Solar Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal Power 96.0 Hours

Solar energy systems can no longer be called "alternative" as they become standard equipment for new building construction and are rapidly being retrofitted to existing residential and commercial buildings. Utilities are also adding centralized solar power plants to their portfolio of generation assets. This course explores the design and installation of both solar photovoltaic and solar thermal systems and their applications both off-grid and on-grid.

The methods of instruction include outside hands-on training as well as classroom instruction and homework. Outside lab will include experiments with solar equipment, use of meters, measurements and calculations of values. Classroom instruction will consist of interactive lectures, class discussions, exercises, table-top experiments, PowerPoint presentations, Internet illustrations, and videos. It will be based on the assumption that you have done the reading assignments before class. Homework will include reading assignments, problem sets, and the design of solar photovoltaic systems including equipment specification.

Wind and Geothermal Power

This is study of Wind and Geothermal Power delivery systems. The wind power portion will include turbine blades, rotors, generators, controllers, brakes, wind vanes, gear drives and anemometers. The geothermal power portion will provide information concerning bottom hole temperatures, water injection, binary cycles, heat exchangers and energy converters.