SEI: Grid-Tied PV Design


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PV102: Grid-Tied PV Systems

Participants will learn the fundamental concepts required for working safely with PV systems and will design a residential-sized, code compliant, batteryless grid-tied solar-electric system.
This workshop provides an overview of the basic PV system applications, with a major focus on batteryless grid-tied systems. The goal of this session is to create a fundamental understanding of the core concepts necessary to work with both residential and commercial batteryless grid-tied PV systems. Topics include: system components, site analysis, PV module criteria, mounting solutions, safety, and commissioning. This session also covers the fundamentals of sizing a residential batteryless grid-tied system, wire sizing, overcurrent protection and grounding. These topics will be expanded upon in PV202. All participants continuing on to PV202 will need to read supplemental material on battery-based design.

Electric meter on a grid-tied pv system If you are serious about getting into the solar industry, you should also plan to take PV202: Advanced PV: Design Criteria and NEC Compliance (face-to-face or online). The Advanced PVworkshop is intended to follow our first tier of workshops with the next level of design criteria, wire sizing calculations, maintenance issues, troubleshooting skill, and more information on batteries, charge controllers and hybrid system. (Please note that students from the Grid-Tied PV workshop will need to complete supplementary reading on stand-alone systems before continuing on to PV Lab Week or Advanced PV: Design Criteria and NEC Compliance.)

5 day workshops include 4 days of classroom lecture and 1 day of a lab simulation and tours.
4 Day Workshops include 4 days of classroom lecture. There is no hands-on component for this class.

Students leave this workshop being able to:

Perform power and energy calculations
Perform a load analysis for a batteryless grid-tied system
Implement electrical efficiency measures to reduce system size
Diagram an array in series and parallel configurations
Obtain and apply module specifications
Determine module and array performance given various conditions
Determine the azimuth and altitude angle of the sun and evaluate shading potential
List the pros and cons of different mounting structures
Interpret and apply data from equipment specification sheets
Size a residential batteryless grid-tied system
Identify wires and components on a three-line diagram of a residential grid-tied system
List the order of commissioning/decommissioning and the potential safety hazards of a batteryless grid-tied system
Draw a block diagram of the different system types
Perform detailed site analysis utilizing commercially available tools

Topics Include

Basics of Electricity
System Components
Component Specification
System Sizing
Energy Efficient Appliances
Solar Site Analysis
Electrical Wiring
Safety Procedures
Operation & Maintenance
Tours of PV Systems
Industry Guest Speakers
Laboratory Exercises

This workshop is certified by the Institute of Sustainable Power (ISP) and fulfills the educational requirements for Category 'B' of NABCEP's Solar PV Installer Certification. This course also qualifies you to take the NABCEP PV Entry Level "Certificate of Knowledge" Exam (Click here for entry level exam learning objectives). The test, which consists of 60 multiple choice questions, takes approximately 2 hours to complete. Test will be administered on the last day of each Grid-Tied PV workshop (it will not be offered in the workshop in Salt Lake City, Utah). The cost of the test is $100. Students must register in advance either online or by contacting SEI. For more information on the NABCEP Entry Level Certification, please see their website at www.nabcep.org. Note: the NABCEP Entry Level Exam covers batteries which is not covered in this workshop. Please read chapters 6, 7, 8, and 10 in the PV Textbook included in the workshop to be more adequately prepared to take the NABCEP exam.

Sessions

Workshop Title	Dates	Location	Price	Duration	Status
Grid-Tied PV Design	Feb. 23 - 27, 2009	Fontana, CA	$ 895	5 days	[FULL]
Grid-Tied PV Design	March 30 - April 3, 2009	Salt Lake City, UT	$ 895	5 days	[FULL]
Grid-Tied PV Design	April 20 - 24, 2009	Califon, NJ	$ 895	5 days	[FULL]

* Note: If you have already purchased a PV Design & Installation manual from SEI, please let us know at the time of registering, and we will deduct $60 from the cost of your tuition.