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EDWartens UK

Free course · Renewable energy

Rooftop Solar PV Design and Installation

Design, install and commission a 3.68 kW to 50 kW rooftop solar system the British way: irradiance and PVGIS, MCS standards, modules and inverters, sizing from an electricity bill, site survey and roof structure, string and cable sizing to BS 7671, protection, earthing and lightning, batteries, G98/G99 grid connection and the Smart Export Guarantee, safe work at height, testing and Part P, and yield and payback.

See the modules

Free to learn. Verifiable certificate £19 when you pass the final exam (optional, VAT included).

Level
Beginner
Modules
14
Video
17 hours
Price
Free

Outcome

What you will be able to do

Read irradiance data from PVGIS and turn it into peak sun hours; read module and inverter datasheets; size an on-grid array from a year of GB electricity bills; survey a roof for shade, structure and UK hazards; size strings against the inverter's voltage and MPPT limits at British temperatures; size DC and AC cables to BS 7671; specify isolators, fuses, SPDs, RCDs and labels to BS 7671 Section 712; earth the array and keep it clear of lightning protection; size a battery for a hybrid system with the IET Code of Practice in mind; take a home system through G98 or G99 and the Smart Export Guarantee; install it safely under the Work at Height Regulations 2005; test and commission it to BS EN IEC 62446-1 and BS 7671 Part 6 with Part P notification; and work out performance ratio, yield and simple payback.

  • Turn PVGIS irradiation into peak sun hours and an energy estimate for a British roof
  • Read module and inverter datasheets and correct them for temperature
  • Size an on-grid array from a year of GB electricity bills
  • Survey a roof for shade, structure and UK hazards such as asbestos cement and fragile roofs
  • Size strings for British temperatures and the MPPT window
  • Size DC and AC cables to BS 7671 and specify protection to Section 712
  • Size a battery and a hybrid inverter, with the IET Code of Practice in mind
  • Take a system through G98 or G99 and the Smart Export Guarantee, then commission it to BS EN IEC 62446-1 with Part P notification

Software

Free tools only: PVGIS (web), SolarEdge Designer (web, free account), SAM, the System Advisor Model (free download, free account), Google Earth and a spreadsheet.

Hardware

None. A tape measure, a compass app and access to a roof you can reach safely make the survey task more real.

Syllabus

14 modules

Each module has video lessons, notes and a short quiz. The final exam closes the course.

  1. 1The sun, irradiance and peak sun hours6 lessons
  2. 2Panels and inverters, and reading their datasheets6 lessons
  3. 3Load and consumption analysis from an electricity bill5 lessonsLab
  4. 4Site survey, shading and roof structure8 lessons
  5. 5Array layout and string sizing8 lessonsLab
  6. 6DC and AC cable sizing and voltage drop5 lessonsLab
  7. 7Protection: DC isolators, fuses, SPDs, RCDs and BS 7671 Section 7129 lessonsLab
  8. 8Earthing and lightning protection for rooftop PV5 lessons
  9. 9Batteries and hybrid system sizing8 lessons
  10. 10Grid connection: G98, G99 and the Smart Export Guarantee10 lessons
  11. 11Mounting, installation sequence and working at height6 lessons
  12. 12Testing, commissioning and Building Regulations notification8 lessonsLab
  13. 13Operation, monitoring, yield and payback8 lessons
  14. 14Final Assessment1 lesson

How it works

How this course works

  1. Watch the video lessonsOne module at a time, at your own pace.
  2. Take the module quizA short quiz at the end of each module shows what stuck.
  3. Keep your notesWrite in My notes beside each module and ask the trainer if you are stuck.
  4. Practise in the labOptionalTry a task from the module in the EDWartens Lab, in your browser.
  5. Sit the final examPass it once you have been through the modules.
  6. Certificate, if you want oneOptionalPaid, and only after you pass. Anyone can check it online.

EDWartens Lab

Practise this in the EDWartens Lab

Test a solar string, isolate the DC side safely and find an EV charger fault in the Lab's Solar and EV simulator.

Works alongside Rooftop Solar PV Design and Installation. The Lab is solar and ev charging practice in your browser: no install, no hardware, free to use. Sign in as a learner and it opens with your account.

Open the free lab See the Lab
Solar and EV charging: Commission solar and EV.

Levels to try with this course

Optional. Skip it whenever you like: it never blocks your progress or your certificate.

Why practise in a lab

Technical work is judged on what you can do: wiring, commissioning, finding a fault. Doing a task yourself teaches more than watching it a second time, and a lab lets you try it safely before you meet real equipment. It does not replace working on real hardware.

  • Practise safely, so a mistake costs nothing.
  • The lab checks your work like a site test, so you know when it is right.
  • Free, in your browser, with nothing to install.

Certificate

An optional certificate when you pass

Learning is free. Pass the final exam and you can have a certificate for £19, including VAT, with a number employers can check online. It records that you completed a free online course; it is not a regulated qualification or a CPD certificate.

  • Your name, the course, its study time and your final exam score
  • A unique certificate number and a QR code to its verification page
  • Issued by Wartens Ltd; add it to your LinkedIn profile in one click
  • Pay now or after you pass: it is issued the moment you pass the final

How the certificate works

Sample certificate for Rooftop Solar PV Design and Installation

Credits

Who made the lessons

The video lessons belong to their creators. EDWartens wrote the study plan, notes, quizzes and the final exam.

  • ISA Academy - International Solar Alliance

    the lessons "Module 14 - Solar Radiation and Solar Path", "Module 5: Inverters and Power Conditioning Units of Solar PV: I-SED Training and Learning", "Module 7 - PV System & Electrical Components" and 4 more

  • Gary Does Solar

    the lesson "Find Out How Much Solar Power Your Home Can Generate (using the PVGIS utility)"

  • Materials & Manufacturing Training at Swansea Uni

    the lesson "Using PVGIS to Calculate Solar Yield for Renewable Energy Projects"

  • UNICEF Solar Hub

    the lesson "Accessing Irradiance & Temperature Data from PVGIS"

  • Encraft

    the lesson "MCS compliant Solar PV Calculator"

  • ReneSola Global

    the lesson "How to read a Solar Panel Technical Data Sheet Understanding IV Curves ReneSola Vitus"

  • Design of photovoltaic systems

    the lessons "Datasheet study", "Effect of temperature", "PV system design - load profile" and 5 more

  • The Solar Energy Channel by Paradise Energy

    the lesson "When to Use String Inverters vs. Microinverters"

  • DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse

    the lesson "How to Size your Solar Power System"

  • Schneider Electric

    the lessons "Photovoltaic Self-Consumption: The 5 Most Frequently Asked Questions", "Photovoltaic Self-Consumption: 4 Ways to Manage Excess PV Production"

  • SepiSolar

    the lesson "How to Perform a Solar Site Survey"

  • Solmetric

    the lesson "Solmetric MCS feature"

  • The Guided By Safety Channel

    the lesson "RE3 Guide: Fire Safety for Rooftop Solar Panels"

  • wienerberger UK

    the lesson "How to Install In-Roof Solar"

  • HeatSpring

    the lesson "What is String Sizing in PV Solar Design?"

  • Mayfield Renewables

    the lesson "PV String Sizing Calculations"

  • IECCalc

    the lessons "PV String Sizing Calculation", "Solar PV DC Voltage Drop Calculation"

  • SolarEdgePV

    the lesson "Creating residential projects in SolarEdge's Designer"

  • Broughton's Electrical Group Ltd

    the lesson "A basic introduction to cable sizing calculations - BS7671"

  • Cleversolarpower by Nick

    the lesson "Cable Size for Solar Panels - How to Size Wire for Voltage Drop"

  • eFIXX

    the lessons "Do you need to fit a DC isolator?| Solar Inverter Installation UK", "DON'T Install DC Isolators On Solar, Electricians Warned", "What is a Surge Protection Device (SPD)? and How Do They Work?" and 1 more

  • Modecsoft Ltd

    the lesson "ElectricalOM Webinar - Solar PV Design based on BS 7671 Section 712"

  • Roland W

    the lesson "In-Depth: Earthing and Bonding of Solar Inverters. Why?"

  • LEARN ELECTRICS

    the lessons "PNB & PME DIFFERENCES - EARTHING SYSTEMS - BS7671 AMENDMENT 4 - MUST KNOW", "PART P WHAT IS IT? The Building Regulations and Approved Document P."

  • Photovoltaics Explained

    the lessons "Lightning & Surge Protection: Course Photovoltaics #28", "PV System Yield: Course Photovoltaics #36"

  • IET - Institution of Engineering and Technology

    the lesson "IET Wiring Regulations BS7671 Amendment 4: Stationary Secondary Batteries Explained"

  • Speak to the Geek

    the lessons "Solar Wiring Walkthrough: GivEnergy All-in-One Battery and Gateway with SolarEdge Inverter", "Solar and Battery Payback Calculator - with real data! How long does it take to get your m"

  • The Natural Energy Company

    the lesson "DNO Approval Explained for Solar & Home Batteries"

  • CCL Components Ltd

    the lesson "Avoid solar PV project delays: How to use the ENA Connect Direct Register (G98, G99, G100"

  • Grid Guru

    the lesson "Getting Your DNO G98 & G99 Applications Correct !"

  • British Gas

    the lesson "What is the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG)?"

  • health and safety at work

    the lesson "Work at Height"

  • Blue Electrics

    the lesson "Installing Solar Panels on a UK roof - Full Walkthrough"

  • Artisan Electrics

    the lesson "5 MISTAKES to avoid when installing Solar"

  • chriskitcher

    the lessons "Solar PV Testing with Chris Kitcher 'Open Circuit Test' Episode 2", "Solar PV insulation resistance test with Chris Kitcher."

  • GreenPro

    the lesson "Completing the Solar PV Handover Certificate"

  • Prof. Dr. Henrik te Heesen

    the lesson "Solar Energy. 9 Performance Ratio"

  • Sunsave

    the lesson "What are the best UK solar export tariffs? (August 2026)"

Questions

About this course

Who is this rooftop solar course for?
Electrical and electronics graduates, apprentices, electricians moving into solar, and installers who want the design behind the work, in Great Britain. You should know volts, amps and watts; no solar experience is needed.
Is the course really free?
Yes. Every module, the notes, the worked problems, the project and the final assessment are free. The only paid item is the certificate, if you want it.
What software do I need?
Only free tools: PVGIS in the browser, SolarEdge Designer with a free account, SAM (the System Advisor Model) as a free download, Google Earth and a spreadsheet. Every calculation can also be done by hand.
Does it cover G98, G99 and the Smart Export Guarantee?
Yes. It explains when G98 (connect and inform) and G99 (apply and wait) apply, the steps with the distribution network operator, and how the Smart Export Guarantee pays for exports. Great Britain has no net metering. The course states no tariff figures; suppliers publish the current rates.
Which standards does it follow?
MCS standards, BS 7671 including Section 712 and Part 6, BS EN IEC 62446-1 for testing and commissioning, BS EN 62305 for lightning protection, BS EN 50618 for solar cable, and Part P of the Building Regulations in England. Standards are paraphrased, never copied.
What certificate do I get?
An EDWartens Certificate of Completion, issued when you finish the modules and pass the final assessment, with a number anyone can verify on our site. It is not MCS certification, a competent person scheme registration or an installer licence; electrical work must be done or supervised by people competent under the rules where you work.
How long does the course take?
About 11 hours of video, or about 17 hours with the notes, worked problems and practice tasks, at your own pace.
How is this different from the PVsyst course?
This course covers rooftop systems from 3.68 kW to 50 kW with free tools; PVsyst Solar Power Plant Design goes on to utility-scale simulation. It prepares you for work such as solar design, installation support or commissioning, but it does not promise a job.

The Professional Module is five live days of Siemens PLC, HMI and SCADA with an instructor, then a resume session and a CPD certificate.

See the Professional Module