Print this page Power From The Sun
Steven G. Liescheidt, P.E., CCS, CCPR
Course Outline
This one hour online course discusses some of the basics for residential photovoltaic systems including system types, sizing and selection considerations, utility saving ranges and other factors involved with residential photovoltaic systems.
This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of course materials.
Learning
Objective
At the conclusion of this course, the student will learn about:
- Residential photovoltaic system basics;
- Incentives for installing photovoltaic systems;
- Investment considerations for photovoltaic systems;
- Selecting providers of photovoltaic systems;
- Financing, permitting, insurance and warranty considerations; and
- Installation costs and energy savings costs.
Intended Audience
This course is intended for mechanical, electrical and energy management engineers.
Benefit for Attendee
Attendee of this course will have a better understanding of the use of photovoltaic systems for generation of electricity in both residential and commercial applications.
Course Introduction
Photovoltaic systems convert sunlight directly to electricity. photovoltaic systems work any time the sun is shining, but more electricity is produced when the sunlight is more intense and strikes the PV modules directly. Unlike solar thermal systems for heating water, photovoltaic systems don’t use the sun's heat to make electricity. Instead, electrons freed by the interaction of sunlight with semiconductor materials in PV cells are captured in an electric current.
Course Content
This course is primarily based on the Initial Evaluation of A consumer’s Guide – Get Your Power From The Sun; U.S. Department of Energy, December 2003 • DOE/GO-102003-1844.
http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy04osti/35297.pdf
Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you still experience any difficulty in downloading or opening this file, you may need to close some applications or reboot your computer to free up some memory.
Course Summary
This course material is a guide for the process of buying a solar electric system. A photovoltaic system can be a substantial investment so careful planning will help the consumer make the right decisions for their home or business.
Related Links
For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites:
National Association of Regulatory and Utility Commissioners – www.naruc.com
Solar Energy Industries Association – www.seia.com
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
