Environmental Studies
Continuing & Professional Education

Course Series
in Solar Energy Development and Design

Part-time, online study tailored for:

  • project managers
  • industry executives
  • environmental professionals

The renew­able ener­gy sec­tor employed 11 mil­lion peo­ple in 2018, with an esti­mat­ed growth of near­ly one mil­lion new jobs added every year.

– IRE­NA Annu­al Review, 2019.

Under­stand the tech­nol­o­gy behind solar pow­er as you acquire a foun­da­tion­al under­stand­ing of solar pow­er and walk through the plan­ning, design, and devel­op­ment process required to install a solar project. Learn about the mechan­ics of solar pow­er gen­er­a­tion and the tech­ni­cal aspects of its inte­gra­tion into pow­er grids. Explore the eco­nom­ics of dif­fer­ent solar pow­er projects as you prac­tice fore­cast­ing the out­put of projects in real time and assess the prof­itabil­i­ty of poten­tial new projects. Dis­cuss the promis­ing future tra­jec­to­ries of the industry.

Solar Ener­gy Devel­op­ment and Design will be of spe­cial inter­est to those who want to devel­op, man­age, or improve their under­stand­ing of the rapid­ly evolv­ing clean ener­gy sec­tor. This includes, among oth­ers, envi­ron­men­tal pro­fes­sion­als, project man­agers, indus­try exec­u­tives, devel­op­ers and investors inter­est­ed in expand­ing their career or busi­ness with renew­able energy.

Two steps, two cre­den­tials for you!

This series is com­prised of a 42-hour course, ​“Solar Ener­gy Devel­op­ment,” which is offered as a com­ple­ment to the foun­da­tion­al pro­gram Renew­able Ener­gy Essen­tials. To earn your Solar Ener­gy Devel­op­ment and Design Record of Achieve­ment, you must com­plete this solar ener­gy course and, in addi­tion, the three 14-hour cours­es offered through Renew­able Ener­gy Essen­tials.

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Step 1

Com­plete the three foun­da­tion­al cours­es in the Renew­able Ener­gy Essen­tials series
three 14-hour cours­es: receive Essen­tials Series Record of Achievement

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Step 2

Com­pete the course Solar Ener­gy Devel­op­ment
one 42-hour course + Essen­tials Series: receive Solar Ener­gy Devel­op­ment and Design Record of Achievement

                                                                   

Fully online.

Offered as a complement to the foundational program Renewable Energy Essentials.

No prerequisites; working experience in a related area is recommended but not required.

Complete one course and the Renewable Energy Essentials series and earn a Faculty of Extension Record of Achievement.

Complete all 3 Renewable Energy Technology Series (Essentials, Solar Energy, and Wind Energy), and be eligible to write the Sustainable Energy Technologies Professional Exam (administered by the Foundational Technologies Institute) for a discounted student rate of $200 CAD (regular $800 CAD).

Frequently Asked Questions (PDF): job prospects, course content, credentialing, and more.

All of us at Extension are looking forward to welcoming you to our virtual classrooms this season with courses that are tailor-made for online delivery. Join us!
A note about COVID-19 measures

If you see a program on our website announced as an in-person or downtown Edmonton offering, please disregard the format—but not the program. Fall & Winter courses have been converted to remote delivery platforms. Register for a course online or apply to a program via email, and keep learning!

  • Can be completed in 3 months
  • Pay as you go
Earn a Series Record of Achievement
in Solar Energy Development and Design

Start today – no need to apply for admission

Complete the core course:

and the Renewable Energy Essentials series:

1. Start by registering in any of the courses listed above.

2. Once all courses completed, request an official Series Record of Achievement.

Com­plete one more course to also earn an addi­tion­al – Wind Ener­gy Devel­op­ment and Design – Record of Achievement.

Com­plete all 3 Renew­able Ener­gy Tech­nol­o­gy Series (Essen­tials, Solar Ener­gy, and Wind Ener­gy), and be eli­gi­ble to write the Sus­tain­able Ener­gy Tech­nolo­gies Pro­fes­sion­al Exam (admin­is­tered by the Foun­da­tion­al Tech­nolo­gies Insti­tute) for a dis­count­ed stu­dent rate of $200 CAD (reg­u­lar $800 CAD).

  • Tuition is paid on a course-by-course basis as you reg­is­ter for your classes.
  • Some cours­es require a text­book at an addi­tion­al cost.
  • Eli­gi­ble for the Cana­da-Alber­ta Job Grant.
  • Cor­po­rate mul­ti-reg­is­tra­tion pack­ages are avail­able for most Exten­sion cours­es. Con­tact us at excorp@​ualberta.​ca for pre­ferred pricing.
  • Mate­ri­als are includ­ed in course fee.
Bursaries and funding opportunities
for Canadian residents: Canada Training Benefit for Alberta employers & employees: Job Grant for UAlberta alumni: PD Grant for UAlberta employees: HRDF

Looking for
something different?

Over 300 courses and 40 programs to help you build the skills you need.

Ready to start this program?

  • Questions: erm@ualberta.ca

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