Solar Thermal Energy Course
Master solar thermal energy from foundational physics to full system design and commissioning. This course covers collectors, storage, controls, industrial applications, and performance simulation in rigorous technical depth. Whether you're entering the renewable energy field or expanding your engineering expertise, you'll gain the skills to design, install, and optimize real solar thermal systems.
What you will learn:
You will build a solid understanding of thermodynamic principles, solar geometry, and heat transfer as they apply to real solar thermal systems. You will learn to design domestic and commercial solar water heating systems, space heating configurations, and solar-driven cooling solutions. The course covers industrial process heat applications, concentrating solar power technologies, and seasonal thermal storage. You will use industry-standard simulation tools to model system performance and validate designs. You will also develop skills in installation, commissioning, maintenance, economic analysis, and client communication.
How you study in practice Solar Thermal Energy Course
How you practice Solar Thermal Energy Course
For companies that want to train their team
With Dedika for Business, the course includes exercises and examples tailored to your own business and the way your company needs.
Course content
8 Chapters • 38 LessonsDuration between 4 and 360 hours (you decide)
Chapter 1HideHide detailsSee detailsFundamentals of Solar Thermal Energy
Fundamentals of Solar Thermal Energy
Lesson 1 • Heat Transfer Mechanisms in Solar Systems
Examines conduction, convection, and radiation as they apply to solar collectors. Links heat transfer theory to practical collector design choices.
Lesson 2 • Solar Radiation and the Sun's Energy
Covers solar irradiance, spectral distribution, and the solar constant. Provides the physical baseline needed for all collector performance calculations.
Lesson 3 • Thermodynamic Principles for Solar Applications
Applies the first and second laws of thermodynamics to solar energy conversion. Establishes efficiency limits and energy balance methods used throughout the course.
Lesson 4 • Solar Geometry and Site Assessment
Teaches sun position calculations, shading analysis, and tilt optimization. Enables accurate energy yield predictions for any geographic location.
Chapter 2HideHide detailsSee detailsSolar Collector Types and Technologies
Solar Collector Types and Technologies
Lesson 1 • Collector Performance Characterization
Applies the Hottel-Whillier-Bliss model and efficiency curve analysis to evaluate collectors. Enables comparison of collector datasheets using standardized test parameters.
Lesson 2 • Flat-Plate Collector Design and Operation
Details absorber plates, glazing, insulation, and fluid channels in flat-plate collectors. Connects component choices to thermal efficiency and durability outcomes.
Lesson 3 • Evacuated Tube Collector Technologies
Compares heat-pipe and direct-flow evacuated tube designs and their thermal advantages. Explains vacuum maintenance and performance in cold or cloudy climates.
Lesson 4 • Emerging and Hybrid Collector Designs
Reviews photovoltaic-thermal, transpired air, and polymer collectors as innovative alternatives. Positions these technologies relative to conventional designs for niche applications.
Lesson 5 • Concentrating Solar Thermal Collectors
Introduces parabolic trough, linear Fresnel, dish-Stirling, and central receiver systems. Establishes concentration ratio concepts and high-temperature application requirements.
Chapter 3HideHide detailsSee detailsSolar Thermal System Components
Solar Thermal System Components
Lesson 1 • Heat Exchangers in Solar Systems
Analyzes shell-and-tube, plate, and coil heat exchangers for solar thermal applications. Connects heat exchanger effectiveness to overall system efficiency.
Lesson 2 • Heat Transfer Fluids and Freeze Protection
Compares water, glycol mixtures, oils, and air as heat transfer fluids. Links fluid properties to system safety, efficiency, and maintenance requirements.
Lesson 3 • Thermal Storage Tanks and Stratification
Examines sensible heat storage tank design, stratification enhancement, and sizing methods. Demonstrates how storage capacity affects solar fraction and backup energy use.
Lesson 4 • Pumps, Piping, and Hydraulic Design
Covers pump selection, pipe sizing, pressure drop calculation, and flow balancing. Ensures hydraulic competence needed for reliable system commissioning.
Lesson 5 • Controls, Sensors, and Safety Devices
Introduces differential temperature controllers, sensors, pressure relief valves, and overheating protection. Establishes control logic as the foundation for system automation chapters.
Chapter 4HideHide detailsSee detailsSolar Water Heating System Design
Solar Water Heating System Design
Lesson 1 • Backup and Auxiliary Heating Integration
Designs auxiliary heater sizing, control sequencing, and integration with solar storage. Ensures reliable hot water supply during low-irradiance periods.
Lesson 2 • Collector Array Sizing Methods
Applies the f-chart method and simulation-based approaches to size collector arrays. Balances solar fraction targets against cost and roof area constraints.
Lesson 3 • Hot Water Load Analysis
Quantifies domestic and commercial hot water demand using occupancy, usage patterns, and temperature requirements. Accurate load data drives all subsequent sizing decisions.
Lesson 4 • System Layout and Hydraulic Schematics
Produces piping and instrumentation diagrams for solar water heating systems. Translates design decisions into construction-ready documentation.
Lesson 5 • System Configuration Selection
Compares thermosiphon, forced-circulation, drainback, and drain-down configurations. Matches system type to climate, budget, and reliability requirements.
Chapter 5HideHide detailsSee detailsSolar Space Heating and Cooling Systems
Solar Space Heating and Cooling Systems
Lesson 1 • Desiccant and Evaporative Solar Cooling
Covers solid and liquid desiccant dehumidification regenerated by solar heat and evaporative cooling. Positions these systems for hot-humid and hot-dry climates respectively.
Lesson 2 • Solar Space Heating System Configurations
Covers active direct, active indirect, and passive solar space heating approaches. Links configuration choice to climate severity and building construction type.
Lesson 3 • Seasonal Thermal Energy Storage
Introduces pit, aquifer, borehole, and tank seasonal storage technologies. Demonstrates how interseasonal storage increases annual solar fraction for heating-dominated climates.
Lesson 4 • Building Thermal Load Calculation
Calculates heating and cooling loads using envelope losses, internal gains, and ventilation. Provides the demand baseline required for solar system sizing in buildings.
Lesson 5 • Solar Cooling with Absorption Chillers
Explains single- and double-effect absorption chiller operation driven by solar heat. Sizes collector area and storage for a given cooling load and chiller COP.
Chapter 6HideHide detailsSee detailsIndustrial and Process Heat Applications
Industrial and Process Heat Applications
Lesson 1 • Collector Selection for Process Heat
Matches flat-plate, evacuated tube, and concentrating collectors to process temperature ranges. Applies efficiency analysis to justify technology selection for each temperature tier.
Lesson 2 • Solar Process Heat System Integration
Designs feed-water preheating, steam generation, and direct process integration schemes. Addresses pressure, flow, and quality constraints imposed by industrial processes.
Lesson 3 • Industrial Heat Demand Characterization
Profiles temperature levels, load schedules, and quality requirements of industrial heat consumers. Accurate demand characterization is the prerequisite for collector and storage selection.
Lesson 4 • Feasibility and Economic Assessment
Applies levelized cost of heat, payback period, and net present value to solar process heat projects. Enables students to present bankable feasibility studies to industrial decision-makers.
Chapter 7HideHide detailsSee detailsSystem Simulation and Performance Modeling
System Simulation and Performance Modeling
Lesson 1 • Simulation Software Fundamentals
Introduces TRNSYS, Polysun, and T*SOL as representative simulation environments. Covers model structure, component libraries, and simulation time-step selection.
Lesson 2 • Annual Energy Yield Reporting
Produces standardized annual performance reports including solar fraction, specific yield, and CO2 savings. Prepares students to communicate simulation results to clients and auditors.
Lesson 3 • Parametric Studies and Design Optimization
Runs parametric sweeps over collector area, storage volume, and flow rate to find optimal configurations. Translates simulation results into actionable design recommendations.
Lesson 4 • Weather Data and Climate Inputs
Explains typical meteorological year files, irradiance decomposition models, and data quality checks. Correct weather inputs are the single largest driver of simulation accuracy.
Lesson 5 • Collector and System Model Validation
Validates simulation models against measured data using statistical error metrics. Builds confidence in model predictions before using them for design optimization.
Chapter 8HideHide detailsSee detailsInstallation, Commissioning, and Maintenance
Installation, Commissioning, and Maintenance
Lesson 1 • Site Preparation and Structural Mounting
Covers roof load assessment, mounting system selection, waterproofing, and structural anchoring. Proper mounting prevents collector failure and building damage over the system lifetime.
Lesson 2 • Preventive Maintenance Schedules
Establishes annual and multi-year maintenance tasks for collectors, fluid, pumps, and controls. Scheduled maintenance sustains performance and extends system service life.
Lesson 3 • System Filling, Flushing, and Commissioning
Guides fluid filling, air purging, flow balancing, and functional testing at commissioning. Systematic commissioning confirms design performance before handover to the client.
Lesson 4 • Hydraulic and Electrical Installation
Details pipe connection, pressure testing, sensor wiring, and controller installation procedures. Correct installation practice prevents leaks, electrical faults, and control errors.
Lesson 5 • Fault Diagnosis and Corrective Action
Applies systematic fault-finding to common failures including air locks, pump faults, and sensor errors. Rapid diagnosis minimizes downtime and energy loss.
Your valid completion certificate
This course is for you:
Mechanical engineers ready to specialize in renewable thermal energy systems.
HVAC technicians looking to expand into solar heating and cooling markets.
Energy auditors who want to recommend and evaluate solar thermal solutions.
Sustainability consultants seeking technical depth behind solar heat projects.
Recent engineering graduates entering the clean energy workforce with confidence.
Facilities managers responsible for reducing building energy costs long-term.
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