Solar
Energy Storage
NABCEP
Batteries and Storage
Solar + Storage
Energy Storage Associate Boot Camp
About this course
A Course for Energy Storage Technical Professionals
Energy storage systems (ESS) are booming and poised for strong growth. This is your chance to get access to highly technical and up to date information on the latest best practices for ESSs.
Knowing the material in this course is the best way to get the entry level knowledge to be ESS smart and ready for the second step in the renewable energy revolution. Besides bottling sunshine and using it at a different time, ESSs can make the grid run more smoothly and even reduce the use of fossil fuels without any renewables on the grid. This course will go into the different technologies, focusing more specifically on lithium batteries.Â
We will also discuss electric vehicles, which are already loads on our grid, but will soon become sources with bidirectional charging stations and EV home backup.
This course is included in these bundles
Course outline
7 modules
18 - 22 hours to complete
19:16 hours
of video lectures
Welcome • 12 assignments
Orientation Materials
Welcome • 12 assignments
Orientation Materials
This course is self-paced, so you don’t need to be logged in at any specific time. You can get started immediately after you enroll and the course materials will remain in your account with minimum guaranteed access for 12 months (1 year) after enrollment.
- Navigating Your Course Module: Step-by-Step Guide. (01:05 minutes)
- Connect with your instructor Sean on LinkedIn
- Energy Storage Presentation (.pdf)
- Book: Energy Storage Basics
- PV Batts
- Welcome!
- Set up email notifications and your student profile
- Discussion Board Request from Sean and Notes on Posting Discussion Board Questions
- Books and resources
- Introduce yourself on the discussion board
- Live Online Proctoring (LOP) for All NABCEP Exams!
- Want to help make this class better?
Module 1 • 7 assignments
History of Energy Storage, Markets and Applications for ESS's, and Safety Basics
Module 1 • 7 assignments
History of Energy Storage, Markets and Applications for ESS's, and Safety Basics
This week you'll learn about the beginnings of solar PV technology, current markets and applications for the technology, and the basic safety considerations and requirements for solar PV installers. Topics include: different types of PV systems, OSHA, National Electrical Code (NEC), arc flashes, overcurrent protection devices, fall protection, and lockout-tagout (LOTO).
- Welcome! Plus AC and DC Coupling (27:43 minutes) Preview
- Energy Storage Systems Overview (12:33 minutes)
- Electrochemistry and History of Batteries (14:37 minutes)
- Electricity Basics (13:35 minutes)
- ESS Uses (26:42 minutes)
- ESS Boot Camp Module 1 Quiz
- Quiz 1 Answers and Explanations (.pdf)
Module 2 • 8 assignments
Energy Storage Fundamentals
Module 2 • 8 assignments
Energy Storage Fundamentals
This week covers concepts, definitions, terminology, and formulas related to electricity. It also lays out the science, data, and principles you must understand to grasp how solar energy is collected. Topics include: Ohm's Law, power, energy, voltage, current, batteries, multimeters, measurement, types of DC connections, transmission, insolation data, solar time, sun paths, shading, and solar radiation.
- ESS Units (25:58 minutes)
- ESS Chemistries Part 1 (21:08 minutes) Preview
- ESS Chemistries Part 2 (22:26 minutes)
- Lithium Chemistries Deeper Dive Part 1 (14:55 minutes)
- Lithium Chemistries Deeper Dive Part 2 (21:44 minutes)
- Series and Parallel Wiring (11:29 minutes)
- ESS Boot Camp Module 2 Quiz
- Quiz 2 Answers and Explanations (.pdf)
Module 3 • 15 assignments
Common components for Energy Storage Systems
Module 3 • 15 assignments
Common components for Energy Storage Systems
For small and large scale energy storage systems, we will cover some of the top brands, how they work and how they are designed.
- Common Components for Residential Energy Storage Systems Part 1 (1 of 2) (20:40 minutes) Preview
- Common Components for Residential Energy Storage Systems Part 1 (2 of 2) (31:15 minutes)
- Common Components for Residential Energy Storage Systems Part 2 (1 of 2) (25:14 minutes)
- Common Components for Residential Energy Storage Systems Part 2 (2 of 2) (21:25 minutes)
- Common Components for Residential Energy Storage Systems Part 3 (1 of 2) (18:05 minutes)
- Common Components for Residential Energy Storage Systems Part 3 (2 of 2) (15:26 minutes)
- Common Components for Residential Energy Storage Systems Part 4 (1 of 2) (16:41 minutes)
- Common Components for Residential Energy Storage Systems Part 4 (2 of 2) (28:43 minutes)
- Common Components for Utility and Commercial-Scale Energy Storage Systems Part 1 (27:35 minutes)
- Common Components for utility and Commercial-Scale Energy Storage Systems Part 2 (1 of 2) (16:41 minutes)
- Common Components for utility and Commercial-Scale Energy Storage Systems Part 2 (2 of 2) (20:46 minutes)
- Common Components for utility and Commercial-Scale Energy Storage Systems Part 3 (1 of 2) (18:39 minutes)
- Common Components for utility and Commercial-Scale Energy Storage Systems Part 3 (2 of 2) (21:00 minutes)
- ESS Boot Camp Module 3 Quiz
- Quiz 3 Answers and Explanations (.pdf)
Module 4 • 11 assignments
Various Energy Storage System Topics.
Module 4 • 11 assignments
Various Energy Storage System Topics.
In this module we cover virtual power plants, C-rates, supercapicitors, lithium vs. lead-acid batteries, battery discharging, state of charge, 3-phase power, grounding and off-grid systems.
- Virtual Power Plants (VPP) (13:48 minutes) Preview
- C-Rates, Supercapacitors, and more (19:36 minutes)
- C-Rates Continued, Battery Basics, and more (19:43 minutes)
- Lithium-Ion Batteries vs. Lead-Acid Batteries (30:51 minutes)
- Battery Discharging Graphs Part 1 (24:59 minutes)
- Battery Discharging Graphs Part 2 (19:14 minutes)
- State of Charge (28:17 minutes)
- 3-Phase Power, System Grounding, and Off-Grid Systems Part 1 (22:19 minutes)
- 3-Phase Power, System Grounding, and Off-Grid Systems Part 2 (20:02 minutes)
- ESS Boot Camp Module 4 Quiz
- Quiz 4 Answers and Explanations (.pdf)
Module 5 • 32 assignments
More ESS!
Module 5 • 32 assignments
More ESS!
- Line/Load Side Connections, IPC's, grounding, and more! Part 1 (24:18 minutes)
- Line/Load Side Connections, IPC's, grounding, and more! Part 2 (21:45 minutes)
- NEC Update for IPCs effective 1/1/23 even for the 2020 NEC.
- Different ESS Technologies Part 1 (19:14 minutes) Preview
- Different ESS Technologies Part 2 (19:51 minutes)
- Flywheels Part 1 (13:02 minutes)
- Flywheels Part 2 (21:01 minutes)
- Gravity (12:40 minutes)
- Energy Storage System Markets Part 1 (22:30 minutes)
- Energy Storage System Markets Part 2 (17:35 minutes)
- Energy Storage Tech Comparisons including Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Lithium-Ion vs. Lead-Acid, Sodium Sulfur, UL 9540 and UL 1973 Part 1 (19:23 minutes)
- Energy Storage Tech Comparisons including Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Lithium-Ion vs. Lead-Acid, Sodium Sulfur, UL 9540 and UL 1973 Part 2 (21:01 minutes)
- NEC and Energy Storage Systems (ESS) including Article 706 Parts I and II (1 of 2) (23:35 minutes)
- NEC and Energy Storage Systems (ESS) including Article 706 Parts I and II (2 of 2) (20:59 minutes)
- NEC Article 706 Energy Storage Systems part III to end (1 of 2) (15:28 minutes)
- NEC Article 706 Energy Storage Systems part III to end (2 of 2) (16:08 minutes)
- Energy Storage System Code in the NEC besides Article 706 ESS Part 1 (22:23 minutes)
- Energy Storage System Code in the NEC besides Article 706 ESS Part 2 (16:13 minutes)
- NEC 4- Chapter 6, 7, 8 and 9 (21:18 minutes)
- NEC 5 - Article 705 Interconnected Power Production Sources Part 1 (21:33 minutes)
- NEC 5 - Article 705 Interconnected Power Production Sources Part 2 (17:52 minutes)
- Backfeeding the grid with a Tesla Model S (02:01 minutes)
- International Residential Code (IRC) and Energy Storage Systems (ESS) with Bill Brooks (advanced topic) (27:36 minutes)
- 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), International Building Code (IBC) and International Fire Code (IFC) with Bill Brooks (advanced topic) (16:21 minutes)
- International Fire Code (IFC) and Energy Storage Systems (ESS) with Bill Brooks (advanced topic) (07:42 minutes)
- 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) and Energy Storage Systems (ESS) with Bill Brooks (BB) (18:12 minutes)
- ESS Boot Camp Module 5 Quiz
- Quiz 5 Answers and Explanations (.pdf)
- ESS Boot Camp Final Exam
- Final Exam Answers and Explanations (.pdf)
- New Information Version 2
- How to Check your Score in NABCEP Exam (01:00 minutes)
Conclusion • 5 assignments
Feedback and Additional Resources
Conclusion • 5 assignments
Feedback and Additional Resources
This is our last module but you still have access to the all of course materials for 12 months (1 year), so keep working and you'll be able to complete the course at your own pace. After your year of access expires you can optionally extend access with a HeatSpring Membership. Enjoy the course and keep in touch!
- Connect with your instructor Sean on LinkedIn if you have not already
- 1 Year of Access to Course Materials
- Feedback: 2-minute Exit Survey
- Consider Joining as a HeatSpring Member
- Certificate of Completion: Request a Certificate
Continuing Education Units
Approved for the following CEUs
- NABCEP Advanced Credit Hours
- NABCEP JTA
- NABCEP Building or Fire Code
- NABCEP RE Elective
- NABCEP PV Associate Renewal
Approved NABCEP CEU Hours
| NABCEP Credential | Advanced Hours for Exam | Recertification CEU Hours | NEC | JTA | RE Elective | Building or Fire Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 18 | 6 | 18 | 12 | 2 | |
| 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 18 | 18 | 6 | 18 | 12 | 2 | |
| 18 | 18 | 6 | 18 | 12 | 2 | |
| 18 | 18 | 6 | 18 | 12 | 2 | |
| 18 | 18 | 0 | 18 | 12 | 2 | |
| 18 | 18 | 6 | 18 | 12 | 2 |
NABCEP Registered Provider
This course counts towards the training requirements for taking NABCEP professional certification exams and CEUs for renewing all certifications.
Instructor
Sean White
2014 IREC Trainer of the Year, HeatSpring / White House Energy Inc. / Sean White Solar / Norcal Solar
Sean White was the 2014 Interstate Renewable Energy Council Trainer of the Year. He is an IREC Certified Solar PV Master Trainer and has authored several books on solar. He contributed to the development of the NABCEP PV Installation Professional Job Task Analysis and has been a member of the NABCEP PV Installation Professional Technical Committee. Sean is a...
Frequently asked questions
Full FAQHow does this course work?
You can begin this online course instantly upon enrollment. This 5 module course is delivered entirely online. This course is self-paced and you can set your own schedule to complete the materials. You can begin the lecture videos and other course materials as soon as you enroll. During your year of access the instructor will be in the course answering questions on the discussion board. After successfully completing the course, you will be able to generate a certificate of completion.
How long do I have access to the materials?
Students get unlimited access to the course materials as soon as they enroll and for one year (365 days) after enrollment. Rewatch videos and review assignments as many times as you want. View updates the instructor makes to the course as the industry advances. Return to your course anytime with online access from anywhere in the world. After the one year of access expires, access can be extended by joining as a HeatSpring member. A single membership extends access to course materials for all past enrollments.
Is there a certificate of completion?
Yes, when you complete this course you are eligible for a certificate of completion from HeatSpring. You can download your certificate as soon as you have completed all of the course requirements. Students can easily share their verified certificates on their LinkedIn profiles using our LinkedIn integration.
Can I register multiple people?
Yes please visit our HeatSpring for Teams page to get a group discount.
