Second year graduate students in the ESM program learned about renewable energy systems in a hands-on workshop this Fall 2022. The class was led by Dr. Chris Graecen, and aided by Professors Jim Williams and Jalel Sager – and class Teaching Assistant, recent USF alum, and Associate at energy consulting firm E3, Joshua Spooner.

This class is an example of how the program emphasizes the practical application of theory learned in the classroom. Using measurement tools, structural components, power equipment and electronics, spreadsheets, and theoretical knowledge to model, students built an actual working microgrid. Participants charged their laptops and phones, and even made some smoothies from clean, green renewable energy!