Syllabus-ME520-202502

ME 520
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems

Faculty Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences

Semester Spring 2025-2026

Course ME 520 - Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems

Time/Place

Time

Week Day

Place

Date

13:40-14:30

Tue

FENS-L047

Feb 16-May 22, 2026

08:40-10:30

Thu

FENS-L030

Feb 16-May 22, 2026

Level of course Masters

Course Credits SU Credit:3, ECTS:10

Prerequisites -

Corequisites -

Course Type Lecture

Instructor(s) Information

Serhat Yeşilyurt

Email: syesilyurt@sabanciuniv.edu

Course Information

Catalog Course Description

Topics covered are fundamentals of the renewable and sustainable energy systems technology, thermo-economic analysis and the current research trends in improving the energy production from terrestrial water and air flows, solar irradiation, nuclear fission and controlled plasma for fusion, energy conversion alternatives such as hydrogen fuel cells, small and large scale energy storage such as electric batteries, thermal and compressed-gas, and the current research on the electric transmission grids and an introductory economic analysis of the domestic electric use in the future.

Course Learning Outcomes:

1.	Knowledge & understanding: Upon successful completion students will be able to: - Improve intuition and understanding of renewable and sustainable energy systems such as wind, hydro, solar, fuel cells and nuclear reactors; - Gain insight into the application basic science and engineering fundamentals to analyze renewable and sustainable energy systems; - Improve understanding of thermodynamic laws, energy transport mechanisms, radiation and climate change. Intellectual (thinking) skills: application: Students will be able to: -Identify issues facing the renewable energy industry and climate change -Analyse wind speed data and wind turbine performance in a given wind regime -Identify the various components of a wind turbine and their functions and types -Identify planning and environmental issues related to wind power systems -Describe main features and operation of solar hot water systems and photovoltaic systems -Describe main features and opeation of nuclear power reactors -Understand risks of radiation -Describe main features and operation of hydrogen fuel cells Practical skills Students will be able to - Identify reasonable assumptions and conduct simple analysis of energy systems - Undertake problem identification, formulation and solution - Identify issues facing the renewable energy industry Transferable Skills On successful completion of the course, students will be able to: -Work with others on solution strategies but solve the actual problem on their own thorough homework assignments. -Understand and communicate professional and ethical responsibilities

1.

Knowledge & understanding: Upon successful completion students will be able to: - Improve intuition and understanding of renewable and sustainable energy systems such as wind, hydro, solar, fuel cells and nuclear reactors; - Gain insight into the application basic science and engineering fundamentals to analyze renewable and sustainable energy systems; - Improve understanding of thermodynamic laws, energy transport mechanisms, radiation and climate change. Intellectual (thinking) skills: application: Students will be able to: -Identify issues facing the renewable energy industry and climate change -Analyse wind speed data and wind turbine performance in a given wind regime -Identify the various components of a wind turbine and their functions and types -Identify planning and environmental issues related to wind power systems -Describe main features and operation of solar hot water systems and photovoltaic systems -Describe main features and opeation of nuclear power reactors -Understand risks of radiation -Describe main features and operation of hydrogen fuel cells Practical skills Students will be able to - Identify reasonable assumptions and conduct simple analysis of energy systems - Undertake problem identification, formulation and solution - Identify issues facing the renewable energy industry Transferable Skills On successful completion of the course, students will be able to: -Work with others on solution strategies but solve the actual problem on their own thorough homework assignments. -Understand and communicate professional and ethical responsibilities

Course Objective

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Related to This Course:

	Clean Water and Sanitation
	Affordable and Clean Energy
	Decent Work and Economic Growth
	Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
	Responsible Consumption and Production
	Climate Action

Course Materials

Resources:

TEXTBOOKS:
Fundamentals of Renewable Energy Processes, 3e, Aldo Vieira da Rosa, Academic Press, 2013 (should be available in Homer, and on reserve in the library).
Sustainable Energy — without the Hot Air, David JC MacKay, 2010 (available via free download from http://www.withouthotair.com/).

REFERENCES:
Renewable and Efficient Electric Power Systems, Gilbert M. Masters, Wiley, 2003.
Principles of Sustainable Energy Systems, 2e, Frank Kreith, CRC Press, 2014.
Fundamentals of Engineering Thermodynamics, 8e, Moran, Shapiro, Boetner & Bailey, Wiley.
Fundamentals of Heat & Mass Transfer, 7e, Frank P. Incropera and David P. Dewitt, Wiley, 2011.

Technology Requirements:

Policies

SU Academic Integrity Statement:

https://www.sabanciuniv.edu/en/academic-integrity-statement

Syllabus Application

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