PV 101:
PV Technology and Opportunities:
A Qualitative Overview

Who the Course is for
Description
Lessons
What you will learn
Cost
Dates Offered
Duration
Format
Instructor
Alumni Comments
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Who the Course is for
This course is for a general audience, students, teachers, homeowners, job seekers, or environmentalists; whether you are exploring a new career, looking for employment or business opportunities; plan to build or remodel your home with solar energy; or just interested in what's new in the world of environmental energy. Start with this course if you are interested in taking other hands-on, how-to courses in photovoltaics.

Description
A qualitative, mostly non-technical, overview of PV Technology, it's applications, costs, benefits and opportunities for career & employment.

Learn how photovoltaic (PV) systems work and the many ways that people are using photovoltaic technology all over the world to power homes, businesses, ranches and communities. Find out what they cost and what the benefits are; to you and to the global environment.

Discover how you can tap financial incentives to put the sun to work for you and a cleaner future. Learn about business and career opportunities in the rapidly expanding field of solar energy.

Prerequisites:
No prior knowledge or skills in photovoltaics are required.

Lessons
Orientation
Lesson 1: Photovoltaic Technology Overview
Lesson 2: Photovoltaics Applications: Overview
Lesson 3: Solar Electricity: The Basics
Lesson 4: International Development Applications
Lesson 5: Residential Applications
Lesson 6: Commercial & Industrial PV Applications
Lesson 7: Agricultural PV Applications
Lesson 8: Institutional & Cultural PV Applications
Lesson 9: Building Integrated PV (BIPV)
Lesson 10: Utility Applications

What You will Learn
Upon Successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

1. List a minimum of 25 applications where Photovoltaics is the most favorable choice in energy technology today.

2. Describe how each of 7 types of photovoltaic systems function.

3. Estimate the cost and performance of 7 types of PV systems you might consider using.

4. Dispel 5 conventional wisdom "myths" about Photovoltaics today.

5. Critically evaluate the economics and environmental benefits of the 7 types of PV systems in #2 above.

6. Describe 6 types of employment or business opportunities in the field of photovoltaics.

7. List 5 types of financial incentives that could help you to get your electricity from the sun.


Cost
Tuition $150


How it Works
This is an On-Line course. Each student participates on his or her own time. You are encouraged to interact as much as possible with the Instructor and other students; an on-line message board is set up specifically for this course. Course materials include downloadable on-line publications, slide presentations, Internet links & Reference Library.

The on-line discussion group is where you can pose questions and receive answers from the instructor; make comments or share your knowledge and experience, and participate in an on-line discussion with other students regarding course content.


Instructor
Ken Olson has taught Photovoltaic Systems Design and Installation since 1985. He is a Certified Vocational Educator in the State of Colorado and has been teaching hands-on practical training in renewable and solar energy technologies full time since 1981. He is a Co-Founder of Solar Energy International (SEI) and served as it's Executive Director from inception in 1991 until September 1999.

He has also developed and taught Photovoltaic training courses for the World Health Organization and Pan American Health Organization since 1989. From 1981 until 1991 he developed and taught a vocational solar training program as a Professor and Industrial Trainer at the Colorado Mountain College in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

He holds a Masters Degree in Environmental Planning & Solar Technology from Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ: and a Bachelor of Science in Building Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY.


Duration
10 Lessons / 6 Weeks*
30 hours total estimated time
See the Course Calendar for Dates

* students are encouraged to complete the course within the designated time; but you can take up to a year if you need it, subject to the scheduled offerings of the course.

Alumni Comments
"Exceed expectations. It was far more robust (and time-consuming) than I had anticipated, for an "overview" type of course. Excellent overall. I have learned a lot about the industry, especially in areas I hadn't anticipated like Fed/state regs, and international rural applications. I am very excited about the renewable marketplace and especially Solar PV technology. Thanks, great course."
John Belknap, San Carlos, CA

"The course exceeded my expectations, by surprising me with my knowledge intake. There is so much to learn, and yet I feel I got a good jist of the PV world. This was my first on-line course and I feel excited that I can learn something on-line."
Scott Rhone, Mill Valley, CA

"This course exceeded my expectations. I had never taken an online course before, and I was very pleased on how it works. I found myself sometimes deciding to do some work on the class very late at night. I like being able to do what is needed to be done on my own schedule. I have benefitted in so many ways, I dont know where to begin. The biggest benefit is now that I have a fire lit beneath me, I am very excited about PV, and I plan to work the rest of my life in this area, perhaps starting a business of my own."
Thomas Vergow, Brooklyn, NY

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