutureLearn courses are always interesting and informative. They bring the classroom right to you and send you on a journey to explore new ideas and offer interesting topics."

When would you like to start?

We aim to run our microcredentials every few months. Join on the date that suits you or register to hear about future runs and updates.

  • Join by 24 May 2024 at 00:00This microcredential started 22 May 2023

Not ready to join yet? Register to find out more

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FAQ

We can accept payments made by card (Visa, Mastercard and American Express) or PayPal via our online system.

You will have 14 days from the day the course starts to apply for a refund. If this Microcredential has any non-refundable costs they will be stated in the ‘Overview’ section above. You can find more information in our cancellation and refund policy.

Microcredentials are designed to fit around your life and timezone.

There may be live events as part of your studies, but these will be recorded and can be watched afterwards if you aren’t online for the live broadcast.

No, microcredentials are designed to be taken anywhere in the world. You won’t need the right to study in the country where the university offering the microcredential is based.

Want to know more? Read the microcredential FAQs, or contact us.