How long does it take to complete this course?

It takes about 15 hours to complete. At around 10 hours a week, many learners could finish in 1 to 2 weeks, depending on how much time they spend on the calculation-based quizzes and the capstone design work. The course includes lessons, readings, quizzes, and a peer-reviewed project.

Is this course more focused on theory or hands-on learning?

It's more concept-first, with guided quantitative practice throughout. You'll spend most of the course understanding how PV systems work, how energy use is measured, and how sizing decisions are made, then reinforce that through quizzes and a capstone design exercise.

Solar Energy Basics

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Solar Energy Basics

Instructor: Neal Abrams

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5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

2,597 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

96%

Most learners liked this course

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

2,597 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

96%

Most learners liked this course

What you'll learn

Calculate the energy usage at a location
Design a basic photovoltaic system to meet a specific energy need at a specific location
Describe financial models and trends in the photovoltaic energy field

Skills you'll gain

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Assessments

17 assignments¹

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Taught in English

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There are 5 modules in this course

This course gives you an introduction to the fundamentals of solar power as it applies to solar panel system installations. You will learn to compare solar energy to other energy resources and explain how solar panels, or photovoltaics (PV for short), convert sunlight to electricity. You will be able to identify the key components needed in a basic photovoltaic (solar panel) system, such as is found on a house or building, and explain the function of each component in the system. You will also learn how to calculate the electrical demand of a building, how to reduce the overall demand, and then how to design a solar panel system that can meet that annual demand at a given location. You will also compare the different types of pricing models that are being used and key regulatory considerations for grid tied systems (where a house or building is connected to the electrical grid and also generates electricity from solar panels). A capstone design project that entails both the simple audit of a building to determine demand, and a selection of components to design a solar panel system to meet that demand.

Welcome! This first module will give you an introduction to the various forms of energy available to us on the Earth and how solar power fits into the overall mix. It will also introduce you to the various parts that go into that solar panel system you see on a house or other building, both the obvious parts and the less obvious pieces. Lastly, you'll learn how to calculate the efficiency of a solar panel as it takes in light energy from the sun and converts it to electricity.

What's included

10 videos2 readings5 assignments

10 videosTotal 48 minutes

Welcome to Solar Energy Basics3 minutes
Primary energy sources3 minutes
Transformation of Energy4 minutes
Solar energy5 minutes
Photovoltaic cells and modules3 minutes
Silicon-based Photovoltaics5 minutes
Other photovoltaic materials6 minutes
Calculating Module Conversion Efficiency10 minutes
Other PV system electrical components7 minutes
PV System Mechanical Components3 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Improvements in solar cell efficiency over time15 minutes
A note on calculations work in the quizzes5 minutes

5 assignmentsTotal 142 minutes

Solar power systems <MATH>36 minutes
Major sources of energy30 minutes
Solar cell basics30 minutes
Calculating efficiency <MATH>16 minutes
Electrical and Mechanical Components30 minutes

Before you design a PV system for a home or commercial building, you need to know how much energy is being used at that location. That energy need helps you determine the size requirements of a PV system to meet that energy need. You also need to know how much energy can be produced by a PV system, because it varies based on the amount of sunlight available. In this week's module you will learn how to differentiate and calculate power and energy for both energy consuming appliances and energy producing photovoltaics, and then apply those concepts and calculations to assessing energy needs and energy production potential at a site.

What's included

6 videos2 readings4 assignments

6 videosTotal 33 minutes

Calculating Power and Energy8 minutes
Measuring appliance power and energy4 minutes
Determining appliance energy usage from web resources2 minutes
Determining energy usage from an electric bill4 minutes
Adjusting for location and system losses9 minutes
Calculating system size6 minutes

2 readingsTotal 30 minutes

Using Web Based Energy Tools15 minutes
Insolation Maps15 minutes

4 assignmentsTotal 90 minutes

Energy needs and sizing a PV system <MATH>38 minutes
Power and Energy Calculations <MATH>14 minutes
Determining energy consumption <MATH>16 minutes
Calculating System Size <MATH>22 minutes

Photovoltaics is a growth industry. In this module you will be learning about the historical development of photovoltaics, the current trends, and some of the future forecasts of the market both globally and with a little bit of a closer look at the United States. Finally, you'll be learning about the segmentation of photovoltaics into different applications beyond just solar panels on a house or a solar farm.

What's included

4 videos2 readings4 assignments

4 videosTotal 34 minutes

Historical Growth of Photovoltaics11 minutes
Growth Potential of Photovoltaics6 minutes
PV Growth: US Case Study8 minutes
Applications of PV8 minutes

2 readingsTotal 40 minutes

The current trends in photovoltaics20 minutes
Current US data and predictions for the coming decades20 minutes

4 assignmentsTotal 100 minutes

The growth of photovoltaic markets30 minutes
Growth of PV30 minutes
US PV growth30 minutes
Applications of PV10 minutes

The field of photovoltaics engages many people filling many different roles. In this module you will learn about the different stakeholders and job opportunities in PV. You'll also learn about some different certifications available to those already working in the photovoltaics industry and for those interested in joining the field. You'll also learn about the different financial models associated with PV systems that underpin the implementation of on-grid PV systems. When you finish this module I would recommend at least starting your work on the capstone project rather than waiting until the following week.

What's included

4 videos1 reading4 assignments

4 videosTotal 30 minutes

Jobs and stakeholders in PV11 minutes
PV financial models: Net metering6 minutes
PV financial models: Remote net metering, PPAs, Leasing5 minutes
Pathways to PV Certifications8 minutes

1 readingTotal 30 minutes

Certifications for Photovoltaic Installation30 minutes

4 assignmentsTotal 86 minutes

Infrastructure of PV <MATH>32 minutes
Jobs and stakeholders in PV30 minutes
PV Financial models <MATH>14 minutes
Pathways to Certification10 minutes

In the capstone project you will be applying some of key skills you have learned so far in this specialization. You will need to evaluate a site's location, calculate it's energy consumption and try to reduce it's load, and then design a solar array capable of meeting it's total energy load using data from commercial modules and using a simplified assumption about system efficiency as we have been doing in this course.

What's included

1 peer review

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(964 ratings)

Neal Abrams

The State University of New York

2 Courses147,818 learners

Offered by

The State University of New York

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Reviewed on Oct 13, 2019

Very good overview of solar energy and practical knowledge as well as end of course project. to improve, there should be more involvement from faculty in the project as the peer-review is flaw.

Reviewed on Jul 10, 2020

the course content is very good for starting off from basics of solar photovoltaics. concepts are explained properly. assignment problem and quizzes were also very interesting. real recommendable.

Reviewed on Apr 8, 2022

Overall good course. I would have gotten more out of this course if it included a sample spreadsheet with the basic calculations or some sort of tool to help guide the needed calculations.

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Frequently asked questions

You'll learn how solar power works and how to plan a basic photovoltaic system for a real building. It starts with energy sources, solar cells, efficiency, and system components, then moves into estimating electrical demand and sizing a system for a specific location. In the capstone, you'll audit a site and propose a simple PV design that matches its annual energy use.

No, you don't need prior solar experience or an engineering background. The course starts from the basics, but some comfort with everyday arithmetic will help because you'll calculate power, energy use, efficiency, and system size. A calculator is useful, since the quizzes include numerical work rather than teaching math in depth.

Yes, it's a good fit if you're new to solar power and want a clear introduction that still uses real calculations. The lessons explain the main ideas in plain terms, then build toward tasks like reading utility bills, estimating appliance use, and connecting those numbers to PV sizing. If you already want advanced design standards or deep engineering detail, this course will probably feel more introductory.

Yes, but the hands-on work is guided and calculation-based rather than lab-based. You'll work through calculation-heavy quizzes where you estimate energy demand, use utility data or appliance information, and size a basic PV system for a location. It builds to a capstone project in which you audit a site and recommend a simple solar system, so you apply the ideas as you go.

You'll cover how photovoltaics convert sunlight into electricity, how the main parts of a PV system work together, and how solar compares with other energy sources. The course also teaches energy auditing and system sizing, including reading utility bills and using insolation data, and it introduces common pricing models for grid-tied systems. By the end, you'll have a rounded view of both the technical basics and the planning choices behind a simple solar installation.

After finishing, you should be able to estimate a building's electrical demand and design a basic PV system to meet that annual need. You'll also be able to compare common components, interpret simple efficiency and production figures, and explain major pricing models for grid-tied systems. For example, you could use utility bill data for a home to estimate annual usage and work out an appropriate system size for that location.

This course is a strong choice if you want more than a general introduction to solar panels. It connects the science of photovoltaics to practical decisions about energy demand, system sizing, and grid-tied pricing models, then asks you to apply that in a capstone design project. If you want a beginner course that ties together how solar works, how to size a simple system, and how it fits into real buildings, this course is a good fit.