Design and Development of a New Course and Laboratory: Solar PV Installation and Troubleshooting

Renewable energy systems are more efficient and environmentally friendly power generation solutions as compared to traditional fossil generators and as a result have created a continuously expanding job market. The global investment in solar photovoltaic (PV) systems has gone through a mostly increasing trend in the past ten years, which implies that solar PV systems will own a major share of the power generation and distribution market in the near future. This multibillion-dollar market requires a significant number of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduates specifically trained to handle the technical challenges and meet the job market demand of renewable energy industries. This project was funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). In this project, the new courses on solar PV installation and troubleshooting and the associated new laboratory were designed and developed by using state-of-the-art equipment. This project was conducted collaboratively at New Jersey Institute of Technology and County College of Morris, in collaboration with industrial partners in order to meet the knowledge requirements established by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. These new courses are being offered to the engineering technology students at both institutions. This NSF-funded project significantly contributes to the renewable energy workforce training by providing functional knowledge and understanding of solar PV systems integration, installation, startup, commissioning, protection, and troubleshooting. The new courses and laboratories target real industrial demands in this field, and hence were designed and developed, and are being continuously improved and enhanced in close collaboration with industrial partners.