Photovoltaic Solar Technology

Provides an overview of how photovoltaic electric energy technologies convert the natural resource of the sun into useful electricity. The course introduces students to the details of various types of commercial photovoltaic technology and balance of system components available in the marketplace today as well as acquaints them with the fundamental theory and physics behind photovoltaic electricity generation. The course provides a foundation in how to perform a site assessment, how to select favorable locations, how to estimate a photovoltaic (PV) system’s expected performance based upon solar resources at any place on Earth, how to perform economic analysis of PV systems, how modules and inverters work and what are the major components required for interconnecting a PV system to the grid. In addition, the course provides a historical perspective on the development of PV. Students are introduced to the fundamental economics of how PV is now affordable based upon investment tax credits, renewable energy certificates and renewable portfolio standards now in place in more than half of the United States. Labs include the construction of multiple small-scale PV systems for interconnection to the grid and maintenance experiences.