Renewable Energy Specialist & Photovoltaic Associate

Hours: 480 / Access Length: 12 Months / Delivery: Open, Mentor Supported
Retail Price: $3,275.00

Course Overview:

Become an Alternative Energy Specialist and learn ways to help conserve, reduce, reuse, recycle, and thus minimize our impact on the planet. Through this “entry-level” green course you will learn that even small changes make a difference and that going green is good for our health, the planet, and even our budgets.

If you are concerned about our energy future you will want to learn about the many aspects of the energy value chain:

• Oil and natural gas
• Coal
• Fossil fuels and the greenhouse effect
• Energy from water
• Biomass
• Solar energy
• Geothermal energy
• Wind energy
• Nuclear energy
• Electricity
• Energy storage
• Transportation
• Housing
• Smart energy consumption
• Hydrogen

Armed with the knowledge from this course you can form educated and informed opinions on the future of energy and its impact on the economy, health, and the environment.

As an Alternative Energy Specialist you will discover how to establish your business as a green business. You can become a Green Consultant and help others by exploring environmentally-friendly business opportunities to choosing eco-friendly means of production. Learn business basics with a green twist including financing, office setup, day-to-day operations and so much more!

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Comprehend the core elements of green
• Identify strategies for offsetting your energy consumption
• Identify ways to buy local and buy organic
• Comprehend the basics of energy and thermodynamics
• Identify the various sources of energy and their specific features

This Renewable Energy Specialist course addresses the main characteristics of the emerging generation of technologies which will be employed to provide energy for the power grid over the next 20 years. This course covers solar energy in its various forms, such as photovoltaic, thermal and thermodynamic energy conversion, taking into account the various issues associated with the connection of these solar plants to the grid.

We will also cover Wind technologies that are today in full development and the section of this course dedicated to wind technology describes the state of the art, taking into consideration the consequences of adding large quantities of this intermittent energy source into power grids, one of which may be wide disturbances. Energy from the sea is also covered in the Renewable Energy Specialist course, with a section on very small hydraulic plants which will become of increasing interest as fossil fuels become more and more expensive.

The course continues with an analysis of geothermal energy along three lines: heat pumps, heat, and electric energy generation. Finally, the Renewable Energy Specialist needs to know about energy from biomass, which is also becoming of great interest due to the high cost of fossil fuels. In this section we cover a wide-ranging description of biofuels and biogas and we give special focus to sources of energy from word, as a substitute for gas or oil energy heating. This Renewable Energy Specialist course is a must for anyone interested in moving into the field of green energy.

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Define the core elements of photovoltaic systems and solar energy
• Identify features of wind system energy
• Comprehend energy systems based on water and geothermal production
• Define main features of biofuels and bio-gas
• Comprehend the process of energy production from burning wood

The Photovoltaic System Professional is a comprehensive course and guide to installation of residential and commercial photovoltaic (PV) systems. This course covers the principles of PV electricity and how to effectively incorporate it into stand-alone or utility-connected electrical systems. We give detailed illustrations to clarify the concepts behind PV system operation.

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Define the core elements of photovoltaics and solar energy technology
• Define systems components, configurations, and battery types
• Identify elements of charge controllers and inverters
• Identify components of mechanical and electrical integration
• Identify permitting codes and regulations

Course Outline:

Alternative Energy Specialist Module 1
Picture Yourself Going Green

• What is Green?
• Ten Simple Steps
• Green Your Home
• The Air We Breathe
• Waste Not: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
• Greening Your Home Office
• Green Your Energy
• The History of Energy
• Buying Clean Power Locally
• Offsetting Your Energy Use
• Green Your Appetite
• The Pesticide Proliferation
• Going Local, Going Organic
• Green Your Yard
• Fertilizers, Herbicides, and Pesticides
• Conserving Water

Alternative Energy Specialist Module 2
Green Your Life

• Green Your Wardrobe
• Genetically Engineered Cotton
• Clothing Production & Chemicals
• Green is Beautiful
• Green House cleaning
• Personal Care Products
• Green Your Transportation
• Why Carbon Emissions Matter
• Fine-Tuning for Better Gas Mileage
• Green Your Travel
• Choosing Ecotourism
• Supporting Green Businesses
• Eco Kids and Green Pets
• Healthy Nursery or Bedroom
• Choosing Natural Pet Food Options
• Five Ways to Go UberGreen

Alternative Energy Specialist Module 3
Understanding Energy

• We Need Energy
• Primary and Secondary energy
• Energy and First Law of Thermodynamics
• Entropy and Second Law of Thermodynamics
• Energy Sources We Use
• Oil and Natural Gas
• Properties of Hydrocarbons
• Oil Fields
• Coal: Fossil Fuel of the Future
• Classification of Coals
• Coal Combustion for Power Generation
• Coal-to-Liquid Technologies
• Fossil Fuels and Greenhouse Effect
• Weather and Climate
• Anthropogenic Emissions
• Kyoto Protocol

Alternative Energy Specialist Module 4
Energy Options

• Hydropower
• Dams and Diversions
• Small-Scale Hydropower
• Energy from the Ocean
• Marine Current Energy
• Osmotic Energy
• Producing Biomass
• Direct Combustion Technologies
• Biomass and the Environmental Impact
• Biofuels
• Solar Energy
• Thermal Solar Energy
• Concentrated Solar Power Plants
• Photovoltaic Systems
• Geothermal Energy
• Wind Energy

Alternative Energy Specialist Module 5
Electricity & Transportation

• Nuclear Energy
• Uses of Nuclear Energy
• Thermonuclear Energy
• Electricity: Smart Use of Energy
• Energy Sources for Electricity Production
• From Mechanical Energy to Consumer
• Energy Storage
• Weak Points of Energy Supply Chain
• Large-Quantity Storage Technologies
• Thermal Energy Storage
• Underground Energy Storage
• History of Transportation
• Energy and Transportation
• CO₂ Emissions
• Hybrid & Electric Vehicles

Alternative Energy Specialist Module 6
Smart Energy Consumption

• Toward More Efficient Housing
• Different Regions, Different Solutions
• Bioclimatic Architecture
• Energy Use in a Household
• Improving the Way We Consume Energy
• Cogeneration
• Hydrogen
• Production to Distribution
• Hydrogen: Energetic Applications
• Fundamentals of Fuel Cells
• Direct Combined Heat and Power
• Hydrogen Safety

Alternative Energy Specialist Module 7
Your Own Green Business

• What Does “Green” Mean?
• Green Business Decisions
• Customers and Market Research
• Building a Green Business
• Green Business Equipment and Furniture
• Figuring Out Your Costs
• Getting Green Financing
• Making Your Way in a Greener World
• Your Green Team & Community
• Spreading the Green Word
• Green Marketing, Promotion & Advertising
• Social Responsibility
• Maintaining Positive Green Habits
• Green Business Resources

Renewable Energy Specialist Module 1
Photovoltaic & Solar Energy

• Photovoltaic Electricity Production
• Photovoltaic Conversion
• Cells with a Crystalline Silicon Base
• Cells in Thin Films
• Photovoltaic Market
• Photovoltaic Systems Connected to the Grid
• Problems of Photovoltaic Power Generation
• Physical Architectures
• Constraints Related to Supplying Energy
• Algorithmic Architectures
• Solar Heating
• Flat Solar Panels
• Solar Heating Systems
• Solar Thermodynamic Power Stations
• Concentrating Solar Power Technologies

Renewable Energy Specialist Module 2
Wind System Technology

• Wind Power Today
• Description of a Wind Generator
• Operation of a Wind Turbine
• Controls of Energy Conversion
• Fixed & Variable Speed Systems
• Connection to the Grid
• Voltage at the Point of Connection
• Stability & Protection Design
• Auxiliary Systems
• Possible Connection Problems
• Comparison of Technologies

Renewable Energy Specialist Module 3
Marine Energy, Hydropower & Geothermal

• Electricity Productivity from Marine Resources
• Energy Sources from the Sea
• Ocean Wave Generator Systems
• Tidal Energy Converters (TEC)
• Ocean Thermal Energy Converter (OTEC)
• Small Hydropower
• Hydraulic Energy
• Exploitation of Hydraulic Force
• Research & Development in Small Hydropower
• Geothermal Energy Production
• Geothermal Heat Pump Systems
• Direct Production of Heat
• Electricity Production

Renewable Energy Specialist Module 4
Biofuels, Biogas & Wood

• Biofuels in the Energy Environment
• Current Biofuel Systems
• Future Biofuel Systems
• The Use of Lignocellulose
• The Bioethanol System
• Biogas: The Renewable Natural Gas
• Naturally Occurring Biogas
• History of Anaerobic Digestion
• Biogas Units
• Uses of Biogas
• Energy Production from Wood
• Overview of Wood Fuels
• Converting Wood into Energy
• Generators of Thermal Energy from Wood

Photovoltaic System Professional Module 1   
Overview of Photovoltaic Systems

• Photovoltaics
• PV Applications
• PV Industry
• Solar Energy Technologies
• Solar Radiation
• The Sun
• Sun-Earth Relationships
• Array Orientation
• Solar Radiation Data Sets
• Estimating Array Performance

Photovoltaic System Professional Module 2  
Planning, System Components, Configurations

• Site Surveys
• Preplanning
• Preliminary Assessment
• Preparing Proposals
• Installation Planning
• Electrical Energy Sources
• PV System Configurations
• Photovoltaic Cells
• Current-Voltage (I-V) Curves
• Device Response
• Modules and Arrays     

Photovoltaic System Professional Module 3   
Batteries and Charge Controllers

• Battery Principles
• Battery Types
• Battery Systems
• Charge Controller Features
• Charge Controller Types
• Charge Controller Setpoints
• Charge Controller Applications

Photovoltaic System Professional Module 4    
Inverters, Systems Sizing, Mechanical Integration

• AC Power
• Power Conditioning Units
• Inverter Features and Specifications
• Sizing Methodologies
• Sizing Calculations
• Mechanical Considerations
• Array Mounting Systems
• Mechanical Integration

Photovoltaic System Professional Module 5  
Electrical Integration & Utility Interconnection

• National Electrical Code
• Voltage and Current Requirements
• Conductors and Wiring Methods
• Overcurrent Protection
• Disconnects
• Grounding
• Battery Systems
• Distributed Generation
• Utility Interconnection Policies

Photovoltaic System Professional Module 6    
Inspection & Maintenance

• Building Codes and Regulations
• Permitting
• Inspection
• Commissioning
• Maintenance
• Monitoring
• Troubleshooting
• Economic Analysis
• Incentives
• Cost Analysis

All necessary materials are included.

System Requirements:

• Cable and DSL internet connections are recommended for the best experience.

• CPU: 1 GHz or higher
• RAM: 2 GB or higher
• Resolution: 1280 x 720 or higher
• Speakers / Headphones
• Microphone (Webinar / Live Online sessions)

• Microsoft Windows 7 or 10 (Home, Pro)
• Mac OSX 10 or higher.
• Latest Chrome OS
• Latest Linux Distributions

NOTE: While we understand that our courses can be viewed on Android and iPhone devices, we do not recommend the use of these devices for our courses. The size of these devices do not provide a good learning environment for students taking online or live online based courses.

• Latest Google Chrome is recommended for the best experience.
• Latest Mozilla FireFox
• Latest Microsoft Edge
• Latest Apple Safari

• Office suite software (Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, or LibreOffice)
• PDF reader program (Adobe Reader, FoxIt)
• Courses may require other software that is denoted in the above course outline.