Certificate in Renewable Technology

This qualification is for candidates who work, or want to work with renewable energy systems. This course attempts to address all of these aspects in a way which will let you explore your own areas of interest, and possibly some new ones, at several levels.

The programme is made up of the following papers:

RET114 Introduction to Renewable Energy Technologies (Level 4) 8 credits

This foundation paper is a general introduction to renewable energy technologies, with an emphasis on commercially available technology and small-scale applications.  It provides:

• Preliminary technical knowledge of currently available renewable energy technologies
• Knowledge of the advantages and disadvantages of each renewable energy technology, including its environmental impacts
• Knowledge of the current global outlook for each renewable energy technology
• An introduction to renewable energy micro generation in New Zealand

RET143 Sustainability (Level 3) 6 credits

This paper presents an initial overview of sustainability concepts, which forms a general framework for the study of later papers.  It provides:

• An understanding of the need for sustainable development in terms of the degradation of the ecosystems on which all life depends
• A purposeful understanding of the nature of sustainability
• Knowledge of the changes needed to achieve sustainability, particularly in relation to energy issues

RET116 Energy auditing (Level 5) 8 credits

This foundation paper provides an introduction to the physical concepts of energy and power, leading to the knowledge and skills required to conduct a household energy audit as an essential first step when considering installing any small scale renewable energy technology.

It also provides a technical introduction to the solar energy resource for application in later papers.

RET125 Solar Water Heating Systems (Level 4) 6 credits

This paper provides knowledge of the operation and design of an appropriate solar water heating system for a given application.

RET122 Photovoltaic Power Systems (Level 4) 8 credits

This paper provides knowledge of the operation and design of photovoltaic cells and power systems.  It also includes an introduction to electricity and electrical systems.

RET126 Energy Efficient Building Design (Level 4) 6 credits

This paper provides an understanding of the principles used to design energy efficient buildings.  It covers the theory and application of design variables including insulation, ventilation, thermal mass, window positioning and shading.  These are explored in the context of thermal comfort, climate type and site considerations.

RET127 Wind Energy Conversion Systems 1 (Level 4) 6 credits

This paper provides knowledge of the operation and design of wind energy conversion systems (WECS), their siting, and the nature of New Zealand’s wind energy resource. 

RET129 Micro-hydro Systems (Level 4) 6 credits

This paper provides knowledge of the operation and design of micro hydro energy systems (MHS), and their practical application in a case study which includes an economic analysis of a completed project.

RET119 Stand-alone Renewable Power System (Level 4) 6 credits

This paper provides knowledge of the function, operation, specification and design of stand-alone power systems (SPS) and their component parts, including battery storage of electrical energy.

Upon completion of the programme students will be prepared for work in the renewable energy field.  Students will also be able to move onto a higher level of study in the field of renewable energy.

SUGGESTED STUDY PATH/COMBINATIONS

Recommended order of study:

We recommend that the first group of three papers should be studied for foundation knowledge:

• RET116 Energy auditing
• RET143 Sustainability
• RET114 Introduction to Renewable Energy

The remaining papers should be studied in this order:

• RET125 Solar water heating systems
• RET122 Photovoltaic power systems
• RET126 Energy efficient building design
• RET127 Wind energy conversion systems
• RET129 Micro-hydro systems
• RET119 Stand-alone renewable power system

Full time study

To study full time enrol in all papers in one intake.

Part time study

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• As a guideline, one credit equates to approximately 10 hours study within an intake period.  Click HERE to download a Study Load Calculator (spreadsheet).
• All papers selected within a particular intake must be completed within that intake unless a transfer is requested (conditions apply; see FAQs).
• Application forms are filled out on a year by year basis and students are welcome to apply for multiple intakes on the one application form.  Further enrolment is the responsibility of individual students.  There is no automatic enrolment rollover.

Assessments for this programme typically include short answer questions, sometimes involving straightforward calculations, and short essays. There are no online tests or external examinations in this programme.

The Zero Fee Scheme applies to this course, so there are no tuition fees as long as you are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident (residing in NZ), BUT there is a student direct material cost of $6.50 per credit of study undertaken, plus a non-refundable administration fee of $50.00 for each application processed, and the required textbook/s listed below.  You must maintain satisfactory academic progress to retain your Zero Fee Scheme entitlement.

Fees must be paid by the due date shown on the invoice.

All SIT2LRN courses are approved by Studylink.  Any queries regarding Studylink allowances, loans, and terms and conditions should be made directly to Studylink on 0800 88 99 00 or www.studylink.govt.nz.

Please check the textbook list to see if you need a textbook for the unit(s) that you are applying for. The list is available here:

http://www.sit.ac.nz/documents/pdf/textbooklist.pdf

All SIT2LRN courses require you to have a computer and internet access. Students are required to use their SIT webmail only for all SIT2LRN communications. All course materials and information, including assessments and due dates, are located on the online Blackboard system. Once you have been accepted into a programme you will receive a Welcome Kit that includes information that you can use to familiarise yourself with our online Blackboard learning environment. From the intake start date you will have access to the online course materials to work through.

Facilitator Assistance:  During the enrolled intake period, students have email access to Facilitators, who endeavour to respond to emails within 48 hours (week days only).  All students are required, within the first two weeks of an intake, to send an email to their Facilitator confirming their start on the programme of study.  Students who have not emailed their facilitator or embarked upon their course of study by the end of the 2^nd week of an intake, will be Faculty Withdrawn from the programme.  Such withdrawals may impact on future access to SIT Zero Fees Scheme and Student Direct Material Costs are still liable for payment.

We recommend students new to SIT2LRN read through the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ section of our website at http://www.sit.ac.nz/pages/FAQs for further study and enrolment information.

Applicants should typically have one or more of the following:

• Three years secondary education preferred
• School certificate english and maths – minimum C pass preferred
• Or equivalent achievement in NCEA, a minimum of 12 credits at level one in both numeracy and literacy is required
• Applicants should be a minimum of 16 years of age
• Mature learners are welcome

For students to be considered to have satisfactorily completed this programme and be eligible for the awarding of the qualification 'Certificate in Renewable Technology', they must have completed all scheduled course work requirements and assessments, successfully completed assessment requirements for all unit standards, and achieved a total of 60 credits as specified in the programme schedule.