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Fundamentals

Solar 101

Learn how solar energy systems work, from sunlight to the grid.

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About Solar 101

This course is the starting point for anyone new to solar. It covers how panels turn sunlight into electricity, what drives energy production, the main system components, how systems connect to the grid and how residential, commercial and utility-scale projects differ.

What You'll Learn

Understand the technology

Learn how solar cells, modules and arrays produce power.

See what drives production

Understand irradiance, sun path, azimuth, tilt and shading.

Know the components

Cover inverters, mounting, balance of system and storage.

Connect to the grid

Compare grid-tied, off-grid and hybrid systems and net metering.

Explore the Course Topics

25 lessons, grouped by topic. Open a topic to see its lessons.

01How solar works5 lessons
  1. Types of Solar Technology: PV vs Solar Thermal
  2. Solar Irradiance, Insolation & Peak Sun Hours
  3. How Solar Panels Work
  4. Solar Cells, Modules, and Arrays
  5. Solar PV Module Efficiency
02What drives production6 lessons
  1. What Determines Solar Energy Production?
  2. Sun Path
  3. Solar Azimuth
  4. Roof Pitch and Roof Angle (Degrees)
  5. Shading and Solar Access
  6. Fixed or Tracking Array
03System components7 lessons
  1. Series and Parallel Wiring
  2. Inverters: Converting DC to AC
  3. Balance-of-System Components
  4. Introduction to Energy Storage
  5. Solar Mounting Systems
  6. What Actually Decides the Mounting Decision
  7. Common Electrical Services
04Connecting to the grid4 lessons
  1. Grid-Tied vs Off-Grid vs Hybrid Systems
  2. Behind-the-Meter vs Front-of-Meter
  3. Net Metering Basics
  4. How a Solar System Connects to the Grid
05Markets and the project lifecycle3 lessons
  1. Residential, Commercial and Utility-Scale Solar
  2. Solar Project Lifecycle
  3. Who Builds a Solar Project?