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Safety at a work site should always be treated as paramount and mandatory. This is no different in the design and installation of a grid connected PV System. WH&S, OHS and OSH are some commonly used terms that are used specifically in different countries to implement and monitor safety protocols which forms the guiding principles of all work-related health and safety procedures. This course will teach you how to:
- Identify and assess all possible safety hazards/risks or simply carry out a risk assessment
- Implement suitable strategies to eliminate or minimise the identified risks
- Develop an appropriate WH&S procedure document according to each specific set of tasks for a project
This course is part of the Grid-Connected PV Systems training pathways. There are no prerequisite courses. There is no fee to enrol in this course. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
Direct current (commonly known as DC) is a form of electricity in which current moves only in one direction. Although most appliances and equipment are designed to use AC electricity, PV modules produce energy as DC electricity. This course will teach you how to:
- Identify the fundamental components of DC electricity including: voltage, current, resistance, power, and energy
- Identify series and parallel DC circuits and understand how they function
- Assess safety considerations regarding DC electricity
This course is part of the Grid-Connected PV Systems training pathways. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Workplace Health and Safety course. There is no fee to enrol in this course. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
Solar radiation, also known as the solar resource or simply sunlight, is a general term for the energy emitted by the sun. The electricity produced by a solar cell is proportional to the solar radiation input, so it is important to determine the amount of solar radiation that will reach the PV cell or module. The received solar radiation varies depending on the location, time of day and time of year, as well as on the orientation of the PV module relative to the Sun’s position. Using this information, the modules can be optimally located so that they receive maximum solar radiation and hence produce the most amount of electrical energy. This course will teach you how to:
- Develop an understanding on the source of solar radiation and the solar radiation spectrum
- Determine solar radiation measurements, peak sun hours, the units and the associated conversions
- Analyse the effect of geometry (which is essentially the tilt and orientation)
- Compare the varying positions of the sun throughout the day and year
- Calculate solar altitude
- Identify the optimal tilt and orientation for a site to maximise the amount of irradiation received
This course is part of the Grid-Connected PV Systems training pathways. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Workplace Health and Safety, and DC Electricity courses. There is no fee to enrol in this course. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
Alternating current (commonly known as AC) electricity has an alternating voltage and current waveform, usually a sine wave. Most electrical appliances as well as the electricity grid use AC electricity, however a PV array produces DC electricity. Therefore, the output of the PV array needs to be converted into AC electricity before it can be connected to the grid. This course will teach you how to:
- Identify the main participants of the electricity grid, and their roles in the electricity market
- Relate the fundamental characteristics of AC electricity including voltage, current, power and frequency
- Compare the power factor of different loads
- Identify grid interaction issues due to abnormal frequency, voltage or earthing.
This course is part of the Grid-Connected PV Systems training pathways. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Workplace Health and Safety, DC Electricity, Solar Radiation, and PV Fundamentals courses. There is no fee to enrol in this course. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
Photovoltaics (commonly known as PV) is the term used to describe the conversion of solar radiation (‘photo’) into electricity (‘voltaics’). Solar cells are small PV units able to generate electricity when sunlight hits them. These solar cells are used collectively to form the PV modules comprising a grid-connected PV system. This course will teach you:
- How a solar cell converts sunlight into electricity
- The electrical and operating characteristics of a solar cell
- How solar cells are combined in series to create a solar module
- How solar modules are combined in series and parallel to create a solar array
- Manufacturing processes of different types of module technologies
- Protection requirements for effective operation of modules in an array
- How external conditions can affect the performance and reliability of modules
This course is part of the Grid-Connected PV Systems training pathways. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the DC Electricity and Solar Radiation courses. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
Inverters are one of the major components of a PV system and are used to convert the DC electricity generated by PV modules into AC electricity which is compatible with the grid and appliances. There are many different types and sizes of inverters: it is important to understand the specifications of these inverters, the different types of inverters available and the range of features provided by inverter manufacturers and models. This course will teach you how to:
- Explain how inverters work
- Identify the critical specifications of an inverter, including DC, AC and physical requirements
- Compare different types of inverters
- Assess protection system requirements of an inverter
- Obtain system performance data using monitoring systems
This course is part of the Grid-Connected PV Systems training pathways. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Workplace Health and Safety, DC Electricity, Solar Radiation, PV Fundamentals and AC Electricity courses. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
The PV modules installed in an array should produce the maximum yield and have the appropriate structural support to withstand the real-world environment. Various mounting systems and techniques are necessary in order to achieve both these goals, which also need to comply with applicable building codes, regulations and standards, and module manufacturer’s mounting requirements. This course will teach you how to:
- Explain mounting system considerations
- Compare different types of mounting systems, including roof, ground and building-integrated PV
- List the main components of roof mounting system design including mounting rails, roof attachments and module clamps
- Use techniques to meet or exceed the maximum expected wind speeds at a location
This course is part of the Grid-Connected PV Systems training pathways. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Workplace Health and Safety, DC Electricity, Solar Radiation, PV Fundamentals, AC Electricity and Inverters courses. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
Balance of System (commonly abbreviated as BoS) equipment of a PV system refers to the additional equipment and components of the system, other than the pv modules, inverter and mounting frame. BoS equipment is related to WHS quidelines as well as to the performance of the system. The BoS equipment must be designed and installed correctly so that the system will operate as expected and safely. This course will teach you how to:
- Identify the types of cables required and their respective locations, including DC, AC, and earthing
- Describe the importance of electrical protection devices to ensure that the system is safely operating
- Explain the use of string and array combiner boxes
- Utilise metering and monitoring devices to obtain information about the operation and performance of the system
This course is part of the Grid-Connected PV Systems training pathways. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Workplace Health and Safety, DC Electricity, Solar Radiation, PV Fundamentals, AC Electricity, Inverters and PV Mounting Systems courses. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
An energy assessment is important in the design of a solar PV system to determine how much electricity is being consumed and at what time of day. This process can help identify opportunities for energy and financial savings, by reducing the owner’s energy consumption or limiting the size of the PV system required to offset their loads. To save the customer as much money as possible, the primary objective is to reduce the amount of power purchased from the grid. This course will teach you how to:
- Complete a load assessment and gain an insight on energy usage patterns, using a table or power-logging equipment
- Implement load shifting strategies to manage the operation of appliances
- Identify energy efficiency measures in a household, including lighting, heating and cooling, hot water and common appliances
This course is part of the Grid-Connected PV Systems training pathways. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete all the Technical Fundamentals courses. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
A grid-connected PV system must be designed for the specific site conditions where the system will be installed. A well-resourced site assessment forms the basis for an accurate system design and a safe system installation, and ensures that the PV system will be able to operate at its full potential. The assessment process also identifies any site-specific hazards and potential installation challenges. The site assessment is made of two phases: a desktop study and an on-site assessment. This course will teach you how to:
- Perform a desktop study and on-site assessment for a grid connected PV system
- Determine a suitable location for the PV array and possible configurations
- Identify mounting system requirements
- Determine a suitable location for the inverter and any monitoring equipment
- Assess the site’s grid-connection practicalities
- Understand the impact of local climate, maintenance, and security requirements on the system design and installation
This course is part of the Grid-Connected PV Systems training pathways. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Energy Assessment course. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
The design of a grid-connected PV system must ensure that the proposed solar array matches the capabilities of the chosen inverter, in particular the voltage, current and power ratings. There are specific, extensive calculations that must be performed to determine which array configurations are suitable for connection to the proposed inverter. These calculations are critical to prevent damage to the inverter and maximise the system yield. This course will teach you how to:
- Select an inverter
- Calculate the minimum and maximum number of modules in a string, using voltage and temperature
- Calculate the maximum number of parallel strings, using current and temperature
- Calculate the maximum number of modules in an array, using power
- Identify appropriate configurations for the system
This course is part of the Grid-Connected PV Systems training pathways. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Workplace Health and Safety, DC Electricity, AC Electricity, Solar Radiation, PV Fundamentals, Inverters, PV Mounting Systems, Balance of System, Energy Assessment, and Site Assessment courses. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
All electrical systems require that forms of circuit protection be applied wherever necessary and when it is best practice to do so. Properly designed circuit protection safeguards electrical equipment and people against a fault, for example when carrying out any work on the system, such as troubleshooting. Relevant local and international standards, local service rules and the network operator’s regulations should provide the basis for the system’s overall protection design. This course will teach you how to:
- Calculate the DC overcurrent protection sizing requirements
- Select appropriate DC disconnection devices
- Determine the AC overcurrent and disconnection devices required
- Identify system earthing, lightning protection, and RCD requirements to protect equipment
This course is part of the Grid-Connected PV Systems training pathways. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Workplace Health and Safety, DC Electricity, AC Electricity, Solar Radiation, PV Fundamentals, Inverters, PV Mounting Systems, Balance of System, Energy Assessment, Site Assessment, and Matching Array and Inverter courses. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
The correct sizing and installation of the cabling for a grid-connected PV system is integral to the system’s safety, longevity and performance. The PV system will operate as expected only if the cables are correctly sized and installed. As such, the system cabling should be designed and installed so that the PV system is electrically safe, safe from environmental degradation, and will perform as expected. This course will teach you how to:
- Design cabling such that the expected current does not exceed the safe current carrying capacity (CCC)
- Calculate voltage drop and minimum cross-sectional area (CSA) in cables and understand the maximum permissible values
- Design cable routes to minimise voltage drop and inductive wiring loops
This course is part of the Grid-Connected PV Systems training pathways. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Workplace Health and Safety, DC Electricity, AC Electricity, Solar Radiation, PV Fundamentals, Inverters, PV Mounting Systems, Balance of System, Energy Assessment, Site Assessment, Matching Array and Inverter, and PV System Protection courses. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
PV efficiency and yield is an important part of PV system design as it determines the operational efficiency and usable output of your system. There are specific calculations with regards to PV efficiency and system yield which will be performed throughout this course. These calculations are important when determining useful energy output and payback periods for your investors or customers. This course will teach you how to:
- Determine the sources of energy loss in a PV system
- Calculate the PV system efficiency and yield
- Develop skills to work out usable PV system energy based on tilt and orientation tables of the respective location
This course is part of the Grid-Connected PV Systems training pathways. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Workplace Health and Safety, DC Electricity, AC Electricity, Solar Radiation, PV Fundamentals, Inverters, PV Mounting Systems, Balance of System, Energy Assessment, Site Assessment, Matching Array and Inverter, and PV System Protection, PV Cable Design courses. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
A grid-connected PV system is a financial investment, including upfront and ongoing costs and also financial benefits. This course will aim to help you gain a deeper understand the economics of PV systems such as the payback period of the system using simple financial models. Exercise questions will also test your knowledge and are important when determining the ongoing benefit and risk-reward benefit of a PV system.This course will teach you how to:
- Perform a lifecycle analysis of the PV system
- Calculate the ongoing cost of the PV system
- Calculate the ongoing benefit of the PV system
- Determining the payback period of the PV system
This course is part of the Grid-Connected PV Systems training pathways. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Workplace Health and Safety, DC Electricity, AC Electricity, Solar Radiation, PV Fundamentals, Inverters, PV Mounting Systems, Balance of System, Energy Assessment, Site Assessment, Matching Array and Inverter, and PV System Protection, PV Cable Design, PV Efficiency & Yield courses. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
After a grid-connected PV system has been designed and approved, it's time for the installation. System installation involves many processes and techniques to ensure that each system is installed according to the relevant standards and guidelines. This course will explore the techniques and best practice guidelines to installing PV systems components including but not limited to; PV modules, inverters, system protection and disconnection, general cabling, earthing, monitoring and signage. This course will teach you:
- The best techniques and practices to installing a PV system including
- PV Modules
- Inverters
- System Protection
- Disconnection Devices
- General Cabling
- Earthing
- Monitoring
- Signage
This course is part of the Grid-Connected PV Systems training pathways. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Workplace Health and Safety, DC Electricity, AC Electricity, Solar Radiation, PV Fundamentals, Inverters, PV Mounting Systems, Balance of System, Energy Assessment, Site Assessment, Matching Array and Inverter, and PV System Protection, PV Cable Design, PV Efficiency & Yield, PV System Economics courses. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
After installation is completed, the system must be commissioned according to the relevant International standards. The documented results of the system commissioning will confirm that the system meets the system design and is structurally and electrically compliant with the relevant standards and guidelines. This course will illustrate how to commission a system successfully, enabling the system to perform to its specification and be ready for safe operation. This course will teach you how to:
- Perform a system verification
- Perform a system validation
- Ensuring the system is safe and ready to operate
This course is part of the Grid-Connected PV Systems training pathways. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Workplace Health and Safety, DC Electricity, AC Electricity, Solar Radiation, PV Fundamentals, Inverters, PV Mounting Systems, Balance of System, Energy Assessment, Site Assessment, Matching Array and Inverter, and PV System Protection, PV Cable Design, PV Efficiency & Yield, PV System Economics, PV System Installation courses. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
A grid-connected PV system that has been appropriately installed and commissioned should operate over its life with minimal intervention: this is one of the main advantages of solar systems over other forms of power generation. However, PV systems do need regular inspection and maintenance to ensure that they are operating and will continue to operate efficiently, to check for any problems and to maximise the life of the system. This course will introduce the best practices for PV system maintenance and expected lifetimes of componentry. This course will teach you:
- The best practices for PV system maintenance
- The expected lifetimes of componentry
This course is part of the Grid-Connected PV Systems training pathways. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Workplace Health and Safety, DC Electricity, AC Electricity, Solar Radiation, PV Fundamentals, Inverters, PV Mounting Systems, Balance of System, Energy Assessment, Site Assessment, Matching Array and Inverter, and PV System Protection, PV Cable Design, PV Efficiency & Yield, PV System Economics, PV System Installation, PV System Commissioning courses. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
PV systems need regular inspection and maintenance to ensure that they are operating efficiently. PV systems will also occasionally require troubleshooting to determine the source of any problems. This chapter will explore the steps required to system troubleshoot issues in the PV system. This course will teach you how to:
- How to determine issues within the PV system
- Steps to troubleshoot the identified issues
This course is part of the Grid-Connected PV Systems training pathways. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Workplace Health and Safety, DC Electricity, AC Electricity, Solar Radiation, PV Fundamentals, Inverters, PV Mounting Systems, Balance of System, Energy Assessment, Site Assessment, Matching Array and Inverter, and PV System Protection, PV Cable Design, PV Efficiency & Yield, PV System Economics, PV System Installation, PV System Commissioning, PV System Maintenance courses. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
If you want to be a proficient electrician or solar technician, this course will provide all the necessary information and hands on experience to assist you in becoming capable of installing PV systems. This course includes a 2-day practical in a physical location with real equipment to test your theoretical knowledge whilst gaining valuable ‘hands-on’ experience.
This course is part of the Grid-Connected PV Systems training pathways. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Workplace Health and Safety, DC Electricity, AC Electricity, Solar Radiation, PV Fundamentals, Inverters, PV Mounting Systems, Balance of System, Energy Assessment, Site Assessment, Matching Array and Inverter, and PV System Protection, PV Cable Design, PV Efficiency & Yield, PV System Economics, PV System Installation, PV System Commissioning, PV System Maintenance, PV Troubleshooting courses. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
This course covers the global energy crisis, a background on the energy transition and how entrepreneurship can play a vital role in the climate movement. This course will teach you how to:
- Appreciate the role of entrepreneurship in addressing the energy and climate crisis
- Be inspired to be solar / energy entrepreneurs
This course is part of the Solar Technical and Business Expert training pathway. There are no prerequisite courses. There is no fee to enrol in this course. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
This course focuses on the solar industry, a brief history of the solar business globally and in the Philippines, and the future of solar. This course will teach you how to:
- Understand the evolution of the solar business industry
- Be inspired about the different opportunities and possibilities in the solar business
This course is part of the Solar Technical and Business Expert training pathway. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Energy Entrepreneurship course. There is no fee to enrol in this course. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
Designed to examine the different existing business models for solar companies. This course involves lectures and activities for the learners to interact and test different possible models for their existing / future solar business. This course will teach you how to:
- Be familiar with the different solar business models
- Distinguish how different stakeholders interact
- Understand the different revenue channels and structures
This course is part of the Solar Technical and Business Expert training pathway. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Solar Industry Overview course. There is no fee to enrol in this course. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
This course is a 1 hour virtual class scheduled TBA, Philippine Standard Time. Enroll now to sign up! The class covers basic computations on savings and ROI for solar PV systems, the different fixed and variable costs involved for each type of project and how certain variables and factors may affect certain financial aspects of a project. This course will teach you how to:
- Understand the different finance computations involved in a solar project
- Setup your own financial model templates for your businesses
This course is part of the Solar Technical and Business Expert training pathway. Before you enroll in this course, you should complete the Solar Business Models course. There is no fee to enroll in this course. Access will expire 1 year after enrollment.
This course discusses the different policies that can be opportunities for solar businesses and the various regulations that EPCs and installers should be familiar with. This course will teach you how to:
- Understand the regulations and requirements
- Explore different business models, service, and product opportunities given the policies and mechanisms in place
This course is part of the Solar Technical and Business Expert training pathway. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Solar Business Models course. There is no fee to enrol in this course. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
This course focuses on the different market segments and channels for solar companies. This course will teach you how to:
- Identify the different market segments, their behaviors and what makes each segment unique
- Identify the different channels that are effective in targeting your customers
- Design a lead generation process and plan for your company
This course is part of the Solar Technical and Business Expert training pathway. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Enabling Policies and Non-Market Mechanisms course. There is no fee to enrol in this course. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
This course covers the basic components of solar PV projects from planning to feasibility analysis to tendering. This course will teach you how to:
- Understand solar PV planning and project development
- Develop knowledge on things to consider at the project development phase
- Develop the confidence to align your processes and strategies to industry standards and practices
This course is part of the Solar Technical and Business Expert training pathway. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Market Segmentation and Lead Generation course. There is no fee to enrol in this course. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
This course focuses on the EPC model for solar PV companies and includes the core components of EPC planning and contracting. This course will teach you how to:
- Understand the EPC model and timeline
- Understand the different components of EPC contracts
- Understand costing and validation for EPCs
This course is part of the Solar Technical and Business Expert training pathway. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Project Planning and Development course. There is no fee to enrol in this course. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
This course focuses on the different regulations, requirements and policies that are relevant to solar businesses and companies. From the different entity types, to the different tax regulations, government mandatories to import and export laws that are relevant to the learners. This course will teach you how to:
- Understand the different responsibilities with regards to operating a business
- Discover ways that the policies can be enablers rather than barriers
This course is part of the Solar Technical and Business Expert training pathway. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Project Execution course. There is no fee to enrol in this course. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
This course deals with a thought experiment on price and cost models to see if the business has the potential to become a profitable company. It covers simple financial modeling and identifying the market size. This course will teach you how to:
- Determine the size of your business's target market in terms of TAM, SAM and SOM
- Build a simple financial model for your company
This course is part of the Solar Technical and Business Expert training pathway. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Doing Business in the Philippines course. There is no fee to enrol in this course. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
This course is designed to help the participants understand the entire customer journey: from discovery to retention. The different activities and tasks involved in the sales process and the potential challenges and risks will be discussed. This course will teach you how to:
- Identify the barriers and risks to customer engagement and retention in their current sales and business processes
- Create a plan on removing the barriers in the customer journey
- Appreciate the importance of online presence for their companies and create a social media plan
This course is part of the Solar Technical and Business Expert training pathway. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Practical Business Finance for Entrepreneurs course. There is no fee to enrol in this course. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
This course is a half hour virtual class TBA, Philippine Standard Time. Enrol now to sign up! This course includes different examples of productivity and efficiency tools for lead generation, sales funnelling, project management, customer management and retention. This also encourages the participants to share some practices, tips or "hacks" that they apply in their businesses. This course will teach you how to:
- Explore different tools to help you become more efficient
- Share to other peers about the different practices you have learned through your experience
This course is part of the Solar Technical and Business Expert training pathway. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Customer Service course. There is no fee to enrol in this course. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
This course is a 45 minute virtual class scheduled TBA, Philippine Standard Time. Enrol now to sign up! This course wraps up all the learnings from the other Solar Business courses and is designed to help the participants assess and evaluate their long-term strategy. This course will teach you how to:
- Identify the different opportunities for innovation, efficiency and growth that you will be able to implement in your businesses
This course is part of the Solar Technical and Business Expert training pathway. Before you enrol in this course, you should complete the Customer Service course. There is no fee to enrol in this course. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
This course provides an overview of the OpenSolar software - showing it from the customer end, as well as covering basic workflow for the solar pro. It includes a 25 minute video and short multiple-choice quiz. Upon course completion, you should be able to design a solar system on OpenSolar and share the proposal with your customer.
This course is part of the Solar Technical and Business Expert training pathway. There are no prerequisites courses. There is no fee to enrol in this course. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
This course provides a deep dive into the studio zone of OpenSolar to show how you can leverage the tool to get the best designs possible. It includes a 20 minute video and short multiple-choice quiz. The course gives three different design examples: standard residential, rural (no imagery available), and large-scale commercial. In each of these, it provides you with the tips and tricks necessary for carrying out these types of designs. Upon course completion, you should be able to create more complicated designs on OpenSolar, for example when no imagery is available and designing large commercial systems.
This course is part of the Solar Technical and Business Expert training pathway. There are no prerequisites courses. There is no fee to enrol in this course. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
This course provides a deep dive into the control zone of OpenSolar, and breakdown each of the key items so you can optimise your setup. This zone is only for the administrators of the organisation. It includes an 11 minute video and short multiple-choice quiz. Upon course completion, you should be able to set up your business info, pricing schemes & payment options, design & hardware, as well as customise your templates to best match your business and customer needs.
This course is part of the Solar Technical and Business Expert training pathway. There are no prerequisites courses. There is no fee to enrol in this course. Access will expire 1 year after enrolment.
Upon completion of all your online content and assessments, you will be able to attempt in the final exam. The final exam is supposed to be a test of your knowledge which you have learnt throughout the courses. Although not timed, you should allow for around 3 hours to complete this exam.