The eLearning Center for B.F. Environmental Consultants, Inc.

Overview

The vast majority of the world's energy is produced from fossil fuels and other non-sustainable fuel sources. However, dwindling reservoirs and increased exploration costs for fossil fuels are helping to make renewable energy sources, such as solar power, more attractive. At the same time, advances in technology are making solar power more affordable. As a result, the worldwide market for Photovoltaic (PV) Cells, also known as "solar cells", is growing at a brisk pace.

This course covers the basics of solar electric generation technology, including the various types of systems available and their relative merits. The latest developments in solar power technology are discussed, as well as the current and future commercial potential for each type of system.

The course text is Chapter 3 from a report entitled Fuel From the Sky: Solar Power's Potential for Western Energy Supply July 2002 NREL/BK-550-32160. NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's premier laboratory for renewable energy & energy efficiency research, development, and deployment.

The student must take a multiple-choice quiz consisting of fifteen (15) questions at the end of this course to obtain PDH credits.

Specific Knowledge or Skill Attained

This course will review the basic operation, limitations, capacities and design of the following solar generating systems:

  · Flat Panel PV
  · Photovoltaic Electric Power multi level
  · Concentrating PV (CPV)
  · Thermal Solar Power
  · Power Towers
  · Parabolic Troughs
  · Dish Stirling

State Board Acceptance

This course can be used by professional engineers to fulfill PDH requirements mandated by state and provincial licensing boards. Decatur Professional Development is an approved provider of continuing education in all states that pre-approve course providers. In all other states that mandate continuing education for engineers, it is the individual engineer's responsibility to determine the suitability of activities for PDH credit. The state boards typically accept online* courses that cover technical, managerial** or ethical content and which are relevant to the practice of engineering. The course must have a clear purpose or objective with a content that will maintain, improve or expand the skills and knowledge of the licensee's field of practice. For questions about your mandatory PDH requirements, visit the website of your state licensing board.

*Online courses are accepted by all state licensing boards that mandate continuing education. Other than New York (which limits online courses to 18 PDH) and Iowa (which limits online courses to 6 PDH), there are no limits placed by other states on the number of hours that can be earned through online continuing education. Consult with your state licensing board if you have any questions about the acceptability of online courses.

**The New York State Board of Engineers does not accept general office management courses, but will accept project management courses that are offered by an approved provider and that are technical in nature and contribute to the engineer's professional practice.

Please Note: Continuing Education credits for this course are awarded as PDH (Professional Development Hour Credits).