Solar Energy in Hot Desert Climates

Offered By: Hamad Bin Khalifa University via edX

Course Description

Overview

Desert regions are attractive for solar energy, with much sunshine and many opportunities for utility-scale and residential applications. However, their harsh climate creates challenges for photovoltaic (PV) module performance, reliability and energy forecasting.

This program focuses on solar resource assessment and PV solar cell and module design for hot, dusty climates. The program will teach you the essentials on solar radiation and will explore the challenges associated with air quality and meteorology in harsh climates. By using videos, demonstrations, dynamic learning activities and real world data you will learn about the practicalities of PV technology and how best to tailor PV cells and modules for the conditions of the desert.

We recommend that you complete the courses in the suggested order. However, you may enroll in either course based on your experience and interest.

The knowledge gained in this Professional Certificate program will help solar engineers, investors and energy policymakers to understand and mitigate the challenges associated with siting, deploying and operating PV in hot desert climates.

Syllabus

Courses under this program:
Course 1: Solar Resource Assessment in Desert Climates

Learn how to use the components of solar radiation,solar spectrum, forecasting and meteorology to advocate and plan for deploying PV in desert climates

Course 2: Using Photovoltaic (PV) Technology in Desert Climates

Learn how to mitigate the challenges related to PV technology and enhance the performance of solar cells and PV modules in desert climates.

Courses

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7 weeks, 1-3 hours a week, 1-3 hours a week
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Desert regions may seem optimal for solar energy and the deployment of photovoltaic (PV) applications. However, the heat and dust experienced in the region poses a challenge for the optimal performance of PV modules and reliability of the applications.

In this course, you will learn how to mitigate these challenges by understanding the components of solar radiation and the characteristics of solar cells and the solar spectrum. You will also learn about forecasting and nowcasting and how this influences selecting a site for PV application. The economic impact of PV applications is a key area of interest and this course provides you with knowledge on the costs and benefits of solar energy from PV applications.
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8 weeks, 1-3 hours a week, 1-3 hours a week
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The high insolation in desert regions can result in a lower cost of solar energy. While this may be a key motivation to deploying PV in desert climates, there are also several challenges related to the technology that must be considered.

In this course, you will learn what effect temperature and dust has on the solar cells and PV modules. The course looks at the cleaning methods used to reduce soiling, how to measure solar cell and PV module performance and optimize the design of the technology to enhance the energy yield. Finally, you will have the opportunity to consider how you would deploy PV technology in your specific context.

Taught by

Dr. Luis Pomares, Mohammed Ayoub, Dr. Christos Fountoukis, Dr. Antonio Sanfilippo, Dr. Amir Abdallah, Prof. Nouar Tabet, Dr. Benjamin Figgis and Ahmer Baloch