Design Residential & Commercial Solar Systems With Technical PrecisionAssignment-Based, Commercial Case Studies. Professional Certification.
Most solar systems fail at the design stage
Wrong battery sizing. Undersized inverters. Poor protection coordination.This program moves you from installer to professional solar system designer
This 8-week structured program takes you from foundational design principles to full residential and commercial solar system design.
Each week builds progressively toward your final capstone project.
Week 1: Foundations of Professional Solar System Design
• Solar system architecture (off-grid, hybrid, grid-tied)
• AC vs DC system logic
• Core components and system workflow
• Professional design process overview
Assignment: System component mapping for a residential installation.
Week 2: Load Analysis & Energy Audit
• Appliance data collection
• Daily energy (kWh) calculations
• Peak load & surge analysis
• Demand management strategies
Assignment: Full load audit for a residential home.
Week 3: Battery System Design
• Lithium vs lead-acid comparison
• Usable capacity & depth of discharge
• Backup autonomy calculations
• Battery bank configuration
Assignment: Design a battery bank for a 24-hour backup system.
Week 4: Inverter Selection & System Architecture
• Continuous vs surge ratings
• Single-phase vs three-phase systems
• Hybrid system configuration
• Generator integration principles
Assignment: Select and justify inverter for a 5kW system.
Week 5: Solar Panel & PV Array Design
• PV sizing methodology
• String design (series & parallel)
• MPPT voltage window calculations
• Roof vs ground mount considerations
Assignment: Complete PV layout design.
Week 6 – Protection, Cable Sizing & Safety
• DC & AC protection principles
• Breaker and RCBO sizing
• Cable sizing & voltage drop
• Earthing & surge protection
Assignment: Design full protection layout.
Week 7: Commercial System Case Studies
You will design full systems for:
• Filling Station
• Community Health Centre
• Poultry Farm
• Computer Lab
• Hotel
• Supermarket
Students complete a full commercial system design exercise.
Week 8: Capstone Project & Design Review
You will submit a complete residential + commercial system design including:
• Load calculation
• Battery sizing
• Inverter selection
• PV array design
• Protection layout
• Single-line diagram
Live review and feedback session included.Program Structure
Duration: 8 Weeks
Live Sessions: 3 Evenings Per Week
Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (SAST)
Start Date: 02/04/2026
Session Recordings Available
Assignments are mandatory for certification.
Designed to fit around working professionals
Solarwatt Academy has published detailed technical breakdowns covering real system design principles - including load analysis, inverter architecture, protection coordination and battery sizing.Before enrolling, you are welcome to review selected technical sessions to understand the depth and structure of instruction.
This program builds on that foundation and structures it into an 8-week professional solar system design framework with assignments and commercial case studies
Who This Program Is For
This program is designed for:✔ Electricians expanding into solar
✔ Active solar installers seeking deeper technical confidence
✔ Contractors handling residential or small commercial projects
✔ Solar professionals ready to design systems properly
Limited Seats Per Intake