Solar Energy Certification Course

Lesson 1 • History of Solar Technology

Traces photovoltaic and thermal solar development from early discoveries to modern deployment. Contextualizes current technology within a century of innovation.

Lesson 2 • Solar Energy Resource Assessment

Introduces tools and data sources for quantifying solar potential at a site. Connects resource quality to system feasibility decisions.

Lesson 3 • Solar Radiation and the Sun

Covers solar spectrum, irradiance, and atmospheric effects on sunlight. Provides the physical foundation for all subsequent energy conversion topics.

Lesson 1 • Array Configuration and Shading

Covers series and parallel wiring of modules and the impact of partial shading on output. Prepares students to design arrays that minimize mismatch losses.

Lesson 2 • PV Cell Types and Materials

Compares monocrystalline, polycrystalline, thin-film, and emerging cell technologies. Enables informed selection based on efficiency, cost, and application.

Lesson 3 • PV Performance Factors

Analyzes temperature, soiling, degradation, and spectral mismatch as output variables. Equips students to predict and improve long-term energy yield.

Lesson 4 • Semiconductor Physics for PV

Explains p-n junction behavior, electron-hole pairs, and the photovoltaic effect. Provides the physical basis for understanding cell efficiency and losses.

Lesson 1 • Concentrating Solar Thermal Technologies

Introduces parabolic trough, dish-Stirling, and power tower systems for high-temperature applications. Connects concentration ratio to achievable temperatures and uses.

Lesson 2 • Heat Transfer Principles in Solar Collectors

Reviews conduction, convection, and radiation as applied to solar collector design. Establishes thermal analysis skills used throughout the chapter.

Lesson 3 • Solar Water Heating System Design

Covers active and passive system configurations, storage sizing, and freeze protection strategies. Enables students to design code-compliant domestic hot water systems.

Lesson 4 • Thermal Storage and Process Heat

Examines sensible, latent, and thermochemical storage options and industrial process heat applications. Extends thermal design skills to commercial and industrial contexts.

Lesson 1 • Load Analysis and Energy Auditing

Teaches consumption data collection, appliance load profiling, and demand pattern analysis. Accurate load data is the starting point for every system sizing exercise.

Lesson 2 • Inverter Selection and Sizing

Covers string, central, and microinverter topologies and matching inverter capacity to array output. Ensures students can select inverters that maximize energy harvest.

Lesson 3 • Battery Storage Integration

Introduces battery chemistry options, depth of discharge, and autonomy calculations for storage-coupled systems. Prepares students to design hybrid and off-grid configurations.

Lesson 4 • Energy Yield Modeling

Uses simulation tools to predict annual energy production accounting for all loss factors. Validates system designs before procurement and installation.

Lesson 1 • DC Wiring and Conductor Sizing

Applies voltage drop limits and ampacity requirements to select DC conductors and conduit. Ensures safe and efficient current flow from array to inverter.

Lesson 2 • Disconnects and Rapid Shutdown

Details AC and DC disconnect requirements and rapid shutdown system design for emergency response. Addresses first-responder safety at the system level.

Lesson 3 • Grounding and Bonding

Explains equipment grounding, system grounding, and bonding requirements for PV arrays. Reduces shock hazard and ensures proper fault current paths.

Lesson 4 • Overcurrent Protection Devices

Covers fuse and circuit breaker selection for string, combiner, and AC circuits. Protects equipment and personnel from fault currents throughout the system.

Lesson 1 • Structural Load Analysis

Covers dead, live, wind, and snow loads acting on PV mounting systems. Provides the structural basis for racking selection and attachment design.

Lesson 2 • Commissioning and Quality Checks

Details pre-energization inspections, I-V curve testing, and thermal imaging for newly installed systems. Confirms that installation meets design specifications before handover.

Lesson 3 • Roof Mount Racking Systems

Compares flush, tilted, and ballasted roof mount options and their attachment hardware. Guides selection based on roof type, slope, and structural capacity.

Lesson 4 • Installation Safety and Procedures

Establishes fall protection, electrical safety, and tool handling protocols for PV installation crews. Reduces injury risk and ensures regulatory compliance on job sites.

Lesson 1 • Permitting and Inspection Requirements

Reviews building, electrical, and fire permits and the inspection process for PV installations. Equips students to prepare complete permit packages and pass inspections.

Lesson 2 • Net Metering and Billing Structures

Covers net metering, time-of-use rates, and demand charge structures affecting solar economics. Enables accurate financial modeling for grid-tied customer-sited systems.

Lesson 3 • Utility Interconnection Process

Maps the steps from application submission to permission to operate for grid-tied systems. Prepares students to manage interconnection timelines and utility communication.

Lesson 4 • Incentive Programs and Compliance

Surveys tax credits, rebates, renewable energy certificates, and reporting obligations. Helps students maximize project economics while maintaining regulatory compliance.

Lesson 1 • Preventive Maintenance Planning

Establishes inspection schedules, cleaning protocols, and vegetation management for PV systems. Proactive maintenance preserves energy yield and extends equipment life.

Lesson 2 • Performance Monitoring and Analysis

Uses production data, performance ratio trends, and specific yield benchmarks to detect underperformance. Links monitoring skills from Chapter 5 to diagnostic decision-making.

Lesson 3 • Inverter and Battery Troubleshooting

Interprets inverter error codes, communication faults, and battery state-of-health indicators. Reduces mean time to repair for the most common system failures.

Lesson 4 • Component Replacement and Upgrades

Details safe procedures for module, inverter, and battery replacement and system capacity expansion. Ensures upgrades maintain electrical and structural code compliance.