Solar PV System Sizing Course

Lesson 1 • Key System Components Overview

Identifies inverters, charge controllers, batteries, and balance-of-system parts. Prepares students to account for each component's role in energy flow and losses.

Lesson 2 • Photovoltaic Cell and Module Technology

Explains how PV cells generate electricity and how modules are rated. Connects cell-level physics to module-level specifications used in sizing.

Lesson 3 • Solar System Types and Configurations

Distinguishes grid-tied, off-grid, and hybrid system architectures. Provides context for selecting the correct sizing methodology in later chapters.

Lesson 1 • Electrical Safety and Code Compliance Basics

Introduces electrical safety principles and regulatory compliance requirements for solar installations. Ensures students design systems that meet safety and inspection standards.

Lesson 2 • Series and Parallel Circuit Analysis

Explains how voltage and current behave in series and parallel configurations. Directly applies to stringing PV modules and battery bank design.

Lesson 3 • Voltage, Current, and Power Relationships

Teaches Ohm's Law and the power equation in DC and AC contexts. These relationships underpin every load and system sizing calculation in the course.

Lesson 1 • Utility Bill Analysis for Load Estimation

Extracts monthly and annual kWh data from utility bills to validate or replace appliance-level audits. Cross-referencing bill data improves sizing accuracy.

Lesson 2 • Daily Energy Consumption Calculation

Teaches multiplication of wattage by daily usage hours to derive watt-hours per day. This figure is the primary input for PV array and battery sizing.

Lesson 3 • Load Reduction and Efficiency Opportunities

Identifies efficiency upgrades that reduce system size and cost before finalising the design. Smaller loads directly reduce required PV capacity and battery storage.

Lesson 4 • Critical and Non-Critical Load Separation

Distinguishes loads that must remain powered during outages from deferrable loads. This separation is essential for hybrid and off-grid backup system sizing.

Lesson 1 • Load Profile Development from Interval Data

Uses 15-minute interval meter data to construct accurate hourly load profiles. Detailed profiles enable precise solar offset and storage dispatch modelling.

Lesson 2 • Industrial Process Load Considerations

Addresses variable, high-inrush, and harmonic-generating industrial loads. These characteristics affect inverter selection and system protection design.

Lesson 3 • Commercial Load Categories and Characteristics

Classifies lighting, HVAC, plug loads, and process equipment in commercial settings. Understanding load types guides accurate demand and energy profiling.

Lesson 4 • Demand Charge Analysis and Peak Shaving

Explains how utilities calculate demand charges and how solar plus storage can reduce them. Demand charge reduction is often the primary financial driver for commercial systems.

Lesson 1 • Optimal Tilt and Azimuth Determination

Calculates the tilt angle and compass orientation that maximise annual energy yield. Optimal positioning is balanced against structural and aesthetic constraints.

Lesson 2 • Roof and Ground Mount Site Evaluation

Assesses structural, spatial, and orientation factors for rooftop and ground-mounted arrays. Site constraints determine available area and optimal array configuration.

Lesson 3 • Shading Analysis and Obstruction Assessment

Teaches methods to identify, measure, and quantify shading from trees, buildings, and rooftop equipment. Shading losses directly reduce energy yield and affect string design.

Lesson 4 • Environmental and Microclimate Factors

Examines temperature, wind, soiling, and humidity effects on PV performance. These factors are incorporated as derate values in the final energy yield model.

Lesson 1 • Inverter Sizing and Selection

Matches inverter capacity to array output and load requirements using DC-to-AC ratio guidelines. Proper inverter sizing balances cost, clipping losses, and warranty compliance.

Lesson 2 • Module String Voltage and Current Design

Calculates string voltage at temperature extremes and current at STC to match inverter input specifications. Correct string design ensures safe and efficient inverter operation.

Lesson 3 • Array Layout and Wiring Specifications

Translates the electrical design into a physical array layout with conductor sizing and conduit routing. The layout drawing is a required deliverable for permitting and installation.

Lesson 4 • System Loss Factors and Derate Calculations

Quantifies all losses between rated module output and actual AC energy delivered. Accurate derate factors prevent oversizing or undersizing the array.

Lesson 1 • Battery Technology Comparison

Compares lead-acid, lithium-ion, and emerging battery chemistries on key performance metrics. Chemistry selection affects sizing, safety, and lifecycle cost calculations.

Lesson 2 • Battery Capacity and Autonomy Sizing

Calculates required usable capacity from daily energy demand and desired days of autonomy. Depth of discharge limits convert usable capacity to nameplate capacity.

Lesson 3 • Battery Bank Configuration and Wiring

Designs series and parallel battery bank configurations to achieve target voltage and capacity. Correct wiring minimises imbalance and maximises battery life.

Lesson 4 • Charge Controller Sizing and Settings

Sizes MPPT and PWM charge controllers to match array current and battery voltage. Correct charge parameters protect battery health and maximise cycle life.

Lesson 1 • Solar Offset and Self-Consumption Analysis

Calculates the percentage of site load met by solar generation and energy exported to the grid. These metrics determine bill savings and net metering credit value.

Lesson 2 • Financial Metrics and Incentive Structures

Applies capital cost, savings, and incentive data to calculate payback period, NPV, and IRR. Financial metrics translate technical performance into client decision-making tools.

Lesson 3 • Sensitivity and Risk Analysis

Tests how changes in energy prices, irradiance, and costs affect financial outcomes. Sensitivity analysis communicates investment risk and robustness to clients.

Lesson 4 • Proposal and Report Preparation

Assembles sizing calculations, simulation results, and financial analysis into a professional client proposal. A well-structured report builds client confidence and supports project approval.