EdX

Solar Energy: Photovoltaic (PV) Systems (edX)

Offered by Delft University of Technology, DelftX,

Explore the wide range of solar energy applications and learn to design a real PV installation with excellent performance and reliability. In this course you will learn how to turn solar cells into full modules; and how to apply full modules to full photovoltaic systems.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see EdX's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

The course will cover design of photovoltaic systems, such as utility scale solar farms or residential scale systems (on/off the grid). You will learn about the function and operation of various components including inverters, batteries, DC-DC converters and the grid. After learning about the components, you will gain an understanding of the main design decisions to be taken when planning a real PV installation with excellent performance and reliability.
Finally, you will practice modelling the performance of a PV system for different solar energy applications, and estimating the energy production of a client's potential system.
This course is part of the Solar Energy Engineering MicroMasters Program designed to cover all physics and engineering aspects of photovoltaics: photovoltaic energy conversion, technologies and systems.

What you'll learn

The effects of the position of the sun and solar irradiance on PV module performance
Components of a PV-system: PV modules, inverters, DC-DC converters, batteries, charge controllers and cables
How to design a PV-system ranging from a residential rooftop system to a utility scale solar farm
The economics and ecology of PV-systems

Prerequisites
-Bachelor’s degree in Science or Engineering and/or the successful completion of Solar Energy: Photovoltaic (PV) Energy Conversion and Solar Energy: Photovoltaic (PV) Technologies (or firm grasp of their content).

Go to Class

MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Solar Resource Assessment in Desert Climates (edX)

EdX

Hamad Bin Khalifa University - HBKU,HBKUx

Solar Resource Assessment in Desert Climates (edX)

Sci: Energy & Earth Sciences

Learn how to use the components of solar radiation, solar spectrum, forecasting and meteorology to advocate and plan for deploying PV in desert climates. Desert regions may seem optimal for solar energy and the deployment of photovoltaic (PV) applications. However, the heat and dust experienced in the region poses a challenge for the optimal performance of PV modules and reliability of the applications.

Self Paced

Self-Paced

Solar Energy Forecasting Photovoltaic Technologies

Using Photovoltaic (PV) Technology in Desert Climates (edX)

EdX

Hamad Bin Khalifa University - HBKU,HBKUx

Using Photovoltaic (PV) Technology in Desert Climates (edX)

Engineering Sci: Energy & Earth Sciences

Learn how to mitigate the challenges related to PV technology and enhance the performance of solar cells and PV modules in desert climates. The high insolation in desert regions can result in a lower cost of solar energy. While this may be a key motivation to deploying PV in desert climates, there are also several challenges related to the technology that must be considered.

Self Paced

Self-Paced

Energy Solar Energy Solar Cells

Coursera

École Polytechnique

Silicon Thin Film Solar Cells (Coursera)

Engineering

This course consists of a general presentation of solar cells based on silicon thin films. It is the third MOOC of the photovoltaic series of Ecole polytechnique on Coursera. The general aspects of the photovoltaic field are treated in "Photovoltaic Solar Energy". And the detailed description of the crystalline silicon solar cells can be found in "Physics of Silicon Solar Cells".

Aug 10th 2026

3 Weeks

Sustainability Solar Energy Solar Cells

Coursera

École Polytechnique

Outsmarting intermittency (Coursera)

Engineering Sci: Physics

Solar and wind offer clean and renewable ways to produce large amounts of electricity. They have boomed over the last few years, evolving from an eco-daydream to a major market and showing unprecedented growth rates. Yet, installing solar panels and wind turbines is by no means the end of the story. The electrical grid, which connects production means to the end-users’ sockets, is not a simple electron pipe. It is the beating heart of our electricity system and ensures its stability. Solar and wind raise specific challenges for the grid, and these challenges will have to be tackled if we want to deploy larger amounts of renewable sources.

Aug 3rd 2026

4 Weeks

Electricity Renewable Energy Solar Energy

FutureLearn

Grenoble Ecole de Management

New Energy Technologies: Energy Transition and Sustainable Development (FutureLearn)

Management & Leadership Sci: Energy & Earth Sciences

Explore the development of new energy technologies and discover key energy challenges with this online course. In a world facing pressing energy challenges, the need for alternative energy and new energy technologies has never been more pressing. This course explores the new and upcoming technologies that may help solve some of the world’s biggest energy challenges - examining them from both a business and technological perspective.

Self Paced

4 Weeks

Energy Solar Energy Sustainable Development

EdX

Tecnológico de Monterrey,TecdeMonterreyX

Smart grid: fundamentos técnicos (edX)

Engineering Science

Aprende los fundamentos técnicos de una smart grid; la configuración de las capas inferiores y la forma en que se interconectan los dispositivos, casas y edificios inteligentes (internet of things) a la red inteligente de manera general. El conocimiento de los fundamentos técnicos de las smart grid o de las redes inteligentes son una necesidad actual para quienes buscan comprender las evoluciones energéticas globales.

Self Paced

Self-Paced

Solar Energy Smart Grids Wind Energy

Sustainable Energy: Design a Renewable Future (edX)

EdX

Delft University of Technology,DelftX

Sustainable Energy: Design a Renewable Future (edX)

Engineering Sci: Energy & Earth Sciences

Learn how to make the transition to 100% renewable energy from wind, solar and biomass for electricity, heat and fuels for a sustainable future. A transition to sustainable energy is needed for our climate and welfare. In this engineering course, you will learn how to assess the potential for energy reduction and the potential of renewable energy sources like wind, solar and biomass. You’ll learn how to integrate these sources in an energy system, like an electricity network and take an engineering approach to look for solutions and design a 100% sustainable energy system.

Self Paced

Self-Paced

Solar Wind Renewable Energy

Solar Energy: Photovoltaic (PV) Energy Conversion (edX)

EdX

Delft University of Technology,DelftX

Solar Energy: Photovoltaic (PV) Energy Conversion (edX)

Engineering Sci: Physics

Learn how solar cells generate electricity, and about the semiconductor physics and optics required to design and manufacture solar cells. The key factor in getting more efficient and cheaper solar energy panels is the advance in the development of photovoltaic cells. In this course you will learn how photovoltaic cells convert solar energy into useable electricity. You will also discover how to tackle potential loss mechanisms in solar cells.

Self Paced

5-12 Weeks

Energy Semiconductors Solar Energy

Coursera

University at Buffalo

Solar Energy Codes, Permitting and Zoning (Coursera)

Engineering Sci: Environment

This course equips learners to identify national code and zoning rules specific to photovoltaic (PV) systems, as well as key design elements and points for inspection. Curriculum includes zoning variances, critical elements of the permitting process, planning documents necessary for PV system installation and recommendations for permitting offices to streamline the permit process. Learners gain a code inspector’s perspective in relation to building and electrical code requirements.

Aug 3rd 2026

4 Weeks

Sustainability Solar Energy Photovoltaic System

Coursera

University at Buffalo

Solar Energy and Electrical System Design (Coursera)

Engineering Sci: Environment

This course supplies learners with the insights necessary for properly planning, and therefore successfully installing, a photovoltaic (PV) system per design specifications. It directs learners through the important steps of initial site inspection and evaluating appropriate locations for PV systems, and features unique elements of residential, small, industrial and utility-scale solar applications.

Aug 3rd 2026

5-12 Weeks

Sustainability Solar Energy Photovoltaic

EdX

Delft University of Technology,DelftX

Solar Energy 2 (edX)

Engineering Sci: Energy & Earth Sciences

The growth in global PV capacity towards 100 Terawatt by 2050 requires a diverse portfolio of PV technologies. Apply the solar design rules to PV technologies and analyze them using metrics related to performance, costs, reliability and circularity. In the second course of the Solar Energy program, you will apply the design rules for a solar cell, mastered in the first course, on various photovoltaic (PV) technologies from cell up to module level.

Self Paced

Self-Paced

Solar Energy Photovoltaic Photovoltaic Technologies

Coursera

Dartmouth College

Energy and Environment (Coursera)

Sci: Environment

This course deals with both renewable and non-renewable energy. By applying scientific principles and considering real-world examples, you will examine: 1. Non-renewable fossil fuels with a focus on coal, petroleum and natural gas and the benefits and consequences of using each. 2. Renewable fuels such as wind and solar and identify that even renewable “green” energy sources have impacts as well as benefits. 3. Biodiversity and global change, which are the integrating units of environmental science.

Aug 3rd 2026

4 Weeks

Energy Environment Renewable Energy