Solar Energy Engineering

Solar Energy Engineering, offered by Delft University of Technology through edX, is an advanced MicroMasters program designed to build graduate-level expertise across the physics, engineering, design, and integration of photovoltaic systems. The program prepares learners for technical and professional roles across systems design, installation, device fabrication, testing, project management, consultancy, and technical sales. It is taught by TU Delft photovoltaics experts with extensive academic and industry experience, including Professor Arno Smets.

Core Content

The program follows a progressive structure covering photovoltaic energy conversion, PV technologies, photovoltaic systems, and the integration of PV systems into microgrids, before culminating in an advanced final course or capstone stage. Learners move from semiconductor physics and solar-cell operation through fabrication and characterization, system components, energy-yield modelling, grid integration, batteries, inverters, microgrids, and reliability. TU Delft recommends following the courses in sequence so that knowledge builds gradually from fundamentals to complete solar-energy systems.

Key Skills

Participants will develop skills in photovoltaic device physics, solar-cell modelling, PV technology selection, system design, energy-yield estimation, grid integration, and microgrid engineering. The program also supports practical capability in device fabrication and characterization, system performance analysis, component selection, reliability assessment, and technical decision-making. These skills are directly relevant to engineering, project development, quality assurance, consulting, and other technical roles across the solar-energy sector.

Target Learners

This program is designed for engineers, scientists, technical professionals, and advanced learners seeking deeper expertise in photovoltaic solar energy. It is particularly relevant for those pursuing or developing careers in solar systems engineering, PV technology, installation, testing, project management, consultancy, or technical sales. Because the MicroMasters is taught at graduate level and progressively develops detailed physics and engineering concepts, it is best suited to learners with a suitable technical or scientific foundation.

Learning Format

Hosted on edX, the program is delivered fully online through a sequence of graduate-level courses with videos, readings, exercises, modelling activities, and real-world applications. The learning pathway is designed to build knowledge progressively, and TU Delft recommends completing the courses in the suggested order, although individual courses may be taken separately depending on prior knowledge and experience. The program combines rigorous technical instruction with hands-on applications and assessments focused on photovoltaic devices, technologies, systems, and grid integration.

Additional Benefits

The program provides a specialised pathway for learners seeking recognised expertise in one of the fastest-growing areas of renewable energy. TU Delft has also designed the MicroMasters as a bridge toward further graduate study: holders of the credential who are admitted to relevant TU Delft master’s programs may be able to request recognition of part of their prior MicroMasters learning. Its strong technical depth and close connection with TU Delft’s photovoltaics research make it particularly valuable for learners pursuing advanced careers in the solar industry.

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