
PV305: Advanced Photovoltaic System and Microgrid Design
PV305: Advanced Photovoltaic System and Microgrid Design
This course provides an integrative understanding of PV systems, energy storage, and microgrids with technical and economic considerations.
Program Information
Dates:
Five weeks starting on May 2021, this interactive on-line course will be a combination of live sessions and pre-recorded material over the following period:
May 11 to June 12
10 part days consisting of the following:
Tuesday evenings (May 11, 18, 25, June 1, 8): 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Saturday mornings (May 15, 22, 29, June 5, 12): 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Location:
This year, the course will be held live digitally, and you will have plenty of opportunities for interaction. Course materials will be available via a Learning Management System.
Required Hardware:
Students should bring their own laptop running Windows 7, 8, or 10 or a Macintosh laptop with at least 10 MB of free storage to allow for course material and simulation reports.
Registrants Withdraw Penalty Fee:
Registrants may withdraw from the course up to 2 weeks in advance with no penalty. After that a 15% fee is applied for withdrawing. Companies may substitute a student for a currently registered student up to 2 weeks in advance with no penalty. After that a 15% fee is applied for withdrawing.
Program Overview
This course provides an integrative understanding of PV systems, energy storage, and microgrids with technical and economic considerations.
In-depth coverage of the National Electrical Code (NEC 2017 and NEC 2020) will help those seeking work as a PV professional whether it be in design, sales, or business development. In addition to energy generation, loads will be examined particularly in the context of microgrids. Some sustainable building practices will be explored to better understand how dealing with load consumption works hand-in-hand with generation.
Lessons dive into best practices for site preplanning, technology system components, system sizing, mechanical integration, electrical integration, utility connection, inspection and commissioning, operations/maintenance/troubleshooting, medium-voltage interconnection issues, and economic analysis.
The course covers grid-interactive, standalone, and hybrid systems.
NEC requirements for design and installation are highlighted including overcurrent protection, disconnects, labeling, conduit, and conduit sizing. Special focus is given on proper plan sets including one-line electrical diagrams. The course will employ spreadsheets, modeling tools, and contemporary simulation software (e.g. Helioscope, PVsyst, System Advisor Model, HOMER Grid, Retscreen) to allow for practical design. Some hands-on experience with high-end tools such as the PV Analyzer will be given.
The course provides the 40 hours for NABCEP’s PV Installation Professional accreditation as required from an accredited institution and is offered either on-premises at the Georgia Institute of Technology or via an established learning management system (LMS) platform. A certificate from Georgia Tech will be issued.
An optional 6th day of training is offered to explicitly review exam preparation material for the NABCEP PV Installation Professional course
Objectives
Objectives
-
Understand the complete life-cycle of a PV system from analysis to design to operations and maintenance.
-
Understand design topologies.
-
Understand trade-offs and “inflection-points” for making decisions for such systems.
-
Specify the appropriate inverter and interconnection topology to and from the inverter
-
Analyze array mounting options in addition to other mechanical considerations.
-
Understand the NEC 2017/2020 code requirements including updates to NEC 2020.
-
Perform system and string sizing
-
Perform calculations for conductor and conduit sizing
-
Understand PV source circuits and the required overcurrent protection required at every step of the PV system
-
Identify potential problems and how to diagnose and take corrective actions.
-
Learn to read and evaluate project set plans.
-
Learn to use available tools for the design of such systems.
-
Provide guidance and practice questions for the NABCEP PV Professional exam.
-
Meet the required Job Task Analysis areas.
Course Outline
Fundamentals of photovoltaic systems
Typical photovoltaic applications
Principles of electrical systems
PV definitions
PV system configurations
Basic components of a photovoltaic system
The solar resource
Site Surveys and Preplanning
Managing the Project
Design of PV systems
System components
Design fundamentals
Decision matrix for system design
Principles of system sizing: methodologies and calculations
Energy Storage Systems (ESS)
Lithium, lead-acid, flow, and other technology fundamentals.
DC-coupled vs AC-coupled; modes of operation.
System-sizing
Design considerations for large-scale ESS.
Modeling ESS with SAM and HOMER.
Microgrids
Design, modeling, and economic practicalities. HOMER and other tools will be used.
Control topologies.
A complete microgrid system integrated with PV and ESS will be analyzed.
Mechanical Integration
Mechanical Considerations
Array mounting systems
Mechanical integration
Electrical Integration and NEC code compliance
National Electrical Code 2017
• PV Article 690
• NEC and OSHA requirements for battery installation and safety
• Overcurrent protection (OCPD) requirements
• Grounding requirements
• Labeling requirements
PV Design Plans
Effective design plan creation and tying concepts together
Lessons from the field
Troubleshooting and testing/diagnostics
How to diagnose and ensure the proper system operation
Commissioning and maintenance
Monitoring and O&M requirements
Questions?
Contact Us