Applying Renewable Energy: Solar Technologies
Solar technologies can be used to produce electricity (e.g. to reduce fuel consumption), or for hot water provision. By choosing this training, you will get an understanding of:
Photovoltaics:
- Applications and market development
- Solar radiation
- System components
- System configurations (grid-tied and off-grid)
- Introduction to system design and yield estimation
Solar thermal:
- Relevance of solar thermal
- How solar thermal works
- Different solar thermal system types and its components
- System sizing, installation and commissioning
- Operation and maintenance
- Economics
Concentrated Solar Power (CSP):
- Potential
- Technologies
- Plant cooling
- Electricity storage
- Energy yield calculation
PV-diesel hybrid systems:
- Off-grid electricity supply by means of diesel-powered mini grids,
- Hybridization with PV- and / or wind energy-systems,
- Technology and components,
- Parameters for system sizing,
- Levelised cost of energy
Additionally, each participant will have access to short introductory courses on energy and electricity topics to learn or revise the basics. These courses are not mandatory, and will not be covered in the exam.
Receive a reminder one week before the registration deadline.
After the online training, you will be able to:
- Assess resources and suitability of sites for each technology
- Decide which components are to be used for which purpose
- Roughly calculate system size and energy yield and determine crucial paramerters
- Explain the principle functioning of each technology
Upon successful finalisation of the training, you will receive a RENAC Certificate.
Possible specialisations after successfully finishing this training:
- Certified PV Professional
- Certified RE Project Developer with a focus on Photovoltaics, PV-diesel hybrid, or Solar thermal systems
Duration: 6 months
Study time: About 70 hours
Training language: English or Spanish
Detailed course description: A detailed course description is available for download here.
E-learning platform: Access the demo course on our e-learning platform.
Price: €625,00*
Contact
Raquel Cascales
Project Director E-Learning and Blended Learning
Tel: +49 (0)30 58 70870 46
Email: onlineacademy[at]renac.de
*incl 19 % of German VAT
Highlights
- Flexibility to study at any time and from any location
- RENAC content expert and learning platform technical support
- Moderated discussion forum for students
- Live lectures
- Multimedia learning materials
- Self-assessments, assignments and final exam
- Certified by the Staatliche Zentralstelle für Fernunterricht - ZFU (German Authority for Distance Learning)
- RENAC certificate upon successful finalisation of the programme
- We offer discounts for our alumni, group bookings, and multiple purchases. Contact us for further details.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Contact
Raquel Cascales
Project Director E-Learning and Blended Learning
Tel: +49 (0)30 58 70870 46
Email: onlineacademy[at]renac.de
Lecturers

Current position:
Jens Brand has been working at RENAC since March 2021. As project director of the Solar and Energy Efficiency department, he develops photovoltaics off-grid curricula and seminar training material for practitioners, trainers, and other experts in the sector.
Professional experience:
Before joining RENAC, Jens worked at hardware manufacturing facilities, including SMD production, and designed solar home systems for markets in Africa. He brings extensive practice-based experience in hardware engineering, product design, manufacturing, and technical operations to the RENAC team.
Education:
Jens Brand holds a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree in sustainable energy studies. He speaks English, French, and German.