The ultimate SOLAR ENERGY course (ONSITE EXPERIENCES) - 2026

Revise the basics to refresh essential solar energy concepts for returning students, helping you retain information before tackling more complicated topics; take notes and move at a steady pace.

Compare the energy production curve of a solar PV system with a typical household consumption curve over a 24-hour day, illustrating grid export and solar independence.

Determine peak sun hours for any location to size a solar system by annual average, using an Excel sheet and a website; Davis, California shows 5.1 hours.

Explore how grid-connected pv systems interact with transmission and distribution networks, covering base load, peak, and renewable generators, plus ac electricity concepts and the power triangle.

Get an overview of reliable solar design, including matching array and inverter parameters, adjusting PV module variables for climate, and determining stringing configurations for maximum performance.

Select the correct inverter by sizing the solar array to the system type (residential, commercial, utility) and choosing model-worthy inverters from Fronius, SMA, or Solaredge.

Learn how to determine a solar array stringing configuration using mppt limits in an inverter. The lecture demonstrates two configurations that yield 23 modules.

Demonstrate a stringing configuration for a 23 kW solar system using a free spec sheets resource and a spreadsheet to determine panels per string, total strings, and inverter mppt safety.

Explore the overview of solar system protection with a focus on DC protection, site-specific design, and how to select overcurrent protection for rooftop, inverter, AC switch, and main supply board.

Explore why DC isolators protect shaded solar strings and how to size them using the short-circuit current times strings minus one versus the module’s max fuse rating.

Calculate string currents from the PV panels, determine DC breaker size between 10.8 and 17.3 amps, and install isolators for two MPPTs to ensure safe streaming protection and isolation.

Assess the current carrying capacity, or ampacity, of cables by examining cross-section area, insulation temperature limits, and the surrounding environment to avoid overheating and fires.

Optimize cable routes and minimize cable lengths to reduce resistance and voltage drops between solar panels and the inverter, boosting overall system efficiency.

Combine the energy yield formula with site irradiation and system losses to estimate the PV system's output. Calculate irradiation, apply losses, and size the array to meet daily energy needs.

Assess roof structures for commercial solar by capturing on-site data on purlin, rafter, and roof sheet configurations, bridging and lapping details, and prepare a report for structural engineers.

Learn how rooftop DC isolators are installed for solar strings, pass panel cables through a corrugated conduit, seal with glue, and terminate into the isolator before wiring to the inverter.