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Understanding Solar Photovoltaic System Performance

COURSE NO: R02-018
PDH CREDIT: 2
COURSE PROVIDER: Elie Tawil, P.E., LEED AP
Understanding Solar Photovoltaic System Performance
Course Highlights

This online engineering PDH course presents a performance analysis of 75 solar photovoltaic (PV) systems installed at federal sites, conducted by the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) with support from National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

 

System data is analyzed for key performance indicators including availability, performance ratio, and energy ratio by comparing the measured production data to modeled production data. The analysis utilizes the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s System Advisor Model (SAM), which combines a description of the system (such as inverter capacity, temperature derating, and balance-of-system efficiency) with environmental parameters (coincident solar and temperature data) to calculate predicted performance.

 

The measured performance metrics are useful in that they provide realistic expectations of performance, and owners of existing systems may compare their own measured performance values to the average and focus on corrective actions.

 

This 2 PDH online course is applicable to mechanical and electrical engineers and energy specialists who are interested in learning more about the performance of solar photovoltaic systems.
Learning Objectives

This PE continuing education course is intended to provide you with the following specific knowledge and skills:

  • Familiarizing with the key performance indicators of PV systems
  • Understanding the research methodology of the proposed study
  • Analyzing a statistical summary of key performance indicators across a sample of PV systems and drawing conclusions
  • Gaining an overview of the future steps and resources for agencies interested in improving photovoltaic system performance
Course Document
In this professional engineering CEU course, you need to review the course document titled, “Understanding Solar Photovoltaic System Performance”, which is based on the DOE document “Understanding Solar Photovoltaic System Performance: An Assessment of 75 Federal Photovoltaic Systems”, Publication No. DOE/GO-102021-5627, dated December 2021.
To view, print and study the course document, please click on the following link(s):
UNDERSTANDING SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM PERFORMANCE (1.5 MB)
Course Quiz
Once you complete your course review, you need to take a multiple-choice quiz consisting of ten (10) questions to earn 2 PDH credits. The quiz will be based on the entire document.
The minimum passing score is 70%. There is no time limit on the quiz, and you can take it multiple times until you pass at no additional cost.
Certificate of Completion

Upon successful completion of the quiz, print your Certificate of Completion instantly. (Note: if you are paying by check or money order, you will be able to print it after we receive your payment.) For your convenience, we will also email it to you. Please note that you can log in to your account at any time to access and print your Certificate of Completion.

To buy the course and take the quiz, please click on: