GRID-TIED SOLAR ENERGY: Controllers & Inverters [2022]

Hello Solar Energy Enthusiast!

My goal is to make sure you will enjoy this course! Since you are reading this, it means you are looking for a reliable source of information related to grid-tied solar energy systems: Through this course, I will share with you my extensive knowledge and experience.

And lucky you! Through this course you will get a condensed version of all the fundamentals you need to be aware of. I have included several short multiple choice questions, though which you can self-test whether you have absorbed the knowledge adequately throughout the course. And to spice it up, we will also take numerous virtual excursions to websites of manufacturers of different components of your solar system. Through this approach, we makes sure that we bridge the following gaps:

• We make sure that you get the relevant and unbiased knowledge from an experienced professional

• You have the possibility to test your knowledge and freely browse through the content of the course as per your preferences

• We will bridge the gap between theory & real-life examples by reviewing numerous product options which you might come across as you will be shopping for your system components

I am glad you are interested in this course: It will teach you all the relevant knowledge, without any 'fluff', and includes several brief multiple-choice questions to test your knowledge.

I have created this course for you, fueled by my academic background in Renewable Energy Engineering and extensive field experience in the design and installation of PV Energy Systems. You are getting a very good deal: I will summarize for you all that I have learned over the years, and all you have to do is push the button and starting soaking up the information. Lucky you!

During this course, we will review and learn about the following topics:

• The output characteristics of a PV Solar Cell

• The IV Curve and relationship between current and voltage

• The correlation between irradiance and PV performance

• The difference between the Open Circuit Voltage and Short Circuit Current

• The location of the Maximum Power Point, and how to track it

• Where to find the IV Curve details of a PV Module you consider to buy

• How to interpret the specification sheet information of a particular PV Module

• The relationship between the PV Module voltage and power output

• The principles of IV Curve stacking

• PV Cell Open Circuit Voltage increments versus Short Circuit Current combinations

• Parallel and Series connection of PV Cells and the stacking effect

• Case study of a real life PV Module: How to find the Voc, Isc an MPP values

• Module test protocols: NMOT versus STC testing

• Maximum Power Point Tracking: the interactions on the IV Curve

• The MPPT algorithm principles explained

• Case Study of a MPPT PV Charge Controller: The performance and design characteristics explained

• Temperature derating factors of a charge controller

• Overdesigning your PV array compared to the charger specification values

• The maximum current values for a MPPT charger

• The effect of temperature on your PV module voltage output

• Pulse Width Modulation and charging algorithms

• Charging behavior with PWM devices

• Battery voltage versus Vmpp with PWM chargers

• Efficiency loss during Pulse Width Modulation charging

• Case study of available PWM chargers: Design and performance limits

• Input & Output connections on chargers

• User Interfaces: advantages and disadvantages

• The advantage of stacking multiple chargers in one system

• Case Study of available MPPT PV Chargers: Connection types, Terminal sizes and Design parameters

• The difference between String Inverters and Central Inverters

• The concepts and functionality of Hybrid Inverters

• Blue print and operation examples of a Grid Tied Hybrid Inverter with a PV Array and a Energy Storage System

• Dedicated versus integrated Inverter-Chargers

• Blue print examples of a Grid Tied PV System with both String Inverters and Hybrid Inverters

• Case Study: 2kVA and 3kVA 120VAC Inverter-Chargers

• Separate functionality and operation values for Integrated Inverter-Chargers

• Case Study: All in one Hybrid Inverter, the design and operation values

• The difference between the current and voltage Total Harmonic Distortion values [THDI, THDU]

• The concept of Anti Islanding for Grid Tied PV Energy Systems

• The different terminologies used related to Anti Islanding

• Blue print of a typical Distributed Energy System with Energy Storage [DESS]

• Theoretical case study of a DESS within a power grid during power outages

• The basic differences between Uni- and Bidirectional Grid Meters

• The concept of SMART Bidirectional Grid Meters

• Feed-in Tariff, Net Metering and the Successor Tariffs explained

• The principle of Time Of Use [TOU] compensation for Grid Tied Systems

• Blue prints of a Grid Tied System with various Grid Meters and financial compensation models

• Read-Out principles of analog unidirectional grid meters

• Power Purchase Agreements, Net Metering Vs. Net Billing, Market Rate Metering and other models explained

  
  

The main outline of this course is as follows:

PV Controllers

• IV Curve

• Stacking Effect

• MPPT Algorithm

• PWM Chargers

• Charger options

Inverters

• String Inverters

• Hybrid Inverters

• Inverter-Chargers

• Anti Islanding Protection

Grid Meters

• The different Financial Compensation Models

• Grid Meter options and Read-Out Examples

• The different Grid Feed-In Agreements

Take action now! Educate yourself by starting this course, so that you will be able to make well-informed decisions for your system. TIP: Udemy offers a very generous refund policy in case the course content turns out different than what you expected.

See you soon!

Jesse

Jesse Gorter

Renewable an Sustainable Energy Engineer, Master of Engineering

Mechanical Engineer, Energy Technology, Bachelor of Engineering