Course detail

Low Power Electrical Sources

FEKT-MPA-MZEAcad. year: 2025/2026

The course is focused on the use of small power sources in terms of sustainable development. They are specified the possibility of using solar, wind and hydro plants in our country with according to applicable law. It is also clarified the issue of cogeneration of low power and possibilities of using other alternative sources of energy, such as heat pumps.

Language of instruction

English

Number of ECTS credits

5

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. Ing. Petr Mastný, Ph.D.

Department

Department of Electrical Power Engineering (UEEN)

Offered to foreign students

The home faculty only

Entry knowledge

The subject knowledge on the Bachelor´s degree level is requested.
Students must be able to explain and clarify the following issues:
- Structure and the parting of electric power system
- Basic terminology of power engineering
- Principle of power generation

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

- one semestral project - 15 points
- one homework - 5 points
- six laboratory projects - 30 points (for each task is an entry test per 1 point - 0.5 is minimum for graduation)
- final exam max. 50 points - practical (20 points) and oral (30 points) part

The necessary condition to get credits is to obtain at least 30 points in evaluated activities.
The content and forms of instruction in the evaluated course are specified by a regulation issued by the lecturer responsible for the course and updated for every academic year.

Aims

Introducing students with the opportunities and potential of utilization of small power sources such as solar, wind, hydro and cogeneration systems in terms of sustainable development. Clarify the issue of integrating these sources into power systems and describe their impact on the operation of the electricity system.
Graduate of this course is able to:
- Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy sources
- Design photovoltaic plants
- Design small hydropower plants
- Perform basic design of energy systems with renewable energy sources
- Discuss and clarify the impact of renewable energy on the electricity grid
- Professionally evaluate the properties of hybrid energy systems

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Renewable Energy Focus Handbook, Team of authors, Elevier 2009, ISBN: 978-0-12-374705-1 (EN)

Recommended reading

Energy Storage a New Approach, Ralph Zito, 2010, ISBN 978-0-470-62591-0 (EN)
Photovoltaics, Vladislav Poulek, Martin Libra, 2010, ISBN 978-80-904311-2-6 (EN)
Renewable Energy in Power Systems, Leon Freris, David Infield, 2009, ISBN 978-0-470-01749-4 (EN)
The direct conversion of solar energy to electricity, New York United Nations 1992, Department of economic and social development (EN)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme MPA-EEN Master's 1 year of study, winter semester, compulsory-optional

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. Petr Mastný, Ph.D.

Syllabus

1. Introduction into the field of small power sources, efficiency balance of small power sources, energy potential within the Czech Republic
2. Small water power plants - energy potential of water flows within the Czech Republic, basic distribution of small water plants, basic hydrological computations
3. Small water power plants - operation and electric parameters, incorporation of small water plants into electricity supply system. Semestral project assignment
4. Wind power plants - wind conditions within the European Union and the Czech Republic (energy potential of wind in the Czech Republic), the types of wind power plants, operation and electrical parameters
5. Wind power plants - regulation of wind motors, influences of wind power plants on the operation of electricity supply system, operation economy
6. Solar energy - introduction into helio-energetics, the advantages and disadvantages of solar energy, fotovoltaic transformation
7. Photovoltaic power plants - construction of solar power plants, incorporation of solar power plants into the electricity supply system, semestral project assignment
8. Co-generation units (CU) of low efficiency, used machine unit of CU, the construction of units
9. Co-generation units - incorporation into supply network, analysis of starting cycle and operation parameters
10. Biomass - usage of bio-fuel within small power plants, the sources of biomass, combined combustion of biomass, economic evaluation of the systems
11. Fuel elements - the principal of its function, possibilities of fuel elements usage, hydrogen management
12. Heat pumps - the principal of its function, possibilities of its usage, determination of energetic heating factor
13. Other technologies usable within small power plants, Stirling's motor, thermocouples, economic evaluation of systems

Exercise in computer lab

6 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. Petr Mastný, Ph.D.

Syllabus

A simulation of an asynchronous generator's operation on a PC
Electric power calculation on a PC.
The harmonic analysis and the evaluation of the connection of a small power station to the supply network.

Laboratory exercise

20 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. Petr Mastný, Ph.D.

Syllabus

- measuring of operational characteristics of water power plants
- loading characteristics of photovoltaic panels
- fuel elements characteristics
- operation states and characteristics of heat pump