Updated Course Launches September 28th
This comprehensive course prepares you for a career in the rapidly growing solar energy industry.
Whether you’re brand new to photovoltaics (PV) or looking to sharpen your skills, this program walks you through the core competencies needed for success in solar application, design, installation, and operations.
Whether you’re brand new to photovoltaics (PV) or looking to sharpen your skills, this program walks you through the core competencies needed for success in solar application, design, installation, and operations.
Unit 1: Solar Application
Industry Standards. Intro to PV, What is Photovoltaics? PV History, Harvesting Energy from Sunlight, Solar Jobs, Environment, The Utility Grid. Sustainability, Solar Modules, Direct Current. Power, Energy. Basic PV designs. Best Practices. Day in the life of a solar installer.
Unit 1: Available Here Free!
Unit 2: Solar Design
PV System Types, PV Modules, Types of PV Modules. PV Components and balance of systems, Inverters, Micro-Inverters, Optimizers. Charge Controller, Solar + Storage. Solar Resource. Peak Sun Hours. Loads. Common PV measurements. Designing to meet customer expectations/requirements. General system sizing. Physical location. System configuration. Electric codes. Fire codes. Building codes. Series, parallel. Ohms law. AC vs DC. Single phase AC, multiple phase AC. System grounding. Roof mounts. Ground mounts. Inverter operation, inverter operating window.
Unit 3: Solar Installation
Ladder safety, PPE. Fall Safety. Wind loads, live loads, dead loads. Site hazards. Required Documentation, Site plan. One line diagram, Three Line Diagram. Permits. Permitting. Authority having jurisdiction. Equipment manuals. Waterproofing, flashing, weather sealing. National Electric Code. Working clearances. Labeling requirements. Battery types, battery chemistry. Structural considerations. Common hand tools. Standoffs. Wiring best practices. Commissioning.
Unit 4: Solar Sales
Solar Sales and Finance: Cost of Solar energy systems. Financial Benefits. Usable lifecycle. Levelized cost of Solar Energy. Solar Incentives and Grants. Utility rate structures. Energy Charges, Demand Charges, Basic Financial terms, Return On Investment, basic economic performance measurements. Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SREC), Solar lease, cash purchase. Warranties. Maintenance costs.
Unit 5: Operations & Maintenance
Maintenance and Operation: Solar Monitoring. Solar Metering. Test Conditions. Equipment upkeep, Equipment Replacement, Lock out / Tag out. Production losses. Typical faults. Multimeters, Electric shock, Inspection, Visual Inspection and documentation, safety regulations, OSHA, Irradiance Meter, OHM’s law, Batteries, Battery Voltage. Roof access. Equipment staging.
