Solar Engineering Fundamentals for Non-Engineers

This course will provide a practical introduction to utility-scale solar engineering designed specifically for non-engineers working in development, finance, project management, legal, regulatory, and commercial roles. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of how large solar facilities are designed and evaluated, and how engineering decisions directly impact project risk, performance, and financial outcomes. Core concepts such as system components, equipment specifications, layout considerations, and design constraints will be explained in an accessible, real-world context. Attendees of the course will receive downloadable access to an example Excel workbook with calculations to support hands-on learning and post-course reference.

An additional aspect of the course will include an exploration of performance testing and energy modeling fundamentals, including how production forecasts are created and what P50 and P90 mean. Through practical examples, this course will connect technical concepts to commercial implications, helping attendees communicate more effectively with engineering teams and make more informed project decisions. By the end of the course, solar engineering concepts will feel more approachable, empowering attendees to engage more confidently in project discussions.

• Explore fundamental solar power and energy concepts used in utility-scale projects
• Identify major components of a solar facility and their functional roles
• Interpret high-level equipment specification sheets for common solar technologies
• Apply basic system sizing and layout considerations used in solar design
• Recognize how severe weather and degradation affect system performance
• Analyze the purpose and implications of solar performance testing
• Interpret Probability of Exceedance (P50/P90) metrics used in project evaluation
• Explore the fundamentals of energy modeling and common system losses
• Relate engineering assumptions to project risk and financial outcomes