Some of us are not satisfied until we understand the math. An Introduction to Solar Energy Engineering is the free course for that mind. It runs about 4 to 5 hours at the advanced level, and it costs nothing, but it earns its advanced label: this is the physics and geometry behind how much power the sun actually delivers to a spot on your roof.
The course covers how solar radiation travels from the sun to the earth, the theories that describe it, and terms like diffusion, scattering, and black-body radiation. You learn the instruments that measure solar radiation, the geometry of how it strikes a surface, how to calculate a monthly average, and how to read a sun-path diagram. That last skill alone tells you where to point a panel and when a tree or roofline will steal your light.
Honest framing: this is genuinely technical, and it is not the place to begin. If solar is new to you, start with the beginner course on our Free Shelf and work up. But if you want to design a system from real numbers rather than rules of thumb, this is where that ability starts.
What you will learn
- How solar radiation reaches the earth and the theories behind it
- The instruments used to measure solar radiation
- Solar radiation geometry and monthly average calculations
- How to read and apply a sun-path diagram
What the course builds
- Follow the light: trace solar radiation from the sun to a surface on earth.
- Measure it: the instruments and terms that quantify the resource.
- Do the math: calculate monthly average radiation for a location.
- Place the panel: use sun-path diagrams to aim and plan for shade.
The lessons are free to finish. A certificate is available on completion that you can add to your resume or LinkedIn, and technical solar credentials carry real weight when you are chasing a job or a raise in renewable energy. Buying it is optional and never required to complete the course.
When you can calculate the resource instead of guessing at it, every later decision about panels and placement gets sharper. This course is where that precision begins.
Start the free course and earn your certificate
This course is part of our Free Shelf collection of free courses for preppers, in the Keep the Lights On track.
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