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Hasan Kanjo

This focused course packs a powerful punch, equipping you with the essential SketchUp and PVsyst skills to design, analyze, and optimize solar PV systems. In a short time, you'll master 3D modeling, shading analysis, energy production prediction, and financial evaluation – everything needed to transform your solar visions into successful projects.

Who is this course for?

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This focused course packs a powerful punch, equipping you with the essential SketchUp and PVsyst skills to design, analyze, and optimize solar PV systems. In a short time, you'll master 3D modeling, shading analysis, energy production prediction, and financial evaluation – everything needed to transform your solar visions into successful projects.

Who is this course for?

  • Established Professionals: Seeking to refine your design capabilities, integrate industry-leading software, and stay ahead in the competitive solar landscape.

  • Aspiring Solar Enthusiasts: Eager to launch a career in renewable energy and gain hands-on experience with essential design and analysis tools.

  • DIY Enthusiasts: Looking to design and potentially install their own solar system with confidence and precision.

What will you gain from this course?

  • SketchUp Mastery: Harness the intuitive power of SketchUp to build accurate 3D models of sites and buildings, flawlessly position solar panels on diverse roof structures, and conduct critical shading analyses. Develop the skills to generate captivating visualizations that effectively communicate your vision to clients and stakeholders.

  • PVsyst Proficiency: Navigate the complexities of solar system performance with PVsyst. Master the art of energy production prediction, evaluate system efficiency, and conduct thorough financial analyses to ensure both technical and economic viability. Confidently consider factors such as shading, orientation, tilt, and component selection to create optimized systems that maximize energy yield.

  • Seamless Integration: Forge a seamless link between design and analysis. Learn to efficiently transfer data and models between SketchUp and PVsyst, ensuring accuracy and streamlining your workflow from concept to optimization.

  • Professional Documentation: Elevate your communication with comprehensive and polished project documentation. Generate detailed site plans, 3D visualizations, energy yield estimates, and financial analyses that impress clients and stakeholders alike.

  • Efficiency and Confidence: Equip yourself with the skills to swiftly conceptualize, design, and validate solar PV systems. Save valuable time and resources while ensuring your projects are optimized for performance and profitability.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Effective 3d solar system design in sketchup
  • Comprehensive solar system performance analysis in pvsyst
  • Seamless design workflow integrating sketchup and pvsyst
  • Professional project documentation and report production

Syllabus

Electrical shading & Other helpful Softwares
Electrical Shading
Shading Studies Website
Introduction
Read more
Introduction to the course
Site Analysis
Studying the site on google maps
Topography and Far Shading
Sketchup & PVSyst
First Simulation
Designing the warehouse using Sketchup
Inverters & Solar Panels
Irradiance Website & GHI
Final Simulation
Final Simulation & Project

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction to PVsyst & Sketchup Solar PV Simulation with these activities:
Review Basic Trigonometry
Reviewing trigonometry will help you understand the calculations behind solar panel angles and shading analysis.
Browse courses on Trigonometry
Show steps
  • Review trigonometric functions (sine, cosine, tangent).
  • Practice calculating angles and distances using trigonometry.
  • Understand how angles affect solar irradiance.
Follow SketchUp tutorials for architectural modeling
Following SketchUp tutorials will improve your 3D modeling skills, which are essential for creating accurate site models for solar PV design.
Show steps
  • Search for SketchUp tutorials on architectural modeling.
  • Practice modeling different building shapes and roof structures.
  • Experiment with adding details like windows and doors.
Read 'Understanding Photovoltaics' by Luis Castañer and Ignacio Pérez
Reading this book will provide a deeper understanding of the technology behind solar PV systems, supplementing the software-focused aspects of the course.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Understanding Photovoltaics'.
  • Read the chapters related to solar cell physics and system design.
  • Take notes on key concepts and formulas.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Read 'Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes' by John A. Duffie and William A. Beckman
Reading this book will provide a deeper understanding of the underlying principles of solar energy, which can enhance your ability to design and analyze PV systems.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes'.
  • Read the chapters related to solar radiation and heat transfer.
  • Take notes on key concepts and formulas.
Practice Shading Analysis in PVsyst
Practicing shading analysis in PVsyst will help you master the software's tools for evaluating the impact of shading on solar energy production.
Show steps
  • Create a sample PVsyst project with shading objects.
  • Run simulations with different shading scenarios.
  • Analyze the results and identify areas of improvement.
Create a Solar PV System Design Report
Creating a design report will allow you to synthesize your knowledge of SketchUp and PVsyst and demonstrate your ability to design and analyze a solar PV system.
Show steps
  • Design a solar PV system in SketchUp.
  • Simulate the system's performance in PVsyst.
  • Write a report summarizing the design, analysis, and results.
  • Include site plans, 3D visualizations, and energy yield estimates.
Contribute to an Open Source Solar Project
Contributing to an open-source solar project will provide hands-on experience and allow you to collaborate with other professionals in the field.
Show steps
  • Find an open-source solar project on platforms like GitHub.
  • Explore the project's codebase and documentation.
  • Contribute by fixing bugs, writing documentation, or adding new features.

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to PVsyst & Sketchup Solar PV Simulation will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Solar Designer
A solar designer crafts efficient and aesthetically pleasing solar energy systems. They assess sites, design layouts, and select components to maximize energy production. This course helps build a foundation by providing proficiency in SketchUp for 3D modeling and PVsyst for performance analysis. The course will also help you master shading analysis and optimize system efficiency. Solar designers will find the seamless integration of SketchUp and PVsyst taught in this course particularly beneficial for streamlining their workflow and ensuring accuracy from initial concept to final design.
PV System Engineer
A PV System Engineer designs, develops, and oversees the implementation of photovoltaic systems. This includes detailed engineering design, performance analysis, and troubleshooting. This course helps build a foundation for system performance analysis in PVsyst, which is invaluable for engineers optimizing system efficiency and energy yield. Further, mastering SketchUp enables them to create detailed 3D models for site analysis and shading studies. The course will teach you how to seamlessly transfer data between these programs.
Renewable Energy Consultant
Renewable energy consultants advise clients on adopting sustainable energy solutions. They evaluate energy needs, recommend systems, and assess financial viability. This course helps advance your skills in system design and performance analysis using industry leading software. By mastering energy production prediction and financial evaluation with PVsyst, taught in the course, you can provide clients with accurate and compelling assessments. The course’s focus on professional documentation also directly supports the consultant's need to communicate complex information clearly and effectively.
Energy Analyst
Energy analysts assess energy usage, identify areas for improvement, and recommend energy saving solutions. This course helps build a foundation for using PVsyst for conducting thorough financial analyses to ensure economic viability. The mastery of energy production prediction taught by the course helps you evaluate system efficiency. The course will also teach you how to consider critical factors such as shading, orientation, tilt, and component selection to create optimized systems that maximize energy yield.
Solar Project Manager
Solar project managers oversee the planning, execution, and completion of solar energy projects. This course helps refine skills in system design and performance analysis. The course will teach you how to use industry software; learning to use SketchUp and PVsyst allows project managers to ensure projects are optimized for performance and profitability. The focus on professional documentation allows you to communicate your project vision effectively with clients and stakeholders.
Solar Sales Representative
Solar sales representatives sell solar energy systems to residential and commercial customers. This course helps to enhance your ability to present compelling and accurate system designs to potential clients. The insights gained from SketchUp and PVsyst allow you to demonstrate the value and performance of solar solutions effectively. The ability to generate detailed site plans, 3D visualizations, energy yield estimates, and financial analyses will impress clients and stakeholders alike.
CAD Technician
CAD Technicians create technical drawings and models using computer aided design software. The course will teach you how to master SketchUp to build accurate 3D models. CAD technicians will find the course helpful for building accurate 3D models of sites and buildings, flawlessly positioning solar panels on diverse roof structures, and conducting critical shading analyses. You can also generate captivating visualizations to communicate your project vision to clients and stakeholders.
Energy Efficiency Specialist
Energy efficiency specialists identify and implement strategies to reduce energy consumption in buildings and industrial processes. This course may be useful for designing efficient solar PV systems that contribute to overall energy reduction strategies. Learning to maximize energy yield, evaluate system efficiency, and conduct thorough financial analyses will allow you to advise your clients on the cost effective use of energy. The course will help you learn how to use industry standard tools such as PVsyst.
Sustainability Manager
Sustainability managers develop and implement environmentally friendly practices within organizations. This course may be useful for enhancing their understanding of solar PV systems and their potential for reducing carbon footprints. Mastering SketchUp to build 3D models of sites and PVsyst to assess system performance will allow them to implement these systems in their organizations. The course's emphasis on professional documentation also aids in communicating the benefits of solar energy initiatives.
Electrical Engineer
Electrical engineers design, develop, and test electrical equipment and systems. This course may be useful for electrical engineers working on solar PV projects, where understanding system performance and optimizing energy yield is crucial. The learning objective of this course is comprehensive solar system performance analysis in PVsyst. The course may also be helpful for you to build skills in 3D design and system layout using SketchUp.
Construction Manager
Construction managers oversee building projects from start to finish, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget. This course may be useful for helping visualize and understand the integration of solar PV systems into building designs. Construction managers can use SketchUp to understand the 3D models of solar installations and use data generated via systems performance analysis to manage the projects. The ability to review detailed site plans and visualizations, as taught in this course, becomes a value driver.
Facilities Manager
Facilities managers oversee the maintenance and operations of buildings and grounds. This course may be useful for facilities managers considering or managing solar PV installations on their properties. This course may also be useful for helping them understand system performance, optimize energy use, and review professional project documentation. Facilities managers can use the skills taught in this course to make more informed decisions about system design, maintenance, and upgrades.
Urban Planner
Urban planners develop plans and programs for the use of land in urban areas. This course may be useful for you to understand the integration of solar energy into urban development projects. Learning the fundamentals of 3D design and site analysis, will allow you to factor in solar considerations when doing urban design. The course will help you learn how to use SketchUp to analyze solar exposure, plan solar PV systems, and ensure sustainable energy practices are integrated into urban planning projects.
HVAC Technician
HVAC Technicians install, maintain, and repair heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. This course may be useful for HVAC technicians who want to expand their skillset to include solar thermal systems. The course will provide understanding of the 3D design to help with the installation. Developing the skills to generate site plans and visualizations will allow you to communicate your vision to clients.
Data Analyst
Data analysts examine large datasets to draw conclusions and inform decision making. This course helps build a foundation of skills to analyze and improve data output. The course will teach you how to use industry software such as SketchUp and PVsyst. Taking this course will help data analysts interested in the renewable energy sector.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Introduction to PVsyst & Sketchup Solar PV Simulation.
Provides a comprehensive overview of photovoltaic technology, from basic principles to system design and applications. It valuable resource for understanding the underlying physics and engineering of solar PV systems. It is particularly helpful for understanding the performance characteristics of different solar panel technologies and how they affect energy production. This book is commonly used as a textbook in university courses on photovoltaics.
Classic text on solar energy engineering, covering the fundamentals of solar radiation, heat transfer, and solar thermal systems. While the course focuses on PV systems, understanding the principles of solar radiation and heat transfer is essential for optimizing system performance. This book provides a solid foundation in these areas. It is more valuable as additional reading than as a current reference.

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