For the prepper with serious off-grid ambitions, the Diploma in Solar Energy Engineering is the most complete free solar course on our shelf. It runs about 10 to 15 hours at the advanced level, costs nothing, and ends with a full diploma. This is the deep end, and it is meant to be.
The course carries you from solar radiation physics and measurement all the way through how photovoltaic cells are built, the principles of designing a system, and the real difference between stand-alone and grid-connected installations. It also teaches you to judge system performance, which is what separates a setup that limps along from one that carries your home.
No sugar-coating: this is a professional-grade, advanced diploma, and it is not a first course. Work up to it through the beginner and intermediate solar courses on our Free Shelf if the terms above are unfamiliar. But if your goal is a true stand-alone system, or a credential for a renewable-energy career, this is the one that takes you the whole way.
What you will learn
- Solar radiation physics, measurement, and sun-path calculations
- How photovoltaic cells are constructed
- The principles of designing a solar system
- Stand-alone versus grid-connected installations and how to judge performance
What the diploma covers
- Master the resource: radiation geometry, measurement, and average calculations.
- Build the cell: how photovoltaic cells are manufactured and why it matters.
- Design the system: the principles behind a sound photovoltaic design.
- Choose your setup: stand-alone versus grid-connected, and how to assess performance.
The lessons are free to finish. When you complete the course, a diploma is available that you can add to your resume or LinkedIn, and an engineering-level credential can help you land a job or make the case for a raise in a growing field. Buying it is optional and never required to complete the course.
A home that runs on the sun, on your own design, is about as self-reliant as power gets. This diploma is the road there, start to finish.
Start the free course and work toward your diploma
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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