Solar Energy Systems Engineer

Overview

Who is Solar Energy Systems Engineer?

Solar Energy Systems Engineers execute site-specific engineering analysis or energy efficiency assessment and solar projects like solar hot water and space heating systems for new and existing residential, commercial, using the notions of structural energy needs, local climate, solar technologies, and thermodynamics, or industrial buildings. Solar energy systems engineers create solar cells that collect and store the sun's rays. They collaborate with communities, corporations, and households to develop, plan, and install solar energy projects.

Typical day at work

What does Solar Energy Systems Engineer do?

Solar Energy Systems Engineers analyse and evaluate energy efficiency and solar projects for residential, commercial, and industrial clients on a site-specific basis. Their various roles involve testing or evaluating photovoltaic (PV) cells or modules, Reviewing specifications and recommending engineering or manufacturing changes to achieve solar design objectives, Perform thermal, stress, or cost reduction analyses for solar systems.

• Develop plans, monitor, and assess activities of solar energy system
• Perform audits of engineering sites to gather structural, electrical, and other relevant information for designing solar power systems for residential or commercial purposes
• Design photovoltaic or solar thermal systems and its parts, for residential and commercial spaces
• Use computer-aided design software to construct electrical single-line diagrams, panel schedules, or solar electric system’s connection diagrams
• Evaluate specifications and suggest changes in engineering or manufacturing to achieve targets for solar design
• Plan design specifications and functional requirements of solar energy systems for residential, commercial, or industrial purposes
• Provide technical guidance or assistance to teams for installation, start-up, testing, system commissioning, or performance monitoring
• Execute solar photovoltaic generation system’s computer simulation for performance or to elevate efficiency of energy production
• Establish standard operating procedures as well as safety and quality standards for the work of solar installation
• Establish checklists to review or inspect finished solar installation projects
• Testing or assessing photovoltaic cells or modules
• Carry out analysis of thermal, stress, or cost reduction for solar systems
• For solar applications, construct vacuum tube collector systems
• Design and assist in installing solar hot-water heater
• Accumulate data about job sites
• Develop plans for the assessment of technological or environmental effects.
• Suggest technical design or process modifications to enhance productivity, quality, or performance
• Conduct costs and benefits analysis for planned projects.

Abilities & aptitude needed

What are the skills, abilities & aptitude needed to become Solar Energy Systems Engineer?

• Foremost, solar energy systems engineers need ample education on solar energy, its practical applications, and unique challenges. One should be capable of understanding highly technical material such as raw data and scientific literature. In their job, they often employ sophisticated mathematical equations, statistics, and formulas.
• Since the work includes practical activity, hands-on problems and solutions, they should be comfortable working with materials, tools, and machinery. This requires manual dexterity, precision, eye for detail, accuracy, and careful equipment monitoring. They must have physical stamina since they will be on their feet for lengthy periods of time. They should also be flexible to work in all kinds of environments. They must be able to manage time and prioritize tasks effectively while maintaining the quality of work.
• They are curious, intelligent, introspective, and investigative people. They are inquisitive, systematic, scientific, logical, reasonable, and analytical in their approach.
• They should be able to effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing, their research processes and findings. Interpersonal and project management abilities are required since they frequently work in or lead teams and must be able to encourage and instruct other team members.
• They must be able to think critically and solve difficulties in order to solve complicated problems and draw inferences from experimental data using solid reasoning and judgement.

Courses

Which course I can pursue?