Course Summary
This course teaches the design of solar energy systems, with a focus on residential, commercial, and industrial applications. Students will learn about solar energy technologies, system components, and design considerations.Key Learning Points
- Understand the principles of solar energy and its applications
- Identify the components of solar energy systems and their functions
- Design solar energy systems for residential, commercial, and industrial use
Related Topics for further study
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the basics of solar energy and its applications
- Identify the components of solar energy systems and their functions
- Design solar energy systems for different types of buildings
Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course
- Basic knowledge of electrical systems
- Familiarity with construction and architecture
Course Difficulty Level
IntermediateCourse Format
- Online
- Self-paced
- Video lectures
- Quizzes and assignments
Similar Courses
- Introduction to Renewable Energy
- Energy and Environment
Related Education Paths
Notable People in This Field
- Elon Musk
- Bill Nye
Related Books
Description
Solar Energy System Design builds upon the introduction to PV systems from Solar Energy Basics course, which included basic system components and functions, as well as some basic system sizing using simplifying assumptions. You should at this point have a basic understanding of electrical power and energy, be able to calculate the energy needs of a site as well as energy production potential for a PV system at a given location under optimal conditions. Much of this course will focus on incorporating on the ground conditions into energy production considerations, and how to account for these conditions in system design and equipment selection. By the end of this course you should be able to incorporate losses in irradiance due to array setups with less than optimal positioning and/or shading, and account for variations in module output due to temperature variations in your system design.
Outline
- Following solar energy from source to panel
- Welcome from Dr. Neal Abrams
- The Sun and the Solar Spectrum
- The Sun-Earth Relationship
- The Sun and Atmosphere
- Solar Irradiance
- Finding Solar Insolation
- Using Insolation Data
- Insolation to PV Energy
- Getting insolation data from NREL
- Solar energy
- Sun-atmosphere interactions
- Variation in insolation
- Solar energy from source to panel
- PV module and array circuits
- Electricity and Circuits
- The PV Circuit
- Measuring power in a PV circuit
- PV and Electrical Interactions- Efficiencies from cell to array
- Electrical characteristics in PV arrays- Variations in productivity
- Bypass diodes vs. blocking diodes
- Circuitry Basics
- PV modules and array circuits
- Photovoltaic module and array electrical characteristics
- PV sizing and output under different conditions
- PV Sizing and Output
- Orientation and Tilt
- Temperature Dependent Output
- Temperature Dependent Output as a Percent
- Measuring Shading at a Site
- Analyzing Shading and Calculating Insolation
- PV Output Reduction Due to Shading
- Finding critical temperature data
- Tools for Measuring Shading
- Module and array conditions
- PV Watts Practice
- Temperature dependent output
- Shading Practice
- Shading calculations using PV Watts
- PV Sizing and output under different conditions
- Grid-tie PV System design under real world conditions
- Module 4 Introduction
- Residential Site Survey
- Array Sizing and Module Selection
- Inverter Sizing and Selection
- String sizing for the inverter
- Site checklists and Unified Solar Permits
- Putting it all together to design a photovoltaic system
- Site surveys and permits
- Module and inverter selection quiz
- Grid tied design Quiz
- Putting it all together
- Course Capstone
Summary of User Reviews
This course on solar energy system design has garnered positive reviews from many users who found it informative and well-structured. One key aspect that users appreciated was the practical application of concepts through hands-on projects.Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course
Practical application of concepts through hands-on projectsPros from User Reviews
- Informative and well-structured course material
- Engaging and knowledgeable instructors
- Hands-on projects provide valuable practical experience
- Great for beginners and professionals alike
- Flexible schedule allows for self-paced learning
Cons from User Reviews
- Some users found the course content to be too basic
- Limited interaction with instructors and peers
- Not enough emphasis on the business side of solar energy
- Lack of real-world case studies
- Some technical issues with the online platform
Neal Abrams
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