Training Course in Solar Photovoltaic System Design and Engineering
1Summary
Solar capacity is being added to power grids faster than almost any other source, but a photovoltaic installation is only as good as the engineering behind it — panels sized wrong, inverters mismatched, or cable losses ignored can turn a promising project into an underperforming one. This Training Course in Solar Photovoltaic System Design and Engineering from the Arab British Fellowship Training Academy is built around that gap between installing solar panels and properly engineering a solar system.
Participants work through the full design cycle: reading solar radiation data, sizing components, calculating cable and voltage losses, and connecting systems safely to national grids, all in line with current international standards. The course also looks at where the technology is heading, from building-integrated photovoltaics to smarter storage and load management, so participants leave equipped for both today's projects and tomorrow's.
2Objectives and target group
Who Should Attend?
- Electrical and mechanical engineers working in renewable energy.
- Technicians and site supervisors on solar energy projects.
- Consultants and developers of sustainable energy projects.
- Project managers and professionals interested in solar power generation.
By the End of the Course, Participants Will Be Able To:
- Explain the operating principles of photovoltaic systems and their core components.
- Design photovoltaic systems that meet technical requirements and international standards.
- Calculate required power capacity and estimate system efficiency across different environments.
- Select and technically integrate appropriate system components, including batteries, cables and protection devices.
- Assess the economic and environmental feasibility of solar energy projects.
3Course Content
Module 1: Sizing a Solar System, From Energy Demand to System Type
- Determining the electrical load requirements for target consumers.
- Calculating the required system capacity and number of solar panels.
- Selecting the most suitable system type: grid-connected, off-grid, or hybrid.
- The photovoltaic conversion principle and fundamentals of generating electricity from sunlight.
Module 2: Site Conditions, Solar Radiation and Environmental Factors
- The concept and types of solar radiation: direct, diffuse and global.
- The impact of temperature, tilt angle and shading on system performance.
- Using solar radiation data to determine the optimal system location.
Module 3: Core Components of a Photovoltaic Installation
- Solar panels, types of photovoltaic cells, and their characteristics.
- Inverters and their role in power conversion.
- Mounting structures, cables and auxiliary system components.
- Battery capacity and types for off-grid systems, cable sizing, voltage-drop losses, and protection/control device specifications.
Module 4: Connecting to the Grid, Technical and Regulatory Requirements
- Technical requirements for interconnection with national power grids.
- Safety standards and power-quality requirements for grid-connected systems.
- Regulatory and legal considerations for grid-tied solar projects.
Module 5: Measuring and Sustaining System Performance
- Methods for calculating overall photovoltaic system efficiency.
- Analyzing factors that cause performance degradation.
- Specialized software tools for assessing system energy yield.
- Measurement systems, data logging, remote monitoring, and preventive maintenance strategies.
Module 6: Is It Worth It? Economic Feasibility of Solar Projects
- Estimating capital and operational costs.
- Calculating payback period and return on investment (ROI).
- Comparing conventional energy systems with solar energy solutions.
Module 7: What's Next in Photovoltaic System Design
- Recent advancements in solar cell technologies.
- Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV).
- Innovations in energy storage systems and smart load management.