Renewable Electric Energy Systems
The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at NC State offers an undergraduate concentration in Renewable Electric Energy Systems (REES) within the Bachelor of Science Electrical Engineering degree program. The REES concentration addresses the need to develop new technologies that can harvest the geographically distributed renewable energy such as solar and wind efficiently; and create “smart” electric power systems capable of integrating geographically distributed renewable energy based generators. Students enrolled in REES receive training in renewable energy, power systems, power electronics and design of electromechanical systems.
What is the REES Concentration?
The REES concentration evolved to address the need to create a national power system capable of integrating geographically distributed renewable energy and advanced storage systems that will interface with the existing electric utility systems to serve the country’s future electric energy demands.
In 2008, the National Science Foundation (NSF) provided funding for the establishment of an Engineering Research Center (ERC) and created the Future Renewable Electric Energy Delivery and Management (FREEDM) Systems Center at North Carolina State University. One of the center’s key responsibilities is to educate a diverse group of adaptive, creative, globally connected and innovative graduates for the green energy industry through a continuum of educational programs that span from middle school through the doctoral level.
Currently efforts are underway for large-scale utilization of Distributed Renewable Energy Resources (DRER) to significantly increase the use of renewable sources (solar, wind, geo-thermal, hydro, and ocean tidal) to break the nations heavy dependence on carbon based fuel. The widespread use of DRER at the residential level is a major paradigm shift for the electric power industry, moving away from today’s centralized power generation paradigm to one of distributed generation. It is widely recognized by both the electric utilities and the policy makers that for this to happen, the current power grid must be revised considerable to be more “smart”.
The Renewable Electric Energy Systems concentration is open for enrollment to undergraduate students majoring in the Electrical Engineering degree program. The concentration enriches the electrical engineering curriculum with coursework in electromechanical energy conversion, renewable electric power systems, power electronics, and power transmission and distribution systems.
Electrical Engineering (BS): Renewable Electric Energy Systems (14EEBS-14EEREN)
Freshman Year
| Fall Semester | Credit | Spring Semester | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| CH 101 Chemistry A Molecular Science 6 | 3 | ECE 109 Intro to Computer Systems1 | 3 |
| CH 102 General Chemistry Lab6 | 1 | MA 241 Calculus II6 | 4 |
| E 101 Introd. to Engr & Prob. Solv1 | 1 | PY 205 Physics for Engineers & Scientists I6 | 3 |
| E 115 Intro to Computing Environments | 1 | PY 206 Physics for Engineers & Scientists I Lab | 1 |
| ENG 101 Academic Writing & Research1 | 4 | EC 205 Economics (EC 201, ARE 201 alternatives) | 3 |
| MA 141 Calculus I6 | 4 | HES_***Health & Exercise Studies Course* | 1 |
| GEP Requirement* | 3 | ||
| 17 | 15 |
Sophomore Year
| Fall Semester | Credit | Spring Semester | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECE 200 Intro to ECE Laboratory1 | 4 | COM 110 Public Speaking | 3 |
| ECE 209 Computer Systems Programming1 | 3 | ECE 211 Electric Circuits1 | 4 |
| MA 242 Calculus III | 4 | ECE 212 Fund of Logic Des1 | 3 |
| PY 208 Physics for Engineers & Scientists II | 3 | ECE 220 Analytical Found. of ECE1 | 3 |
| PY 209 Physics for Engineers & Scientists II Lab | 1 | GEP Requirement* | 3 |
| 15 | 16 |
Junior Year
| Fall Semester | Credit | Spring Semester | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECE 301 Linear Systems | 3 | ECE 303 Electromagnetic Fields | 3 |
| ECE 302 Intro to Microelectronics | 4 | ECE 380 Engr Profession for EE5 | 1 |
| ST 371 Intro to Prob & Dist Theory | 3 | ECE 305 Int. Power Systems | 3 |
| GEP Requirement* | 3 | ECE 3xx ECE Foundation Elective 7 | 3 |
| HES_***Health & Exercise Studies Course* | 1 | ENG 331 Comm for Engr & Tech | 3 |
| GEP Requirement* | 3 | ||
| 14 | 16 |
Senior Year
| Fall Semester | Credit | Spring Semester | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECE 484 Senior Design Project I | 3 | ECE 485 Senior Design Project II5 | 3 |
| ECE Elective 3 | 3 | ECE REES Elective 2 | 3 |
| ECE 452 Renew Elec Energy Syst | 3 | ECE Elective3 | 3 |
| Open/Technical Elective 8 | 3 | Open/Technical Elective 8 | 3 |
| GEP Requirement* | 3 | GEP IP Requirement* | 2-3 |
| 15 | 14-15 |
| Minimum Credit Hours Required for Graduation*I,J,K: | 122 | |||
|
Major/Program requirements and footnotes 1 Minimum grade of C- required. 2 REES electives: See Degree Audit. 3 ECE electives: See Degree Audit 4 Technical electives: CE 214, 215; ISE 311; MAE 206, 208, 201, 302, 308; MSE 201; NE 418, 419. 5 Students in the entrepreneurs program should take ECE 383/ECE 482/ECE 483, instead of ECE 380/ECE 480. 6 Grade of C (2.0) or higher required. 7 E 304, ECE 308, ECE 306, ECE 310 8. These include any ECE 3xx or ECE 4xx; CE 214 or MAE 206; ISE 311; MAE 208; MAE 201; MAE 302; MSE 302; MSE 200 or MSE 201. *General Education Program (GEP) requirements and GEP Footnotes A. Mathematical Sciences (6 credit hours – one course with MA or ST prefix) |
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