Hello, thank you for your interest in this course that explores the conversion of sunlight into electricity using photovoltaic technology. This is the second course in the solar power installations specialization offered through Coursera. It builds upon the content covered in the solar energy basics course. My name is Neal Abrams, and I'm the instructor for this course and a chemistry professor at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, or ESF, in Syracuse, New York. At ESF I teach courses in chemistry and renewable energy, as well as teach professionals about solar photovoltaic installation, renewable energy, and connections to the climate and the environment. In this course, I will help guide you through the fundamentals of solar energy such as the forms of electromagnetic energy or light that strike the Earth surface. How the atmosphere plays a role in the solar gain, including climate and weather, and ways we can measure and calculate solar gain for any location. In addition, we'll also discuss some of the available online sources so you can calculate solar gain in nearly any location. Then, we use the data on solar gain to calculate the amount of solar photovoltaic electricity and how to electrically connect the system. To do this, I'll first get you oriented with some of the basic photovoltaic circuit components. And then teach you how to measure and evaluate electricity in a photovoltaic circuit. Next, we'll look a bit more deeply at how sunlight generates free moving electrons in a photovoltaic cell. Then, we'll expand on the individual cell to look at electrical flow in the module and then the whole array. Once we know how to measure and plan for electrical output, we'll turn to combining the solar irradiance with the electrical output. We'll define some standard units of measure used in the photovoltaic industry. And then apply those measures to understand some standard photovoltaic product specification sheets. We'll then turn back to sunlight and how to account for deviations from the optimal sun module angle, such as module tilt and orientation, changes in temperature, and losses due to shading. Lastly, we'll learn how to plan for an on-grid solar array, meaning an array that's connected to utility power. I'll show you how to do a basic site survey, including the checklist of information that you'll need when making a site visit. We'll then learn how to match the array size to the solar conditions and the electrical load, so you maximize the output of your design system. Once we calculate the anticipated electrical energy and power, we'll learn how the electricity is converted and integrated into the electrical grid using an inverter. Finally, we'll look at how to properly size the whole system by looking at the number of panels that can be connected together to create a series string. And the number of series strings that are allowed based upon electrical and device parameters. Finally, you'll have the opportunity to design your own roof mounted photovoltaic system, and calculate its expected output under specific site conditions. You'll then select PV modules and balance its system components to build this array and configure them for safe electrical operation. Now, there may be some unfamiliar technical and mathematical aspects in this course, but we'll provide resources to gain a bit more background if you need it. During this course, you'll need to do some basic math, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division working with percentages and fractions. So you want at least a basic calculator when working on some of the learning activities. Many of the quizzes will include calculation problems. So you probably want to have your calculator and maybe a scrap sheet of paper handy. Some of the quizzes will also require using a web-based modeling tool. So you'll need to be able to switch between two different browser windows. Certain aspects of on-site energy calculations require organizing information in a table, so basic spreadsheet software would also be helpful. I continue to look forward to helping you meet your goals, whether it'd be a certified solar installer or a curious solar citizen who wants to learn a bit more about solar energy.
