Solar Energy On-grid and Off-grid Design Training

In an era marked by pressing environmental concerns and the need for sustainable energy sources, solar energy emerges as a shining star. Harnessing the power of the sun, solar energy has rapidly gained momentum as a viable and essential solution to our energy needs. This article aims to highlight the importance of solar energy, shedding light on its numerous advantages and implications for a greener and more sustainable future. 

Solar energy is a renewable and inexhaustible source of power, derived from the radiation emitted by the sun. Unlike fossil fuels, which are finite and deplete over time, solar energy offers a virtually unlimited supply. Moreover, solar power generation produces no greenhouse gas emissions or air pollutants, leading to cleaner air and reduced carbon footprint. By adopting solar energy, we can mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and pave the way towards a more sustainable future. 

As the demand for solar power systems continues to rise, the need for skilled professionals in solar energy design becomes paramount. By providing individuals with the necessary expertise and skills, we empower them to design and implement efficient, safe, and high-performing solar energy systems. Through training, we promote innovation, create job opportunities, and contribute to a sustainable future. 

At the end of this course, you will learn. 

• Solar Energy Advantages & Fundamentals 
• PV Technologies 
• Solar Inverters and Benefits from PV 
• Systems and components in a Solar Energy system 
• Manual Design of a solar PV system Off-grid and On-grid 
• Software Design of a solar PV system Off-grid and On-grid using PvSyst 

Course Outline 

Read the course outline below to discover the comprehensive curriculum designed to enhance your knowledge and skills.

1. Introduction 

• Why solar energy? 
• Sun energy per year and world energy use 
• Type of production ways of electricity from solar energy 
• Heliostat tower function 

2. Solar Fundamentals 

• Distribution of solar radiation 
• Solar Irradiance Concepts: DNI, DHI, GHI & GTI 
• Measuring solar radiation, angle of radiation and energy per sqm 
• solar declination and height (altitude) angle 
• air mass and solar energy 
• Spectral sensitivity of different solar panels 
• Solar path, Sun azimuth angle 
• The most important geometrical factors which affect calculations of solar radiation 
• Local time and solar time, PSH (peak sun hour) 
• Methods of determining radiation intensity 

3. PV Technologies 

• Advantages and disadvantages of PV 
• Cell –module- array, Photovoltaic panel structure  
• The difference between monocrystalline and polycrystalline cells 
• Solar grade glass, stc and noct test conditions 
• Voltage-current curve (I-V) of solar cell 
• What is fill factor in PV modules  
• Solar cell equivalent circuit 
• Types of solar cells and their comparison 
• The basis of silicone cells and the method of electricity production 
• Arrangement of cells in a panel 
• Effective factors in the output power of the solar panel 
• PV junction box 
• Checking the curve of solar panels in case of series or parallel connection 
• The role of bypass diode in solar panels 
• Blocking diode rule in PV plant 
• Photovoltaic system design standards 
• Parallel connection of connectors 
• PID & LID losses 
• Lifespan of solar panels 
• Auto tracker system (single axis and dual axis) 
• DEWA mandatory standards 
• IEC 61215, IEC 61730, IEC 61701, IEC 61345, IEC 62716, IEC 60068-2-68 standards 
• Safety qualification of PV modules 
• Design qualification and type approval of PV modules 
• Net-metering system 
• Concentrator Photovoltaic 

4. Detailed explanation of Off-grid and On-grid systems and components 

• Types of solar systems (Offgrid – Ongrid - Hybrid) 
• Characteristics of off-grid solar systems and Application 
• Off-grid Solar system components and schematics 
• On-grid Solar system components and schematics 
• Hybrid Solar system components and schematics 
• Solar batteries and battery types  
• Flooded/wet batteries characteristics -advantages and disadvantages 
• AGM batteries characteristics -advantages and disadvantages 
• GEL batteries characteristics-advantages and disadvantages 
• Maintenance free battery, SLA batteries, VRLA battery 
• Battery connections in series and parallel, Battery safety tips 
• Types of solar inverter Off-grid solar inverters 
• Full description of MPPT 
• Central inverter, Module inverter, String inverter , Micro inverter , Optimizer 
• Charge Controller - the difference between PWM and MPPT charge controller 

5-Protection devices and wiring and connectors 

• Protective equipment 
• Surge arrester 
• AC and DC SPD 
• Suitable cable for solar systems 
• About DEWA 
• Installation Plan of PV 
• Typical on-site mounting process 
• Checklist testing and inspection with interconnection to the grid 

6- Formulas required for solar systems 

• Electrical basics and mathematical formulas 

7-Manual design of an Off-grid system 

• Off-grid solar system design 
• Schematic of Off-grid solar system 
• Obtaining the total energy value of electrical appliances 
• Energy of panels should produce 
• Obtaining the total power of the panels and the number of panels 
• Obtaining PSH using the geographical location of the solar power plant installation 
• Determining the charge size of the solar controller 
• Battery selection 
• Inverter calculation 
• AC and DC cable size calculation 
• Fuse protection sizing 

8-Manual design of an On-grid system 

• Getting the number of panels 
• Calculation of the number of strings 
• Calculation of the number of panels in each row 
• Calculation of the required inverter 
• DC fuse calculation and selection 
• AC fuse calculation and selection 
• Select AC and DC cable sizes 

9-Offgrid solar system design with PVSYST 

• Define New project , find lactation on map , import data from different sources 
• Explain each data that is from meteo source(solar  path ,PSH,GHI,HDI, Temperature ,wind speed) 
• Define best plane tilt and azimuth based on yearly,  summer, winter and transposition factor 
• Define user needs, hourly distribution  
• System summery 
• Define storage –PV array-charge controller based on PLOL and autonomy 
• Define new system components 
• Explanation Stand-alone report 
• Near shading 

10-Ongrid solar system design with PVSYST 

• How to define project name 
• Define new project , find lactation on map , Import meteo data from different sources 
• Explain each data that is from meteo source 
• Define best plane tilt and azimuth based on yearly, summer, winter and transposition factor 
• PV arrays sizing 
• Inverter sizing 
• Module layout 
• Detail loses 
• Advanced simulation 
• Define new system components 
• Explanation ongrid  report 
• Near shading 
• Horizon shading