Business of Solar for Students and Professionals

Name: Business of Solar for Students and Professionals
Rating: 3.9 (71 reviews)

Cost Per watt? kWh/kWp? Solar Irradiance? Power-Purchase Agreement? Want to learn what these terms actually mean?

Created bySyed Shaheer Aziz

Last updated 10/2017

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

Understand the energy infrastructure around you (i.e. electricity grid, types of fuels used to generate electricity, etc)
The major components of a solar array, and the process to build a solar array.
Key Terms utilized within the solar industry: NTP, CIA, $/Watt, System Production, etc.
Different core industries within the solar PV industry.
Different types of solar array's and different business model's utilized in the solar industry.
Build a renewable energy financial model.
Comprehensive understanding of the business of solar: engineering, finance, and regulatory.

Course content

5 sections • 23 lectures • 2h 21m total length

Introduction1:14
Explore how the solar industry operates, learn how electricity is generated, and design a solar array while examining market segments, business models, financial tools, and industry trends.
Going through this course0:10

Introduction: Where is energy going?0:52
Explore the global energy mix, contrasting solar energy production with energy demand, and examine how fossil fuels, nuclear power, and carbon emissions shape the energy landscape.
Where is energy going?12:23
Explore how global energy demand, fuel mix, and carbon emissions shape the role of solar and renewables, highlighting rising energy use, electrification, and the shift away from fossil fuels.
Introduction: Electricity0:39
Explore how electricity is generated and distributed worldwide, compare energy demand trends, and examine the different types of electricity grids across the globe.
Electricity10:43
Explore how solar energy fits into electricity systems, comparing centralized and distributed grids, rooftop solar, and cost dynamics shaping solar adoption in different markets.
Introduction: The Science behind the business0:24
Explore the technical details of how solar arrays convert photons into electricity and understand the science behind the business of solar.
The Science behind the business8:20
Explore the science behind the solar business, including solar irradiance, the photovoltaic effect, and how dc power is converted to ac by inverters, with kilowatt and kilowatt-hour concepts.
Section 2 Quiz

Introduction: Market Segments0:11
Explore the solar market through an introduction to market segments, helping students and professionals understand segment opportunities within the business of solar.
Market Segments8:40
Identify the three solar market segments: residential, commercial/industrial, and utility-scale, and explain their installations, sizes, financing arrangements, and power purchase agreements.
Introduction: Business and Regulatory Models0:32
Explore business and regulatory models that align long term goals with cost of living and consumer goals, and build a virtual community around a clear business model.
Business and Regulatory Models28:40
Explore how solar business models—from ownership and operation to power purchase agreements and feed-in tariffs—intersect with regulatory, legal, and net metering frameworks to drive grid-ready solar adoption.
Introduction: Types of Businesses0:31
Identify the different solar industry businesses, understand how they coexist and collaborate, and determine whom you need to engage to complete a project.
Types of Businesses11:28
Identify the key players in solar business, including developers, engineering procurement and construction companies, equipment manufacturers, distributors, asset managers, financiers, regulatory bodies, and utilities.
Section 3 Quiz

Introduction: Developing and Building0:39
Learn the process steps to developing a solar array and follow them to increase your chances of success; design and build a high quality solar array to meet business objectives.
Developing and Building9:01
Explore the end-to-end design and building of a solar array, covering preliminary sizing and interconnection applications, grid capacity, permits, installation, commissioning, and ongoing operation maintenance.
Introduction: Operating and Maintenance0:21
The session reviews the key issues surrounding operations and maintenance, including water, and Shenzhou considerations.
Operating and Maintenance3:38
Monitor solar array performance remotely and visually to observe notifications, track production, assess inverter health, and guide scheduled maintenance like cleaning, torque checks, and inspections for unforeseen events.
Section 4 Quiz

Introduction: Key Performance Indicators and Business Model0:27
Explore the technical and economic KPI and how segregation and paddle pricing affect both the NGO and your business.
Key Performance Indicators and Business Model31:45
Assess solar assets with a financial model that connects specific production, degradation (induced and annual), and cost per watt to forecast energy output, revenue, and investment returns.
Introduction: Trends in the Solar Industry0:24
Analyze current trends in the solar industry, focusing on economic dynamics, technology changes, and regulatory shifts to inform business decisions for students and professionals.
Trends in the Solar Industry9:13
Analyze global solar market trends driven by ITC extensions, rising residential adoption, and policy shifts, while cost declines and smart grid integration shape future solar solutions.
Conclusion - This is really the beginning!1:05
Explore the solar industry landscape, including various solar business types, operation and maintenance considerations, and safety trends to advance your career.
Section 5 Quiz

Requirements

You should be able to use a PC.
Have an understanding of what a solar PV array does. i.e. generate electricity.
Desire to make the world a better place.

Description

Go ahead, book your next networking session, business meeting or interview with a professional in the energy or solar PV industry. Once you've completed this course you'll have a complete understanding on the regulatory, business, and technical aspects of a solar array development. You'll be able to understand the key terminology that's used across the industry and you'll be able to utilize your experience to push the solar industry forward.

The solar and renewable industry is growing rapidly – the United Stated is going to likely Double the total number of installation from the year before and solar PV is being deployed globally as the preferred choice of electricity. You may have noticed through increased job posts or just by driving through your community and seeing the number of installations. Now if you’re a professional either marketer, accountant, business development guru or project manager this is a great time for you to join our industry and for you to utilize your existing knowledge and experience to propel our industry forward.

This course was built for everyone, new graduates across the arts & sciences, mid-career professionals, and executives, who are looking to take charge of their career and grow their knowledge base. You could be working with a solar developer, launching a solar project for your business and want to understand that you have all the right information, or you could be be working at or looking for work at a solar developer and want to make sure you interview strong.

Within the course you’ll learn about the different components of a solar installation, and how to identify them. You’ll learn how to calculate the total cost of a system and compare that to the total revenue generated by a system. In addition, you’ll also get a brief introduction into what concepts are utilized to produce a safe and high quality system. Finally, we will then then apply these learnings to different business models commonly used in the industry so that you have a holistic view of how a solar installation is developed. You’ll then be able to use this knowledge to either gain a job in our industry or to excel at your existing one!

The course is broken down into four main sections:

How Solar Array's generate electricity and fit within our Energy infrastructure.
The Renewable Energy Business Landscape
Developing and Operating a Solar Array
The Business of Solar: Bringing it all Together

Check out the Free Introduction Video's of each section to get an understanding of the specific information you'll learn in each section.

Within each section you are provided course notes, along with some reading material and quizzes to ensure.

Who this course is for:

Anyone interviewing for a renewable energy job.
Anyone who has just started a renewable energy job.
Anyone who is thinking about deploying solar for their organization.
New Graduate from university.
Anyone who wants to excel at a career in renewable energy.
Anyone looking for a job in a rapidly growing industry.

Business of Solar for Students and Professionals

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Welcome Aboard!2 lectures • 1min

How solar array's work and fit into current energy infrastructure.6 lectures • 33min

The renewable energy business landscape6 lectures • 50min

Developing and Operating a solar array.4 lectures • 14min

The Business of Solar: Bringing it all Together5 lectures • 43min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: