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Entrepreneurship

Beginner Solar PV Systems for Installation, Design and Small-Scale Service Delivery

This beginner course introduces young adults to solar PV systems, from core energy and electrical principles to system sizing, installation, testing, maintenance, and customer-facing project work. It is designed for phone-first self-paced learning and uses practical Kenyan examples such as household energy needs, SME use cases, KSh-based costing, and mobile money workflows like M-Pesa where relevant.

35 lessons · includes a quiz · Free

Syllabus

Module 1: Solar Energy Foundations and Opportunities

  1. 1Energy Challenges and Why Solar Matters
  2. 2Renewable Energy Types and the Place of Solar PV
  3. 3How Solar PV Produces Useful Electricity
  4. 4Advantages, Limitations and Common Applications
  5. 5Solar PV Industry Pathways and Starter Opportunities

Module 2: Solar Resource, Sun Path and Site Assessment

  1. 1Solar Radiation, Irradiance and Peak Sun Hours
  2. 2Sun Path, Latitude, Season and Panel Position
  3. 3Shading and Mounting Options
  4. 4Running a Basic Solar Site Survey

Module 3: PV Technology, Components and Electrical Basics

  1. 1From Cell to Module to Array
  2. 2Voltage, Current, Power and Module Datasheets
  3. 3Series, Parallel, Temperature and Shading Effects
  4. 4Electrical Fundamentals for Solar Circuits
  5. 5Using a Multimeter Safely in PV Work

Module 4: System Components, Batteries and Configurations

  1. 1Main Solar PV Components and What They Do
  2. 2Charge Controllers, Inverters and Protection Devices
  3. 3Battery Storage Basics and Battery Bank Setup
  4. 4Off-Grid, Grid-Tied and Hybrid System Configurations

Module 5: Load Assessment, Sizing and Basic PV Design

  1. 1Assessing Loads and Daily Energy Use
  2. 2Peak Demand, Losses and Design Margins
  3. 3Sizing PV Array, Battery, Inverter and Charge Controller
  4. 4Cable Sizing, Voltage Drop and Protection Choices
  5. 5Creating a Basic Design Package

Module 6: Installation Practice, Protection and Safety

  1. 1Installation Planning, Tools and Work Sequence
  2. 2Mounting, Module Placement and Mechanical Workmanship
  3. 3DC and AC Wiring, Labelling and Earthing Basics
  4. 4Electrical Hazards, PPE and Emergency Response

Module 7: Testing, Commissioning, Monitoring and Troubleshooting

  1. 1Pre-Commissioning Inspection and Core Electrical Tests
  2. 2Commissioning a Small PV System and Recording Results
  3. 3Monitoring System Performance and Energy Output
  4. 4Preventive Maintenance and Common Fault Diagnosis

Module 8: Costing, Customer Delivery and Professional Practice

  1. 1Costing Equipment, Labour and Lifecycle Considerations
  2. 2Preparing a Bill of Quantities and Customer Quotation
  3. 3Project Planning, Customer Needs Assessment and Handover
  4. 4Standards, Safety Responsibilities and Kenya-Focused Compliance Awareness