Why Study/Key Benefits

• Develop specialist skills in designing, installing, commissioning and maintaining grid-connected photovoltaic (solar power) systems.

• Learn to identify and troubleshoot faults in existing solar installations.

• Understand the operating principles and electrical safety requirements of grid-connected solar systems.

• Gain practical training relevant to residential and larger commercial solar applications.

• The course is endorsed by the Sustainable Energy Association of New Zealand (SEANZ).

• It can contribute towards the knowledge and training requirements for the Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB) Mains Parallel Generation Systems endorsement, alongside the relevant battery-storage training and other applicable requirements. Completion alone does not automatically grant an EWRB endorsement.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The course combines online theory and practical training. NZQA identifies the following subject content:

• Workplace health and safety.

• DC electricity.

• Solar radiation.

• Understanding photovoltaics and solar cells.

• Connecting solar systems to the grid and AC electricity.

• PV modules and inverters.

• Solar mounting systems.

• Balance-of-system equipment.

• Energy assessment and site assessment.

• Matching solar arrays and inverters.

• System protection.

• Cable design.

• System efficiency and energy yield.

• Solar-system installation.

• System commissioning.

• System maintenance and troubleshooting.

• Economics of grid-connected PV systems.

• Commercial and utility-scale PV systems.

• Industry case studies.

Disciplines/Specialisations

The micro-credential focuses on:

• Solar photovoltaic (PV) system design.

• Grid-connected solar installations.

• Electrical safety and compliance.

• Solar inverter and PV module systems.

• Solar-system installation and commissioning.

• Solar-system maintenance and fault diagnosis.

• Commercial and utility-scale solar applications.

Programme Highlights

• NZQA-registered Level 4 micro-credential carrying 10 credits.

• SEANZ-endorsed solar training.

• 96 hours of flexible online learning with tutor support.

• Three-day practical workshop at WITT in New Plymouth.

• Training delivered by industry presenter Tim Francis.

• Designed for electrical workers seeking to develop solar-energy expertise.

• Completion can contribute to the training pathway for EWRB Mains Parallel Generation Systems endorsement.

• It is a prerequisite for WITT's Grid-connected Battery Storage Systems, Design and Install micro-credential and for further advanced solar-system training.

Career Outcomes

NZQA identifies potential employment pathways in sustainable businesses and renewable-energy projects that require registered electricians with, or working towards, the EWRB Mains Parallel Generation Systems endorsement.

Relevant professional areas include:

• Solar PV installation.

• Grid-connected photovoltaic system design.

• Solar-system commissioning.

• Solar electrical maintenance.

• Solar-system fault diagnosis and troubleshooting.

• Renewable-energy projects for residential and commercial clients.

• Electrical engineering and inspection work involving grid-connected solar systems.

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

• WITT's current page lists course dates through 24 November 2027.

• The programme is part of NZIHT's solar-energy training offering at WITT.

• WITT states that minimum enrolment numbers apply before a course is confirmed.

• Applicants must be registered electrical workers and hold a current practising licence.

• WITT identifies this course as a prerequisite for its Grid-connected Battery Storage Systems, Design and Install micro-credential.

• Completing this course and the relevant battery-storage micro-credential can contribute to meeting the EWRB's training and knowledge requirements for the Mains Parallel Generation Systems endorsement. Applicants should check the EWRB's current registration and endorsement requirements.

• WITT's cancellation policy states that withdrawals made more than 15 working days after online login details have been issued may incur the full course fee, including the textbook fee. A transfer to another practical-course date, including where online modules have not been completed and WITT must transfer the participant, may incur an additional NZD 300. Non-attendance is charged at the full course fee.

International Student Visa Requirements

This is a three-day course, so the visa route is different from that for a full-time, multi-year qualification.

• Immigration New Zealand states that people holding a visitor visa or an NZeTA (where eligible) can study for up to three months in a 12-month period.

• A student visa is generally required when a person intends to study in New Zealand for more than three months.

• The appropriate visitor visa or travel authorisation depends on the applicant's passport and circumstances.

• Indian passport holders generally need to obtain an appropriate New Zealand visitor visa before travelling; they should not assume that an NZeTA is available to them.

• A visitor visa does not permit employment in New Zealand.

• Applicants must satisfy the applicable visitor-visa requirements, including genuine visitor intentions, sufficient funds or an acceptable sponsor, and onward-travel arrangements where required.

• The course is only three days, but applicants should obtain confirmation from WITT about the enrolment documentation it can provide and confirm the correct visa route with Immigration New Zealand before booking travel.