Training Courses

Course Content

Component of Lecture course

Occupational Health Safety and Environment

This topic provides trainees with the requisite knowledge to adopt safe and good working habits. The topics include on-site risk assessment; work hazards; site safety; first aid

Fundamentals of Solar Energy

This topic covers the knowledge on basics of the Solar PV system. Topics discussed are but not limited to the following: Electricity from Solar Energy; Feature of Solar PV System; Site selection, Solar Home Systems (SHS), Centralized System, solar thermal systems including concentrated solar power systems (CSP)

Solar Radiation

This topic provides broad knowledge on solar energy and some of the topics discussed are solar Insolation; Peak Sun Hour (PSH); Tilt Angle and examples of effect by various tilt angles; No-Shade Time

Electrical Basics and circuit theory

This topic covers the knowledge of basic electricity and basic calculation skills of electrical circuits. Topics include AC and DC circuits; Ohm’s Law, Power Law; Kirchhoff’s Law; Power and Energy; Peak load and Daily Power consumption; Voltage Drop; Calculation of Voltage Drop; Specification of Voltage Drop

PV Cells and Modules

The topics discussed in this section broadly cover the physics of the PV cell; PV module; Type of PV Module; I-V and P-V Curve; characteristics of IV Curve; Series & Parallel Connection; Output of PV Module; Bypass Diodes & Blocking Diodes; Effects of shadow

Batteries

The topics discussed in this section broadly cover the Type of Lead-acid Batteries; Profile of Battery Voltage; Indicator of State of Charge. Charging Efficiency; Cycle Life, Capacity; Discharge Rate; Maintenance of Electrolyte; Maintenance of Electrode; Maintenance of Cell Voltage; Battery capacity specifications; effects of temperature; Series, Parallel and Inter-Connection

Charge Controllers

The topics discussed in this section cover Function of Charge Controller; Type of Charge Controller; Status of the charge controller, Setpoint voltage; Connecting Sequence, etc.

Inverters

Topics treated under inverters include the various types of inverters (eg. Square wave, pure sine wave, etc), output waveform, surge-related issues

Applying Energy Efficiency Techniques and Load Assessment

This topic provides knowledge on techniques needed to reduce electrical demand. These solutions mostly passive in nature can reduce demand to reduce the capacity of the system to be sized. Topics include an overview of passive solar design systems (eg. Orientation, thermal mass, insulation, ventilation, window shading, and sun control, etc.); overview of active solar systems

System Design

This topic provides in-depth calculations required to conduct system component sizing. Design criteria and the required specification are analyzed. Topics handled are assessing end-user services and energy demand; resource assessment and selection, site assessment; system configuration; Determining the load requirements of the system; Determining the losses of the subsystem, e.g. battery efficiency, regulator efficiency, and cable losses; Determining the size; Load estimation, inverter sizing, battery sizing, charge controller sizing, PV sizing, wiring sizing.

System inspection, monitoring, and Maintenance

This topic covers the knowledge of inspection, monitoring, and Maintenance. Topics discussed are System Parameters; Measuring equipment; Status of Charge Controller; Status of the system; Measuring points (Centralized); Specific Gravity; Daily Usage Time of loads (SHS); Peak load & Total load (Centralized)

Testing and commissioning of the system

This topic aids knowledge in system commissioning. The topic covers discussion areas such as final installation checklist; Visual inspection; verification of code compliance; electrical system verification testing; system functioning testing; verification of array power and energy production against standard test conditions (STC); derating factor componets 

Fault Finding and Trouble Shooting

This topic covers general knowledge of troubleshooting. Topics to be discussed include; IV and PV Curve; characteristics of IV Curve; Series & Parallel Connection; Effect of shadow; short circuit faults and open circuit faults.

Introduction to HOMER, Pvsyst, SEQUEL (A Solver for circuit Equations with User-defined Elements) and RetScreen Software

These software tools are decision-making tools that reduce the cost of pre-feasibility studies;
• disseminating knowledge to help trainees make beer decisions; and by

• training people to beer analyze the technical and financial viability of possible projects.

Procurement and quality management & customer care

This topic covers the knowledge of Procurement and quality management principles. The trainer will explain the specifications of the main components and measuring instruments to be used in a PV project and how to read the datasheet of materials.

• Trainee will better understand the standards for selection, choices, and financial implications in the procurement of solar system devices.
• Trainees will acquaint themselves with quality management principles and customer care relations.

Knowledge evaluation

Trainees will be examined in theoretical and practical skills

Component of Practical work (hands-on)

Course Content

How to use measuring instruments

This topic covers the skills on how to use measuring instruments. The trainer explains the specifications of measuring instruments and how to use them. After the explanation, the trainee will measure the parameters using the instruments individually and record the data on the datasheet

Measuring of an electrical circuit

This topic reviews the circuit laws and voltage drops learned in the basics of electricity. The trainees will calculate the values at the designated points by using circuit laws, and then trainees will measure the values at the same points to confirm if both values are the same.

Performance check of Charge Controller

This topic reviews the functions and operation conditions of the charge controller. Trainees are tooled to check the protection function of the charge controller by using test instruments. It is important to understand how switches change when the charge controller has reached a high voltage disconnect (HVD) or low voltage disconnect (LVD)