In 2014, I pursued a Master of Science in Energy Engineering at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell for a semester. This program enabled me to deepen my understanding of solar PV cell manufacturing, installation design, and financial modeling, complementing my prior experience as a mechanical designer for a leading manufacturer of solar central inverters, string inverters, and combiner boxes.
I particularly enjoyed designing solar PV systems as part of my coursework. Later, I consulted on solar PV projects for friends, including installations in Ghana and Zimbabwe. A sample project I worked on is shown below.
I continuously strive to improve my design approach. Often, I performed site analysis without physical access, utilizing Google Earth, Maps, SketchUp, photographs, and meteorological data. Following a detailed online site analysis, my standard workflow includes, but is not limited to:
- Performing shade analysis in the 3D CAD model of the site.
- Reviewing local electrical codes and standards.
- Selecting panels and other Balance of System (BOS) components.
- Sizing the system (panels, strings, array, inverters, combiners, re-combiners, wires, disconnects, etc.).
- Developing and simulating system model parameters in Excel, PVSyst, or SAM.
- Generating drawings using QCAD.
If you need my services, please feel free to contact me here