With climate change being a huge environmental issue worldwide, clean energy to power communities is needed. Solar can help lower our carbon footprint and can make a huge contribution to the environment's health.

 

It is essential that electrical workers involved with these systems fully understand their operating theory and safety requirements in order to both design and install safe and effective systems as well as fault-find and maintain existing systems.

 

This is a pre-requisite course for other advanced courses for those wanting to insall battery-backup (on grid) or complete standalone (off-grid) systems.

 

Course structure

The delivery of this course is designed for busy tradespeople who do not have the time to attend lengthy face-to-face courses. The online component is fully flexible to allow students to complete the theory in their own time.

 

Pre-course learning: Online self-directed learning at your own pace, with tutor support (96 hours)

 

Three day course at WITT’s Infrastructure Training Park, New Plymouth (24 hrs)

 

With successful completion of the course, the applicant achieves the following NZQA framework registered micro-credential: Grid-Connected PV Systems: Design & Installation

 

What you will learn

At the end of this course, participants will know:

• Assess a site’s suitability for a Grid-Connected PV system and calculate an estimated energy yield for the client.

• Assess a client’s energy consumption, create a load vs PV profile and recommend options to improve self-consumption of PV energy.

• Select appropriate components and assess their suitability.

• Design and Install a Grid-Connected PV system.

• Commission and Fault-Find Grid-Connected PV systems.

 

Topics include

• Solar Geometry

• Photovoltaic modules

• Grid-Connected Inverters

• Mounting Systems

• Balance of System components

• Site suitability and Load assessment

• System Design and Yield calculations

• Regulations, Standards – in particular AS/NZS5033 and AS/NZS4777.1 and examples of lines company connection requirements in New Zealand

• Installation, testing, commissioning and fault-finding of GCPV systems

• Hazards associated with photovoltaic modules and GCPV systems.

• Energy consumption assessment and optimisation strategies.

• Additional grid protection requirements for larger systems.