Solar Energy Technology - Associate Degree
The Solar Energy Technology program provides installers, designers, and technical sales personnel the skills to assess sites; design systems; install, operate, and maintain solar electric and solar thermal systems for residential and commercial applications in the growing renewable energy industry. Potential employment possibilities will be with existing solar, electrical and mechanical contractors to help expand their offerings of solar energy technologies. Other possible areas of employment are with energy consulting firms, design firms and utilities. With additional education and experience, graduates can expand their careers to energy analyst, journeyperson electrician/plumber, project manager, energy engineer, and environmental consultant.
Delivery
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Program Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition: $12,393, Books: $1,234, Supplies: $550
This program is fully eligible for financial aid.
Estimates based on in-state residency. Please visit the following URL to learn more about tuition and fees for this program. /admissions-and-aid/paying-for-college/tuition-and-fees?ProgramCode=104824
Requirements for Program Entry
- Apply at www.nwtc.edu/apply.
- Submit the following to transcripts@nwtc.edu: High school transcript (or GED/HSED transcript) College transcript
- Tip! Our admission advisors will assist you through every step. Have questions? Connect with 冈本视频 Admissions at start@nwtc.edu or 920-498-5444.
Program Outcomes
- Evaluate the energy use of commercial and residential buildings and perform site assessments for solar electric and solar thermal systems
- Generate technical project proposals and estimates for solar electric and solar thermal systems
- Read and comprehend mechanical blueprints
- Upload and download information from remote and local networks to aid in the operation and maintenance of systems
- Obtain, complete, and understand zoning regulations, building permit, utility intertie connection, and utility distributed generation agreements
- Assist in design, install and maintain solar electric systems
- Assist in design, install and maintain solar thermal systems
- Ensure compliance with the national electrical code
- Provide training to user upon project completion
- Install, troubleshoot, repair and modify mechanical and electrical systems including programmable controllers
Curriculum
Students following the study plan below will complete the Solar Energy Technology associate degree in the number of semesters shown.
First Semester
8 Week 1
8 Week 2
Full Semester
Second Semester
8 Week 1
8 Week 2
Third Semester
8 Week 1
8 Week 2
Fourth Semester
8 Week 1
8 Week 2
- Curriculum Note: The credit for 10-890-101, College 101 is an institutional requirement for graduation. Consequently, it is not part of the program credit requirements, but must be passed with a C or better.
- Students completing General Studies courses at 冈本视频 must earn a "C" or better in English Composition to enroll in Technical Reporting.
- Students completing College Technical Math 1A must earn a "C" or better to enroll in College Technical Math 1B.
Course Descriptions
Students gain skills that lead to success in college, employment, and life. Students should take this course in their first semester. (Pre-requisite: None.)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringAn overview of various renewable energy technologies and sustainable design practices and their current applications. Emphasis will be placed on policies, renewable energy production, green products and jobs.
Course Typically Offered: Fall SpringTopics include solving linear equations; graphing; percent; proportions; measurement systems; computational geometry; and right triangle trigonometry. Emphasis will be on the application of skills to technical problems. (Prerequisite: Next Gen Arithmetic score greater/equal to 250 AND Rdg score greater/equal to 250; OR ACT Math score greater/equal to 15 AND ACT Rdg score greater/equal to 16; OR preparatory courses-contact an academic advisor 920-498-5444)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringIntroduces the concepts of AC and DC power and basic circuits. Using a multimeter, students learn about voltage, current, and resistance in both AC and DC circuits.
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringAn overview of the use of sunlight to produce heat and electricity and the practical and economical use of solar power and solar thermal systems. Learn the importance of energy efficiency and the economics of solar hybrid designs.
Course Typically Offered: FallA study of joining processes including welding, brazing, soldering, mechanical fasteners and adhesives.
Course Typically Offered: Fall SpringApplications/theory of basic physics principles: problem-solving, laboratory investigation, and applications including unit conversion and analysis, vectors, translational and rotational kinematics/dynamics, heat/temperature, and harmonic motion and waves. (Prereq: 2.6 GPA & Alg 2 or equiv w/C or better; OR Next Gen Rdg score greater/equal to 263, Arith greater/equal to 250, & QRAS greater/equal to 250; OR ACT Reading greater/equal to 17 & Math greater/equal to 24; OR Coll Tech Math 1A OR Int Alg w/C or better)
Course Typically Offered: Fall SpringCreating worksheets; enter data, make modifications, work with formulas and functions, create and enhance charts, manage data, transform data, conditional formatting, importing/exporting data, introduction to PivotTables and PivotCharts.
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringTopics include: performing operations on polynomials; solving quadratic and rational equations; formula rearrangement; solving systems of equations; and oblique triangle trigonometry. Emphasis will be on the application of skills to technical problems. (Prerequisite: 10-804-113, Tech Math 1A with grade C or better)
Course Typically Offered: Fall SpringElectric motor control components such as switches, relays, starters, transformers; and safely mount and install motor and motor control components and perform related wiring and troubleshooting of motor control circuits.
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringWhat fluid power is, differentiate between hydraulics and pneumatics, implement basic pneumatic circuits, utilize schematics, apply Pascal's Law, define properties of fluids, implement airflow control and hydraulics cylinder circuits.
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringAND, OR, NOT, NAND, NOR, logic operation using switch logic, ladder logic, and gate logic. Simplification methods using Boolean theorems and Karnaugh Maps, and timing diagram analysis.
Course Typically Offered: Fall SpringLearn steps to performing a site audit prior to installation of a PV system. Focus on defining the solar window, system site placement, system sizing and design, load analysis and energy efficiency concepts. (Corequisite: 10-482-126, Intro to Solar)
Course Typically Offered: SpringIntroduction to machine wiring, including basic documentation, labeling, and wiring practices; an overview of NFPA 79 machinery, safety and installation standards.
Course Typically Offered: Fall SpringOperation and connection of latches, RS flip-flops, JK flip-flops, and D flip-flops using timing diagram analysis, and some simple applications are studied. (Pre-requisite: 10-660-101, Digital 1: Logic)
Course Typically Offered: Fall SpringElectric motor control components such as sensors, timers and counters. (Co-requisite: 10-664-100, Automation 1: Control Logic)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringHydraulic pumps, basic hydraulics actuator circuits, hydraulic schematics, apply Pascal's Law, summarize the effects of fluids friction, define properties of hydraulic energy, design hydraulic circuits with directional control valves. (Co-requisite: 10-620-100, Fluids 1: Basic Pneumatics)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringStudy of the way inductive, capacitive and resistive components behave in a circuit excited by a sine waveform. Effective and average values of the sinewave are derived. (Pre-requisite: 10-660-105, DC 2: Circuits)
Course Typically Offered: Fall SpringTopics include batteries, wiring configurations, system diagramming, National Electrical code, component selection, wiring, safety and system maintenance. (Prerequisites: 10-482-126 Intro to Solar; 10-660-116, Introduction to AC/DC)
Course Typically Offered: FallIntroduces the basic concepts of energy, utility systems and utility rate structures; defines the need for energy management as an integral part of society at all levels. The course will present the various opportunities available to energy management students.
Course Typically Offered: FallDevelop the knowledge skills process and understanding of site plans, footings and foundations, floor plans, elevations, below-grade piping, above-grade piping, isometric piping diagrams, schedules and details, electrical floor plans, lighting, ventilating, and air conditioning.
Course Typically Offered: FallProvides the opportunity for the learner to develop the basic working knowledge and skills required in the application and design of solar energy systems that include energy storage and incorporate EV charging. Topics of concentration include types of energy storage, sizing energy storage, integrating energy storage with residential and commercial solar systems and EV charging systems. (Pre-Requisite: 10-482-133, Photovoltaics-Advanced)
Course Typically Offered:Learners develop knowledge/skills in planning, organizing, writing, editing. Students will also analyze audience/purpose, use elements of research, format documents using standard guidelines, and develop critical reading skills. (Prerequisite: High school GPA greater/equal to 2.6; OR ACT Reading score greater/equal to 16 AND English greater/equal to 18; OR Next Gen Reading score greater/equal to 250 AND Writing score greater/equal to 260; OR "preparatory course(s)", contact academic advisor at 920-498-5444)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringIdentify commercial HVAC system types and the general energy use impact of each type. Calculations of system equipment efficiencies will be used to determine EER, SEER, AFUE, COP, combination and seasonal efficiency in boilers, balance point partial efficiency. (Corequisites: 10-481-114, Intro to Energy Management)
Course Typically Offered: FallIntroduces PV systems, how to monitor them, and troubleshooting issues.
Course Typically Offered:Principles of report writing and correspondence, proposals, feasibility reports, progress reports, investigation reports, evaluation reports, meeting reports, memos, and correspondence. (Prerequisite: 10-801-136, English Composition I OR 10-801-195, Written Communication with “C” or better)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall Springthis course provides the opportunity for the learner to further develop their knowledge, skills, process and understanding of solar electric and solar thermal systems design and applications while learning basic business and trade skills. Emphasis will be placed on safety, system design, monitoring, installation, maintenance & troubleshooting. (Prerequisites: 10-483-107, Solar Thermal Design & Site; 10-482-132, Photovoltaics-Design & Site; 10-482-133, Photovoltaics-Adv; Corequisite: 10-483-108, Solar Thermal Advanced)
Course Typically Offered: SpringThis science of psychology course is a survey of multiple aspects of behavior and mental processes. It provides an overview of topics such as research methods, theoretical perspectives, learning, cognition, memory, motivation, emotions, personality, abnormal psychology, physiological factors, social influences, and development.. (Prerequisite: Cumulative GPA of 2.6 or greater OR satisfactory reading and writing assessment scores OR 10-831-107, College Reading and Writing 1 with "B" or better OR Corequisite: 10-831-102, English Comp Prep).
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis course introduces the study of diversity from a local to a global perspective using a holistic, interdisciplinary approach that encourages exploration and prepares students to work in a diverse environment. The course introduces basic diversity concepts, examines the impact of bias and power differentials among groups, explores the use of culturally responsive communication strategies, and compares forces that shape diversity in an international context. (Prerequisite: Next Gen Rdg score greater/equal to 250 AND Writing score greater/equal to 237; OR ACT Rdg score greater/equal to 16 AND English greater/equal to 15; OR 10-831-107, College Reading and Writing with a B or better.)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall Spring