RSS

Photovoltaics workshop to be held at Northland

April 3, 2009

The Northland College Ed-venture Program will be organizing two workshops for those interested in understanding the various aspects of photovoltaic (PV) arrays and how to assess the appropriateness of a site for PV  installation. The “Basic Photovoltaics” workshop will be held Saturday, May 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the “Photovoltaics Site Assessor Training” well take place the following Saturday, May 9, at the same time. Anyone interested in the second course is encouraged to consider taking the first as well. The courses will be taught through the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) by Kurt Nelson, a certified instructor who specializes in home-sized PV and solar hot water systems. Registration costs $85 for “Basic Photovoltaics,” and $95 for the assessor training course. Scholarships may be available to those travelling to the courses. Anyone curious about the courses should call Greg Weiss at (715) 682-1344, email edventure@northland.edu or visit www.northland.edu/edventure for more information.

In “Basic Photovoltaics,” students will gain a basic understanding of how PV works, and will learn how to identify the four PV system types, describe and identify components, understand the best application and limitations of each system type, define the solar window, understand energy efficiency and load estimates, identify PV mounting types and understand the basics of site assessment tools.

The second workshop assumes an understanding of the concepts in the previous workshop, and trains students to assess the quality of a site for PV. Class content will cover how to: use site assessment tools, size a PV system, recommend a PV system type to meet a home or business owner’s goals, identify and recommend steps for energy efficiency, perform a load analysis, identify and recommend array placement options, quantify a solar resources, provide a general cost estimate, write a PV site assessment, use web based performance calculators, and provide installer and equipment vendor information. This course offers the opportunity to become a MREA Certified PV Assessor with the addition of two practice assessments, a written exam, and a certification fee.

Kurt Nelson, the instructor for both courses, has over 12 years experience in renewable energy systems education and installation and is a founding member of the MREA. The MREA is a nonprofit association advocating use of renewable energies. Their certification programs have set a standard for comprehension and quality among PV specialists, which encourages wider use of the growing technology.