Skip to main content

DelftX: Solar Energy: Integration of Photovoltaic Systems in Microgrids

Learn how to integrate a photovoltaic system into a microgrid of your design.

Solar Energy: Integration of Photovoltaic Systems in Microgrids
9 weeks
10–11 hours per week
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
Free
Optional upgrade available

There is one session available:

26,259 already enrolled! After a course session ends, it will be archivedOpens in a new tab.
Starts Dec 6

About this course

Skip About this course

Photovoltaic systems are often placed into a microgrid, a local electricity distribution system that is operated in a controlled way and includes both electricity users and renewable electricity generation. This course deals with DC and AC microgrids and covers a wide range of topics, from basic definitions, through modelling and control of AC and DC microgrids to the application of adaptive protection in microgrids. You will master various concepts related to microgrid technology and implementation, such as smart grid and virtual power plant, types of distribution network, markets, control strategies and components. Among the components special attention is given to operation and control of power electronics interfaces.

You will be familiarized with the advantages and challenges of DC microgrids (which are still in an early stage). As a verified learner you will also have the opportunity to master the topic of microgrids through an exercise in which you will evaluate selected pilot sites where microgrids were deployed. The evaluation will take the form of a simulation assignment and include a peer review of the results.

This course is part of the Solar Energy Engineering MicroMasters program designed to cover all physics and engineering aspects of photovoltaics: photovoltaic energy conversion, technologies and systems.

At a glance

  • Language: English
  • Video Transcript: English
  • Associated programs:
  • Associated skills: Distributed Generation, Photovoltaic Systems, Energy Conversion, Electronics, Physics, Electricity, Electric Power Distribution

What you'll learn

Skip What you'll learn
  • Difference between a microgrid, a passive distribution grid and a virtual power plant
  • Ancillary services provided by microgrids and PV
  • Operation of centralized and decentralized control, forecasting, and evaluation of different market policies through a case study
  • Operation of active power control and voltage regulation
  • Different layouts and topologies of microgrids and power electronic components, and the role of power electronics converters in microgrids
  • Microgrid protection, adaptive protection, and the consequences of using a fault current source and fault current limitation
  • Main motivations and challenges for the implementation of DC microgrids

Verified learners will have the added benefit of evaluating different strategies to control multiple inverters and to analyze local control to improve stability.

Learner testimonials

Skip Learner testimonials

"TU Delft 's Solar Energy Engineering MicroMasters program is great to get a grasp of the overall science of solar energy. It provides context to the current industry trends, and at the same time gives you the tools you need to know where the industry will be in the next decade." --Bertram, The Netherlands

More about this course

Skip More about this course

LICENSE

The course materials of this course are Copyright Delft University of Technology and are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (CC-BY-NC-SA) 4.0 International License.

Who can take this course?

Unfortunately, learners residing in one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine. While edX has sought licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer our courses to learners in these countries and regions, the licenses we have received are not broad enough to allow us to offer this course in all locations. edX truly regrets that U.S. sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.

This course is part of Solar Energy Engineering MicroMasters Program

Learn more 
Expert instruction
5 graduate-level courses
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
1 year 1 month
9 - 10 hours per week

Interested in this course for your business or team?

Train your employees in the most in-demand topics, with edX For Business.