Sustainable Photovoltaic Career Prep Expert

Course Overview:

The skyrocketing demand for clean, abundant energy has resulted in a need for comprehensive information that can be used by builders, technicians, energy industry professionals, and anyone else wanting to learn about alternative forms of energy and their everyday uses. With a vast array of information available on the subject, this course stands out from other courses because it bridges the gap between overly simplistic information and high-level engineering materials. Instead, this course explores solar, wind, and other sources, and the technology available to harness them. Learners will gain a better understanding of how these systems work as well as how they are put together. 

The Photovoltaic Technician Career Prep course covers the principles of photovoltaics and how to effectively incorporate PV systems into stand- alone or interconnected electrical systems. The content includes system advantages and disadvantages, site evaluation, component operation, system design and sizing, and installation requirements and recommended practices. Common scenarios and procedures are discussed throughout.

This course gives the background for renewable energy sources and describes their occurrence, devices for using them, and the role of renewable energy in current and future energy systems, depending on social values and the economic rules used to judge the viability of competing solutions.

About ProTrain:

ProTrain is committed to offering world class interactive online courses that provide training and learning support for the student in a number of ways during their experience. The ProTrain course structure has been developed to provide activities to guide students throughout the entire process of learning. Learning activities include hands-on assignments that allow students to use what they are learning to allow better transferable skills within their work environments; and collaborative assignments, like wikis and discussion groups that allow them to share what they have learned with others in the same course.

While a student learns, they are not alone. Each student will receive guidance and support from his or her assigned Training Assessment Manager (TAM) and Student Services Specialist (SSS) representative. In addition, we will offer live monthly webinars and feedback sessions for various subject categories. Throughout the entire course, students are monitored by the SSS representative using progress reporting from the ProTrain Registration System (PRS).

ProTrain will provide Students who successfully complete their online certification programs and pass their industry level certification exams the access to the new ProTrain Education-2-Employment Career Tracker system. The Career Tracker will allow our students who pass exams to load their own resumes at no additional cost, and letting industry employers find their talent through the same database.

Curriculum Developer Biography:

Sigrid Ferguson Green, MSEd in Instructional Design for Online Learning, MS Human Resource Management, with over 15 years of experience in training and development/education. Her experience has been to lead teams of Instructional Designers, and managed curricula for companies such as: American Express and Assurant. Her experience includes but is not limited to the following: technical writing, web design, training, instructional design, graphic design, and curriculum development.

Course Outline:

Alternative Energy Career Prep Curriculum:

Lesson 1: Introduction to Solar Energy

In this lesson you will learn a brief history of solar thermal systems, and the economics and performance of solar thermal systems. 

Lesson 2: How Thermal Storage Works

In this lesson you will learn thermal storage is achieved by capturing the sun’s energy in a solar collector by allowing its radiation to pass through a selective material without allowing it to reradiate back out.

Lesson 3: Applications for Solar Thermal Storage

In this lesson you will learn the use and application of solar thermal energy involves three steps: It must first be collected, it must be stored, and then it must be distributed.

Lesson 4: How Photovoltaic Panels Work

In this lesson you will learn the two main classifications for solar photovoltaic system: grid-connected and stand-alone systems.

Lesson 5: Applications for Photovoltaic Solar Panels

In this lesson you will learn about once there is a clear understanding of the fundamentals of solar photovoltaic  systems, these fundamentals can be applied to the sizing, installation, and maintenance of PV systems.

Lesson 6: Introduction to Wind Energy

In this lesson you will learn that the wind has proven to be a free, clean, and inexhaustible source of energy. The wind has been used for powering sailing ships for many centuries, and many countries have owed their prosperity to their skill in sailing.

Lesson 7: Considerations for Residential and Light Commercial Wind Turbines

In this lesson you will learn purchasing and installing a wind turbine for residential or light commercial use can be a major decision, and there are many turbines currently on the market from which to choose.

Lesson 8: Introduction to Large-Scale Turbines

In this lesson you will learn wind turbines are generally classified into three different categories according to size.

Lesson 9: How A Geothermal System Works

In this lesson you will learn Geothermal energy is one of the most sustainable sources of alternative energy and can provide a lower operating cost than any conventional type of residential or commercial heating and cooling system available.

Lesson 10: Types of Configurations of Geothermal Loops

In this lesson you will learn Geothermal loops can be designed with a variety of configurations. The particular configuration that is chosen will depend on a number of factors for the specific application.

Lesson 11: Applications for Biomass Burners

In this lesson you will learn there are numerous different solid fuel heating appliances available today, and the consumer should be familiar with their capability and how this type of equipment correctly fits into the particular application.

Lesson 12: How Fuel Cells Work

In this lesson you learned there are other sources of alternative energy that need to be discussed. These sources may not receive the same exposure as some of the more popular choices that are available today, but they do possess the same characteristics.

Lesson 13: What is CHP?

In this lesson you will learn modern CHP facilities can achieve fuel efficiencies of up to 90%. In comparison, conventional power plants that only produce electricity are about 35% to 55% efficient at best. One cause of these low efficiencies is that the waste heat produced by the plant is not easily transportable; therefore it is not utilized.

Photovoltaic Technician Career Prep Curriculum:

Lesson 1: Introduction to Photovoltaic Systems

In this lesson you will learn about the concerns regarding the future and security of the world’s energy supply, renewable resources such as solar power are becoming increasingly important. Various solar energy technologies have been used through millennia of human history. However, practical photovoltaic (PV) — the direct conversion of solar energy into electricity — has a history of only about 50 years. This field of study and the resulting industry has been rapidly growing and improving and are expected to become a significant part of the world’s energy future.

Lesson 2: Solar Radiation

In this lesson you will become familiar with the importance of solar radiation to designing and installing solar energy equipment. The solar radiation resource varies over time, location, and climate conditions.

Lesson 3: Site Surveys and Preplanning

In this lesson you will learn a preliminary assessment establishes the objectives, resources, and requirements of a prospective PV system. A detailed survey of the site conditions evaluates all the site-specific issues related to a potential PV installation. During a site survey, an installer identifies potential array locations, measures distances and angles, evaluates existing structural and electrical infrastructure, documents relevant site information, and may conduct an energy audit.

Lesson 4: System Components and Configurations

In this lesson you will learn every PV system requires components to conduct, control, convert, distribute, and store the energy produced by the array. The specific components required depend on the type of system and functional requirements, but major components such as: inverters, batteries, charge controllers, as well as wiring, switchgear and overcurrent protection are typically included.

Lesson 5: Cells, Modules and Arrays

In this lesson you will learn PV systems use cells, modules, and arrays to capture sunlight and convert it into electrical energy. PV systems are modular in nature, meaning that basic building blocks of smaller components and subsystems are integrated to construct larger systems.

Lesson 6: Batteries

In this lesson you will learn energy demand does not always coincide with energy production, so many PV systems include electrical storage batteries.

Lesson 7: Charge Controllers

In this lesson you will learn almost every PV system that uses batteries requires a charge controller. Charge controllers manage and monitor battery charging while protecting the batteries from overcharge and overdischarge.

Lesson 8: Inverters

In this lesson you will learn about the solid-state inverters used in PV systems employ the latest in power electronics to produce AC power from a DC power source that is either a PV array or a battery bank.

Lesson 9: System Sizing

In this lesson you learned for electrical systems that use PV arrays, as their only source of electricity, system sizing is critical. The size of the array, battery bank, and other major components necessary to adequately meet the load requirements must be carefully calculated.

Lesson 10: Mechanical Integration

In this lesson you will learn the mechanical design and integration of PV systems require considering the characteristics of the components and the structure and how they are integrated into the electrical design. Many factors in the mechanical design process result from information collected during site surveys, including the available structural support and accessibility.

Lesson 11: Electrical Integration

In this lesson you will learn that PV systems are subject to all of the same general requirements as most electrical systems, such as overcurrent protection and grounding. However, PV systems are also subject to additional requirements.

Lesson 12: Utility Interconnection

In this lesson you will learn interconnection is the technical and procedural process of connecting and operating PV and other distributed generation systems in parallel with the electric utility system. However, since an interconnected PV system may affect the grid network and the safety of electrical workers, the system must adhere to certain requirements, and utilities have the right to approve equipment and installations.

Lesson 13: Permitting and Inspection

In this lesson you will learn the requirements for PV system installations are governed by building codes adopted by local jurisdictions. PV installation approvals are granted by local jurisdictions through the permitting, plans review, and field inspection processes.

Lesson 14: Commissioning, Maintenance, and Troubleshooting

In this lesson the maintenance requirements vary according to the system configuration, installation type, and location. Qualified PV service technicians should have a complete understanding of the system design, equipment, and performance specifications in order to effectively conduct maintenance and troubleshooting activities.

Lesson 15: Economic Analysis

In this lesson you will learn the value of a PV system is often associated with environmental issues and energy conservation. However, PV systems can provide financial benefits as well. A PV system may be able to pay back its initial investment and possibly earn appreciable amounts of money, especially with help from incentive programs.

Renewable Energy Technician Career Prep Curriculum:

Lesson 1: Perspectives on Energy Resources

In this lesson you will learn about the current renewable energy market and the origin of renewable energy.

Lesson 2: Origin of Renewable Energy Flows

In this lesson you will learn renewable energy is followed from the sources where it is created— notably the Sun— to the Earth, where it is converted into different forms, e. g., solar radiation to wind or wave energy, and distributed over the Earth–atmosphere system through a number of complex processes.

Lesson 3: Individual Renewable Energy Sources

In this lesson you will learn about incoming radiation, since the outgoing flux may be modified by the specific type of energy conversion device considered.

Lesson 4: The Energy Conversion Processes

In this lesson you will learn surveys methods that may be suitable for the conversion of renewable energy flows or stored energy. A discussion of general conversion principles is made below, followed by an outline of engineering design details for specific energy conversion devices, ordered according to the energy form being converted and the energy form obtained.

Lesson 5: Energy Transmission and Storage

In this lesson you will learn transport of energy may, of course, be in the form of transportation of fuels to the site of conversion. With regard to renewable energy resources, transport is useful for biomass-derived energy, either by direct movement of the biological materials themselves or by movement after their conversion into biofuels, which may be more convenient to move.

Lesson 6: Energy System Planning

In this lesson you will learn about energy conversion devices are regarded as parts of larger systems, which may comprise several converter units, storage facilities, and transmission networks.

Lesson 7: Socioeconomic Assessment

In this lesson you will learn about the tools available for analysis and comparative assessment of energy systems.

Lesson 8: Integrated Approaches

In this lesson you will learn the status of renewable energy development in the context of current political focus, and generally gives the author’s personal evaluation of further development requirements, technically as well as institutionally.

All necessary materials are included.

System Requirements:

• Cable and DSL internet connections are recommended for the best experience.

• CPU: 1 GHz or higher
• RAM: 2 GB or higher
• Resolution: 1280 x 720 or higher
• Speakers / Headphones
• Microphone (Webinar / Live Online sessions)

• Microsoft Windows 7 or 10 (Home, Pro)
• Mac OSX 10 or higher.
• Latest Chrome OS
• Latest Linux Distributions

NOTE: While we understand that our courses can be viewed on Android and iPhone devices, we do not recommend the use of these devices for our courses. The size of these devices do not provide a good learning environment for students taking online or live online based courses.

• Latest Google Chrome is recommended for the best experience.
• Latest Mozilla FireFox
• Latest Microsoft Edge
• Latest Apple Safari

• Office suite software (Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, or LibreOffice)
• PDF reader program (Adobe Reader, FoxIt)
• Courses may require other software that is denoted in the above course outline.