Starting on January 6th, registrations are open for the free online course on Solar Photovoltaic Energy, taught by professors Paulo André, Paulo Branco, João Fernandes, and António Baptista. Undergraduate and master's students, professionals in the field, as well as the general public seeking to expand their knowledge in the area, can participate.

According to the information provided on the website of Técnico's Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC), "this online course covers the technology of converting solar photovoltaic energy into electricity, focusing on understanding the properties of solar light and the operational principles of solar cells. The course will explore solar cell manufacturing, photovoltaic panel configurations, and design methodology for photovoltaic systems that meet specific requirements, including grid-connected installations and autonomous systems, with or without battery storage."

The course is divided into 3 parts: introduction to photovoltaic technology, solar cells and photovoltaic modules, and photovoltaic systems: autonomous or isolated systems, grid-connected (residential systems), and hybrid systems.

Participants will gain knowledge about the properties and operation of photovoltaic panels, applying concepts of energy, power, irradiance, and electrical efficiency in these systems, and interpreting the physical parameters that define the current-voltage and power-voltage characteristics of the most common cells and panels.

The course is free of charge, and participants will be able to access the materials at their own pace and even after the completion date (June 30, 2025). The presentation is given orally in Portuguese, accompanied by slides in the same language, with the possibility of accessing transcripts in both Portuguese and English.

For more information and to register, visit the website.

Check out the complete course plan for MOOC Técnico here.