Renewable Energy Classes & Workshops

Interested in learning more about renewable energies? The Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES) offers classes in solar hot water, PV design and installation, and small-scale wind design and installation. To be informed about these and other future renewable energy classes, please fill out our contact form and indicate which topics most interest you. We will send you information on the next available classes when they are scheduled.

Upcoming Classes & Workshops

Batteries in Solar PV Systems

Monday, September 9, 2013 - Friday, October 18, 2013

This is an online class and can be completed on the students time schedule.

There is an Early Bird Discount of $100 until August 17th, 2013.

$795.00 for members
$795.00 for non-members

Class Location
Online
.
Anywhere, Earth .

Description

Six-week intensive training with solar legend Christopher LaForge. PV systems that employ batteries require significant design considerations. Whether using batteries to "back-up" your utility grid or having them as the basis of a "stand-alone off grid system" choosing the correct battery and sizing it correctly is challenging. This workshop will be an in-depth analysis of the issues surrounding the use of batteries for PV applications. Battery design, specification, use and maintenance will be covered in this workshop. CAPSTONE PROJECT: Design a full battery-based Solar PV system.

Agenda

You'll have access to all of the course material for a FULL YEAR. Everything is self-paced - no need to be logged in at a particular time. Chris LaForge is your teacher, he'll be answering all of your questions, but only for the dates specified for the course. To get your NABCEP credits and a certificate of completion: 1) Watch 100% of the video presentations 2) Submit 90% of the Homework Assignments 3) Complete Your Final Project.

Orientation Materials

You will receive a welcome packet in the mail with your textbooks within a week. This course is SELF-PACED, so you don’t need to be ‘logged in’ at any specific time. Expect to dedicate an average of 5 hours per week, but you can work ahead or catch up if you fall behind. Keep in mind that I (your instructor Chris) will be there to answer your questions and help you learn for the duration of the course. I will not be on duty outside the course dates, so ask all your questions while we're in session. You will also have access to all of the online materials for a full year.

To see the weekly outline for instruction and sign up for the class, please click here.

Meet The Instructor

Christopher LaForge

Great Northern Solar

Christopher LaForge is the CEO of Great Northern Solar and is a NABCEP certified photovoltaic installer. He has been an instructor with the Midwest Renewable Energy Institute since 1993 Teaching Advanced Photovoltaic (PV) design and installation and is an ISPQ certified PV instructor. Christopher has been the primary curriculum developer for the MREI Photovoltaic courses since the Institutes inception and is an ISPQ Affiliated and Independent Certified Master Trainer. For over two decades Christopher has been deploying renewable energy systems for both the grid-intertie and off-grid markets. A strong advocate for clean energy production Christopher volunteers with the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (as a board of directors member) and with the Northern Futures Foundation. Christopher has developed training for contractors, administrators, project managers and the public. Clients have included the City of Minneapolis - Minnesota, Hennepin and St. Louis County in Minnesota, the Madison Area Technical College and several other colleges. He has trained many electrical contractors in the greater Midwest and beyond. Christopher has a Masters degree in Philosophy concentrating in Ethics and Non-violence from the UW Madison and is an organic gardener.