Distributed generation and smart grid course for an Electrical Engineering Technology Program

Grid inefficiency, grid instability, projected world energy consumption, decreasing use of fossil resources and reduction of the CO₂ footprint, were the motivations to develop the distributed generation system (DGS) and the Smart grid. The future DGS and Smart grid worker will need a solid background at several disciplines such as engineering math and physics, electrical, electronic, power, control, information technology, and business & management. Motivated by the last facts several attempts have been proposed in colleges and universities to satisfy the current and future work force. Following this trend in this paper a new course in DG and Smart grid for an Electrical Engineering Technology Program at Mohawk College is presented. Fundamentals and practical recommendations based on inquiry-based model are also covered.