Solar

Utility-Scale

Inspection, O&M

Leadership in Utility-Scale Solar Construction [Career Bridge Program]

Andy Nyce

Course description

This a bundle of 4 courses taught by Andy Nyce:

This is a structured program designed to help you move into a leadership role on utility-scale solar construction projects. Job titles for this career path include:

Site Superintendant
Project Manager
VP of Construction
VP of Operations

We recommend taking these courses in the prescribed order, and talk about what you’re learning with your on-the-job mentor. Here’s what we assume about you:

You have experience working as a solar technician
You have a mentor supporting you on the job
You are self-motivated to make this leap in your career

You can finish the series as quickly as you like, or take up to three years to complete them. Just like graduate school can be completed full time, or part time in the evenings.

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Preview the course material

Check out a free preview of the course by clicking the button below. This is a live assignment from the course and will give you a good sense for what the course will be like.

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Course Outline #1 - Career Path: Leadership in Utility-Scale Solar Construction

Module 1 - Learn more about this career path

Introduction to Leadership in Utility Scale Solar (20:28 minutes)
Introduction to the Course (optional download) (.pdf)
Explore the IREC Solar Career Map
2023 IREC Career Job Census
How the Inflation Reduction Act will Supercharge Solar in the US
Workers flock to renewable energy jobs

Module 2 - Interviews and perspectives from people doing these jobs

Project Manager - Dylan Reitenbach (06:42 minutes)
Head of Business Development (Manufacturing) - Rebecca Guo (10:38 minutes)
Construction Manager - Becky Sorenson (19:23 minutes)
VP of Construction - Anna Bautista (18:25 minutes)
Podcast - Solars Biggest Risk - Not Enough Workers!
Podcast - Bringing Solar Jobs to the Midwest
Podcast - The Future of Working in Renewable Energy
Podcast - Managing Large Scale Solar for Success

Course Outline #2 - Understanding Utility Scale Solar Construction Drawings

Welcome - 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.

Set up email notifications and your student profile
Introduce yourself on the discussion board

Module 1 - Introduction to the Course

Introduction to the Course (13:52 minutes) Preview
Introduction to the Course (optional download) (.pdf)
How the Inflation Reduction Act will Supercharge Solar in the US

Module 2 - Basics of Solar PV

Lesson 1 - Basics of Solar PV (35:06 minutes)
Lesson 1 - Basics of Solar PV (optional download) (.pdf)
Basics of Solar PV Quiz
Key Components in a Utility Scale Solar Power Plant
Additional Resources & Links
A Guide for Developers and Investors (.pdf)

Module 3 - Basics of Drawings

Lesson 2 - Basics of Construction Drawings (27:06 minutes)
Lesson 2 - Basics of Construction Drawings (optional download) (.pdf)
Basics of Drawings Quiz
Basics of Bluebeam Revu
Basics of Adobe Acrobat
Additional Resources & Links

Module 4 - Details of Drawings

Lesson 3 - Details of Construction Drawings (01:21:07 hours)
Lesson 3 - Details of Construction Drawings (optional download) (.pdf)
Details of Drawings Quiz
Topography & Contour Lines
Using an Architectural Scale on Construction Drawings
Using Bluebeam's Calibrate Scale Feature

Module 5 - Expanding Your Opportunities

Lesson 4 - Expanding your Opportunities (12:08 minutes)
Lesson 4 - Expanding your Opportunities (optional download) (.pdf)

Conclusion - 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!

Share the course on LinkedIn and with your wider network!
1 Year of Access to Course Materials
Feedback: 2-minute Exit Survey
Consider Joining as a HeatSpring Member
Certificate of Completion: Request a Certificate

Course Outline #3 - Quality Management in Utility Scale Solar Construction

Welcome - Orientation Materials

Set up email notifications and your student profile
Introduce yourself on the discussion board
Introduction to the Course (14:51 minutes)
Introduction to the Course (optional download) (.pdf)

Module 1 - Basics of Solar

A high level introduction of the basics of solar PV. Firstly we’re going to look at some real fundamentals of solar PV. We'll go through the real basics of electricity so that we’re all on the same page there – we'll review the theory behind voltage, current, power and energy– and make sure that our understanding of these concepts is on point. We’ll then look at the flow of electricity though a solar PV plant – and touch on some of the key components like combiner boxes, inverters and transformers, which we’ll come back to later in the section in more detail. Then from a high level, we’ll look at some of the key players who are involved in the development, engineering, installation and long term maintenance of a large scale solar power plant… and the flow of a project from initiation all the way through to completion.

Basics of Solar (35:07 minutes)
Basics of Solar (optional download) (.pdf)
Engineering - Basics of Solar - Quiz
Engineering - Electrical Flow - Quiz
How the Inflation Reduction Act will Supercharge Solar in the US

Module 2 - Quality Management Principles

In this section, we’re going to first lay the groundwork for quality management – explaining why it’s so important in all construction activities, but particularly utility scale solar… and detailing how quality is a topic that has an outsized effect on many other critical processes and systems on a project… and can affect safety, schedule, budget and client relationships. We’ll then look at some wider quality management principles – gaining a general understanding of concepts like customer focus, continual improvement, process based planning and using data to make good decisions. And finally, we’ll wrap up this section by diving into Quality Assurance and Quality Control – or QA/QC. These are two concepts that are often used in the same breath, and many people don’t actually understand the core differences between these two components of a quality management system – so I think it’s worthwhile spending some time discussing the differences and interactions between QA and QC.

Quality Management Principles (18:35 minutes)
Quality Management Principles (optional download) (.pdf)
Quality Management Principles - Quiz
Additional Resource (PVTech Article) (.pdf)
Top Causes of Solar Performance Issues

Module 3 - Ensuring Quality in Utility Scale Solar Construction

We’ll begin by reemphazing the importance of planning – and how critical it is to go into projects well prepared. We’ll talk in depth about best practices for quality management in solar construction, and dive deep into the various inspections that need to be undertaken at each step of the build. We’ll then spend some time talking about drawings, and making sure that we have a thorough understanding of why well detailed engineering drawings, solid revision control and good RFI processes are so critical for a high quality project. We’ll touch base on quality documentation, and best practices for designing and managing this paperwork. And then we’ll finish up by going through lessons learned procedures and how to ensure ongoing improvement is a part of your teams’ culture.

Ensuring Quality in Utility Scale Solar Construction (26:13 minutes)
Ensuring Quality in Utility Scale Solar Construction (optional download) (.pdf)
Quality in Utility Scale Solar - Quiz
Sample FAI and QC Checklist Templates (.xlsx)

Module 4 - Expanding Your Opportunities

In this section, we’re going to zoom out a bit from the highly technical and site specific discussions that we’ve been having over the previous lectures – and discuss some broader concepts in regards to career planning, leadership skills, resume building, professional etiquette and a whole lot more. Our goal here is just to touch on some of these ideas and remind you of their broader importance – I’ve seen plenty of people held back from taking the next step in their career because although their technical expertise was solid, they weren’t perceived as ‘client facing’, or their resume was nowhere near up to scratch. I’ve always thought that these are relatively easy things to get right – but you might not know what you don’t know! Hopefully we can help change that and give some perspective of what employers are looking for and provide some tips and tricks to help you take the next step in your career – and truly expand your opportunities.

Expanding Your Opportunities (12:08 minutes)
Expanding Your Opportunities (optional download) (.pdf)

Conclusion - Feedback and Additional Resources

1 Year of Access to Course Materials
Feedback: 2-minute Exit Survey
Consider Joining as a HeatSpring Member
Certificate of Completion: Request a Certificate
Post about your positive experience with your network!

Course Outline #4 - Utility Scale Solar Construction & Project Management

Welcome - Orientation Materials

Introduction to the Course (17:01 minutes) Preview
Introduction to the Course (.pdf)
Set up email notifications and your student profile
Introduce yourself on the discussion board

Module 1 - Engineering and Procurement

Engineering - Basics of Solar (14:27 minutes)
Engineering - Basics of Solar - Quiz
Engineering - Electrical Flow (07:32 minutes)
Engineering - Electrical Flow - Quiz
Engineering - Design (12:35 minutes)
Engineering - Design - Quiz
Design - Additional Resources & Links
Procurement - Materials (08:35 minutes)
Procurement - Materials - Quiz
Materials - Additional Resources and Links
Read the Additional Resources and Post a Question on the Discussion Board
Optional - Download the slides for the next video - Basics (.pdf)
Optional - Download the slides for the next video - Electrical Flow (.pdf)
Optional - Download the slides for the next video - Design (.pdf)
Optional - Download the slides for the next video - Materials (.pdf)

Module 2 - Development & Owners Engineering

Development - Early Stage (10:04 minutes)
Development - Basics (08:43 minutes)
A Guide for Developers and Investors (.pdf)
Development - Pre-Execution (07:56 minutes)
How the Inflation Reduction Act will Supercharge Solar in the US
Optional - Download the slides for the next video - Early Stage (.pdf)
Optional - Download the slides for the next video - Development (.pdf)
Optional - Download the slides for the next video - Pre-Execution (.pdf)

Module 3 - Construction

Construction - Basics (20:24 minutes)
Construction - Basics - Quiz
Safety Practices
Journey to Safety Excellence
Construction - Mechanical (10:06 minutes)
Construction - Mechanical - Quiz
Mechanical - Additional Resources - Sunfolding
Erthos - Solar, Simplified
Construction - Electrical (06:47 minutes)
Construction - Electrical - Quiz
Construction - Tools & Equipment (03:36 minutes)
Construction - Tools & Equipment - Quiz
Construction - Quality (10:54 minutes)
Construction - Quality - Quiz
Quality - Additional Links and Resources
Construction - Field Engineering (04:09 minutes)
Construction - Field Engineering - Quiz
Assignment - Racking Systems Analysis Template (.docx)
Assignment - Racking Systems Analysis
Optional - Job Hazard Analysis (.doc)
Optional - Download the slides for the next video - Basics (.pdf)
Optional - Download the slides for the next video - Mechanical (.pdf)
Optional - Download the slides for the next video - Electrical (.pdf)
Optional - Download the slides for the next video - Tools & Equipment (.pdf)
Optional - Download the slides for the next video - Quality (.pdf)
Optional - Download the slides for the next video - Field Engineering (.pdf)
Pre-Construction Checklist (.xlsx)

Module 4 - Commissioning, Testing & Next Steps

Commissioning & Testing (12:42 minutes)
Commissioning - Quiz
Expanding Your Opportunities (11:23 minutes)
Additional Resources (youtube webinar)
Additional Resource (PVTech Article) (.pdf)
Optional - Download the slides for the next video (Expanding your Opportunities) (.pdf)
Optional - Download the slides for the next video (Commissioning) (.pdf)

Conclusion - Feedback and Additional Resources

Join the Exclusive LinkedIn Page for Additional Connections & Discussion
Post about your positive experience with your network!
1 Year of Access to Course Materials
Feedback: 2-minute Exit Survey
Consider Joining as a HeatSpring Member
Certificate of Completion: Request a Certificate

Instructor

Andy Nyce

Sr. Director of Project Management, Erthos Inc.

I'm Andy Nyce - originally from New Zealand, but I've spent the last nine years in the United States in a range of engineering, construction, project management and quality control roles in the large scale renewables industry. I've been directly involved in over 1.5GW of execution at every level of installation, management and commissioning. I'm currently the Director... Learn more

Ratings

4.7

131 reviews

Courses with student ratings: 4

by Bethel G 08/21/2023

by Stephanie Davis 08/01/2023

As a new analyst in the solar field, this course helped to provide me with the basics plus a deeper understanding of the processes and functions of solar. I would recommend it to anyone who has limited knowledge of the field!

by Edward Maunder 04/30/2023

As somebody with no experience in the solar industry I found this course very easy to understand and learn from, it offered fantastic breakdowns of every step on solar construction while providing strong technical details that were easy to understand.

by Leslie Derramona 08/10/2022

After taking this course I realized the potential the solar industry had and have an increased desire to learn more. This course was well put together and is a great way to get knowledge in the solar industry.

by Joshua Dean, Program Manager, Sunfolding 02/28/2022

Overall great information, recommend this course to anyone who gets involved in utility scale projects.

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Frequently asked questions

How does this course work?

You can begin this online course instantly upon enrollment. This 1 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.

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