Lithium ion batteries are becoming an increasingly common place energy storage device for both on-grid and off-grid applications from residential to utility scale sites. This online two-part webinar is aimed at educating those with PV designers and installers about the fundamentals of lithium ion batteries. This webinar provides a structured approach to understanding the fundamentals of lithium ion batteries including construction of the battery cells, battery chemistry, common battery electrolytes and their associated risks, failure mechanisms, and safety requirements.
This short course consists of two videos that are 17 minutes in total, followed by a 10 question quiz per video. Successful completion of the quiz will provide the participant with a GSES certificate of completion, which can be submitted to the Clean Energy Council to earn CEC accredited designers and installers.
Solar Battery System Fundamentals is an online course that provides a comprehensive introduction to grid-connected battery energy systems and how they can work in conjunction with a PV system. It is a technical course that introduces key concepts regarding the technologies used, the basics of sizing a battery and the operational life of a battery system. It will also cover some typical functions of a battery system such as providing backup during grid outages and off-setting peak loads.
The Solar Power System Fundamentals online course is a comprehensive introduction to grid-connect solar photovoltaic (PV) electric systems for homeowners, trades people and anyone wishing to gain a sound fundamental understanding of PV systems. This course provides a structured approach to studying the essentials of solar PV systems.
The course is presented in topics starting with how solar systems work, progressing on to the design, costs and installation of a solar system, and finally discussing post-installation safety, operation and maintenance.
With Australia in the midst of a large scale solar boom, utility scale PV systems (rated larger than 5 MW) are increasingly coming online. The Utility Scale Solar online course is a comprehensive introduction for those with Grid-Connected PV experience wishing to expand their knowledge into large scale systems. The course is meant to provide an industry perspective of all aspects of a utility scale solar process from feasibility studies to commissioning to end of life considerations.
Operating and maintaining a PV system requires balancing of processes such as planning, timing and executing works, as well as scheduling production to increase its lifespan, energy production and safety whilst decreasing the amount of downtime and unexpected system costs. The Operation and Maintenance of PV Systems (O&M) online course provides a comprehensive introduction for those with Grid-Connected PV experience wishing to expand their knowledge into the specific maintenance requirements and operational considerations of commercial and industrial (C&I) PV systems.
Solar power systems are complex installations which include several components and a range of procedures. Focusing on safety through education, GSES has created the Solar Awareness for Tradespeople online short course. This interactive course is aimed at educating those with little to no solar experience on how to work safely on sites with a solar power system. Upon completion of the course students will learn the key hazards tradespeople may come across.
For more in-depth reading material on safety around installed solar power, students can also download a PDF copy of the Solar Awareness for Tradespeople informational report.
Virtual power plants, or VPPs, are an emerging technology that has the potential to facilitate the shift from centralised to decentralised energy, provide additional income for battery system owners and provide network stability and system balancing support. This online three-part webinar is aimed at anyone interested in joining a virtual power plant, or who is just excited to learn more about how the technology works. Upon completion of the webinar, you will gain an understanding of the fundamentals of VPPs, the value proposition to participants, how to compare offerings from different VPP operators and the challenges moving forward for the VPP industry.
This webinar consists of three videos that are 15 minutes in total, with a short quiz after each video. Successful completion of the quizzes will provide the participant with a GSES certificate of completion.
Tiny Homes & Sustainable Living is a 4 hour course that will give you essential knowledge of how to design and build a tiny home. The course content includes:
The benefits of living in a tiny home
Design considerations including location, budget, transporting and regulation requirements
How to access utilities and services
Construction materials and key factors to consider for each component
Advice for transitioning to a tiny home
Is this course for you?
This course is for anyone that wants to learn the fundamentals of tiny homes and sustainable living. In particular, those who are exploring the notion of building or living in a tiny home, whether in a DIY setting or by a professional, will gain invaluable knowledge from this course.
Solar Hot Water Systems is a 3 hour course that will give you essential knowledge of how solar hot water systems work, and why they are considered an efficient renewable energy technology. The course content includes:
Detailed material on the established solar hot water systems
Design, installation and maintenance considerations
Basic calculations for system and main components sizing
Overview of commercial and large-scale technology as well as innovative technologies.
Is this course for you?
This course is for any person that wants to get familiar with solar water heating technologies. Tradespeople, homeowners, architects and engineers in the energy efficiency or construction industry are encouraged to take the course.
This course is designed for those curious and those involved with the development and construction of single axis trackers. You may be looking to expand your knowledge or looking for work on a solar tracker project, whether on the development or construction side.
It starts with an introduction to the technology & terminology and applications. We will take a brief look at market leading tracker designs before learning about project risks, and why some developers have struggled with trackers. Next, we will learn some construction best practices to mitigate project risks.This includes a look at two real-world case studies and covers extreme weather mitigation, construction process and delay sources. Finally, we will learn how bifacial PV modules apply to trackers, and promising tracker technologies that are emerging on the market.
The Introduction to PVSyst: Grid-Connected PV Systems is an online video-based course that provides a comprehensive introduction to designing and simulating different types of grid connected PV systems in PVSyst. It also provides an overview into modelling energy yield, defining system losses, as well as performing economic and greenhouse gas analysis on a PV system.
At the end of the course, there is also a simulation-based assessment in response to a design scenario where you can apply the knowledge that you have learnt throughout the course.
The course is particularly relevant for those with Grid-Connected PV design experience wishing to expand their knowledge into software based system design and energy modelling.
Designed for sales people transitioning their career into the solar sector, Solar Sales Essentials is the first step. While many other industries may fluctuate in reliability, solar power is a growth industry world-wide. This 2-hour course is globally focused, and limited to rooftop residential and commercial solar applications. Fast-track your new career with essential knowledge of solar systems and equipment, site assessment, energy efficiency, customer interaction, lead generation, quotes and software applications covered.
Power Cable Selection for PV Systems is an online technical course that explores selecting power cables based on the Australian Standard, AS/NZS 3008.
In this course, learners will be taken though each step of the cable selection process as outlined in AS/NZS 3008, with a strong focus on compliance, performance and design best practices to ensure a smooth transition from the design to installation phase of a project. Different sizing and selection methods for DC, single phase AC and three phase AC cables are included. The course content includes:
Basic principles of cable selection
Sizing based on current carrying capacity
Sizing based on voltage rise and drop
Sizing based on short circuit temperature limit
Economic considerations
Using software
Is this course for you?
This course was designed primarily with commercial and industrial (C&I) systems in mind. If you are looking to enter the solar C&I industry, this will be the perfect course for you to perfect your cable selection skills. The same fundamental skills can be applied to all levels and sizes of PV systems so consider enrolling in this course if you want to gain a more in-depth understanding of the cable selection process.
SketchUp for solar PV systems is a complete course for you to create professional 3D models and 2D drawings in one day!
SketchUp by Trimble is arguably the most widely used computer aided design software in the world today. It’s offered in free and paid versions, and allows users to draw and design in 3D.
This course provides step-by-step video instruction for drafting a commercial solar PV system in SketchUp. View the project you will complete in the video below:
Use Sketchup tools to create a realistic view of existing buildings including all features of the roof.
Correctly place PV modules on the roof.
Perform Shading analysis to optimise your system design.
Create AC and DC SLDs to include in your reports.
Create professional site plans and string layouts.
Use the flyover video tool to impress your clients.
Export your SketchUp data to use in AutoCAD and PVsyst.
You will also have a quiz at the end of each chapter to assess your knowledge.
Is this course for you?
This course is ideal for students with prior solar design knowledge moving beyond residential solar designs. This course won’t teach you how to design solar PV systems.
This course uses SketchUp Pro which can be downloaded for a free 30 day trial or purchased here. It is possible to complete this course without a SketchUp licence. However, we highly recommend that students have access to the SketchUp Pro or Studio full licence or trial version.
Fault currents can occur in grid-connected PV systems. They have the potential of causing significant damage to electrical system and are hazardous to life. As you move into commercial and industrial scale sites that have higher PV system power ratings, fault currents require more attention when developing the system.
As a result, Distribution Network Service Providers (or DNSPs) require short circuit studies to determine the significance of installing a PV system in their network.
This course will cover various topics including:
Fundamentals of fault currents
Fundamentals of protection devices and equipment
DNSP requirements
Calculating short circuit currents
Using software to analyse the fault current produced by a PV system on an existing network
Is this course for you?
This course was designed primarily with commercial and industrial (C&I) systems in mind. If you are looking to enter the solar C&I industry, this will be the perfect course for you to get an introduction to fault current analysis.
Structural Certifications for Commercial Solar gives students the fundamental knowledge of both building and PV mounting system structural certifications in a convenient online short course.
Course Content:
Fundamentals of a building structure, including the effects of installing a PV system on the rooftop
An overview of AS/NZS 1170.2
Fundamentals and the process of undertaking a structural certification of a commercial building
Fundamentals of mounting system certifications
Background:
Most commercial buildings are not specifically designed to account for a PV system when they are built. It is the system designer’s responsibility to ensure that the building is capable for withstanding the additional load without affecting its structural integrity.
Attaining a structural certification for the commercial building and mounting structure has a direct influence on multiple aspects of a PV system. From ensuring compliance with AS/NZS 5033 and AS/NZS 1170.2, all the way to minimising liability and financial risks for stakeholders.
Is this course for you?
This course is for any person who wants to increase their familiarity of structural certification of mounting systems and commercial buildings in association with a PV system. Council and government professionals, sales people, engineers and installers are all encouraged to take this course.
The GSES Rapid Solar Systems online course will get you up to speed in the latest disruptive technologies that are changing the way commercial and utility scale power plants are built. Only 4 short videos and quizzes will have you become an expert in rapid solar systems in less than an hour!
You will learn:
The problems in traditional solar systems that led to rapid solar designs
Essential understanding of 4 separate systems
How rapid solar systems compare to traditional solar
The course features essential learning for these technologies:
This interactive video-based online course provides a structured approach to understanding the communications, monitoring and control systems used in electrical energy systems. By the end of the course you should be able to:
Understand communications, monitoring and control requirements for PV systems
Understand common communication, monitoring and control protocols and technologies
Interpret network architecture diagrams
Troubleshoot common errors, such as CTs installed the wrong way around
The course is particularly relevant for those with PV experience wishing to expand their knowledge into understanding how system control and monitoring works within an energy system.
This interactive video-based online course provides a structured approach to understanding the communications, monitoring and control systems used in electrical energy systems. By the end of the course you should be able to:
Understand communications, monitoring and control requirements for PV systems
Understand common communication, monitoring and control protocols and technologies
Interpret network architecture diagrams
Troubleshoot common errors, such as CTs installed the wrong way around
The course is particularly relevant for those with PV experience wishing to expand their knowledge into understanding how system control and monitoring works within an energy system.
This interactive video-based online course provides a structured approach to understanding the key changes in the AS/NZS 5033:2021 standard. By the end of the course you should be able to:
Understand the key changes to regulations and safety requirements and how they impact designs and installations
Perform calculations using the new standard
Define the key differences between the new and old standard
Identify the changes in safety requirements such as new signage and documentation
