Santa Clara University to harness academic power of renewable energy

SANTA CLARA, USA: Santa Clara University’s School of Engineering is now offering a Renewable Energy Certificate for engineering graduate students. The certificate helps engineers in the semiconductor field prepare for one of the fastest growing sectors in world – alternative energy.

The certificate helps refresh the skill set of experienced engineers/professionals looking to enter the expanding alternative energy sector. It also expresses SCU’s commitment to sustainability and environmental justice. From a community perspective, it’s an important program that actively supports economic recovery in our region and responds to needs in this sector for a well-prepared work force.

“As demand for alternative energy grows, so will the need for highly qualified engineers with hands on experience in designing engineering systems that use wind, solar, and geothermal heat,” says Godfrey Mungal, Dean of the School of Engineering. “For the first time, Santa Clara University is offering that opportunity to students with the help of our brilliant and talented faculty.”

Plans are also in place to add a Masters degree in Sustainable Energy within the School of Engineering starting in the 2011-12 academic year.

The certificate program consists of eight courses that can be taken in a calendar year. Some of those courses are Alternate Energy, Power System, Biofuels Engineering, Introduction to the Smart Grid and Energy Management.

The School of Engineering will be holding an information session on Tuesday, September 14 at noon in the Multi-Purpose Room at Bannan Engineering Labs Building. More than 60 students have expressed interested in learning more about the certificate.

Bettina Weiss, executive director of SEMI PV Group, will also join the session to discuss the photovoltaic market and trends in the US. The organization is a special interest group that serves the photovoltaic supply chain.

Members of the media are invited to attend, at which time faculty and students will be available for interviews. Plenty of visuals are also available, such as SCU’s 2007 and 2009 Solar Decathlon homes (100 percent solar-powered) and campus facilities that utilize renewable energy, sustainable materials, and energy-efficient products.