Solar Energy Academy Professional Certificate In Technology Applications and Policy

Generating clean renewable energy from sunlight using solar cells is called photovoltaics (PV). The rapid decrease in their cost and increase in their availability, reliability and efficiency has led to their being widely deployed worldwide in many different applications ranging from a few modules on the roof of a rural off-grid health clinic to tens of thousands of modules in covering square miles providing utility-scale power. PV is providing carbon-free electricity to those who never had reliable electricity before. It is also disrupting the decades old utility paradigm in countries with a mature grid infrastructure by providing new business models and services at the edge between the grid and users. There is tremendous interest from investors in all aspects of the solar supply chain.  Given this rapid growth, there is also a widening gap between the demand and availability of trained solar professionals at all levels. This program will offer five modules spanning a wide range of solar PV topics: 1. Solar cell performance and energy conversion; 2. Manufacturing and Reliability; 3. Off-grid and on-grid PV system design and applications; 4. Grid modernization and the goal of 100% renewable energy; and 5. Policy, economics, life-cycle assessment and recycling. 

*This is a non-credit certificate.