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LifestyleComplete Solar Energy PV Design Course From Zero To Hero (Udemy.com)
The Most Comprehensive and Detailed Course on Designing Off-grid, On-grid, and Solar Water Pumping Systems for Beginners
Created by: Engr. Ahmed Mahdy
Last updated July 2026
Our take
Based on the ratings of 4,692 students, a sample of their written reviews and the syllabus, as the course stood in July 2026. No course pays to be reviewed.
Ahmed Mahdy's course is a 28 hour walk through solar PV design, starting at how a cell works and ending at sizing, protection, grounding and design software. It calls itself beginner friendly and asks for no prior knowledge, but the syllabus reaches into engineer territory: PVsyst, AutoCAD single line diagrams, and MATLAB and ETAP simulation. It has 113 lectures in 17 sections and was last updated in July 2026, so it is not stale. About 24,500 students have enrolled.
Reviewers mostly praise the teaching. One said the PN junction explanation was clearer than anything they had seen before, and others mention simple examples and feeling confident about PV design afterward. Criticism is mild but real. One reviewer found the content heavy for a beginner course, another called the delivery long winded and hard to follow, and a student on a phone could not read the diagrams. Around 140 of the 4,692 ratings are one or two stars, against 4,015 at four or five.
The balance is uneven. Panels, batteries and AutoCAD each get roughly four to five and a half hours, while the on-grid design section is two lectures and 13 minutes. There are no quizzes or exercises, so it is a watch and follow course. It suits someone who wants the whole picture in one place, including the theory behind the numbers. If you only need hands-on PVsyst or grid-tied design, the coverage is thinner than the title suggests.
Pros
- Explains the physics clearly, with one reviewer praising the PN junction lesson
- Covers sizing, protection and grounding, not just panel theory
- Includes PVsyst, AutoCAD single line diagrams and MATLAB/ETAP work
- Updated July 2026 and backed by more than 4,600 ratings
Cons
- On-grid design is only two lectures and 13 minutes
- No quizzes, exercises or graded projects to check your work
- Some reviewers find it heavy or long winded for a beginner course
It was an eye opener for me the PN junction explanation has never been clear as this
Listed for all levels with no prerequisites, but the AutoCAD and simulation parts suit engineers best.
What you will learn
- Understand how PV cells work
- Learn the difference between parallel and series connection of PV cells
- Understand the advantages and disadvantages of PV cells
- Understand difference between solar cells, modules and arrays
- Learn about the different types of solar cells and their efficiency
- Understand the effect of temperature and insolation on power
- Learn about different methods of charge controllers
- Learn about half cell technology in PV system
- Understand the grid connected system , its components ,advantages and disadvantages
- Understand the off grid system , its components ,advantages and disadvantages
- Learn how to determine PV array maximum system voltage
- Understand the junction box
- Learn how to wire the junction box
- Learn how to size your PV system
- Learn how to determine power consumption demands
- Learn how to size the PV modules
- Learn how to size your inverter
- Understand how to size your battery
- Understand how to size your solar charge controller
- Learn how to size your MPPT charge controller
- Learn about protection of PV system
- Understand how to select fuses to protect strings
- Learn the protection of arrays
- Understand difference between 3 busbars and 5 busbars
- Select the AC busbar and DC Busbar
- Understand the Protection devices for Transformer
- Understand the Inverter Protection
- Learn the grounding of PV system and solar kit
- Understand the surge protection device
- Learn on grid system design by hand calculations.
- Understand how to design on grid system by PVsyst program.
- Understand how to design off grid system by PVsyst program.
- Design an off grid system
- Learn about construction and types of batteries
- Learn how to charge of Lead acid batteries and hydrometer usage
- Learn the maintenance of batteries and methods of charging
- Understand cycle of batteries
- Understand the importance of charge controller
- Select and understand datasheet of the panel
- How to select inverter
- Calculate PV energy according to area
- Understand shading and tilt angle
- Learn mounting of PV system
Course content
17 sections · 113 lectures · 28 hours of video 7 articles
- 1Solar Energy Panels 2 free previews21 lectures · 5.5 hours
- 2Types and Components of PV Systems1 lecture · 24 min
- 3Batteries in PV System21 lectures · 4.1 hours
- 4Charge Controllers in PV System3 lectures · 46 min
- 5Inverters in PV System1 lecture · 55 min
- 6Design of an Off-Grid Solar Energy System4 lectures · 1.8 hours
- 7Protection of a Solar Energy System5 lectures · 2.1 hours
- 8Off-Grid System Design Using PVSyst + 3D Shading Analysis4 lectures · 1.8 hours
- 9Design of a Hybrid PV System2 lectures · 33 min
- 10Design of an On-Grid Solar System2 lectures · 13 min
- 11Design of a PV System Using PVsyst Program2 lectures · 41 min
- 12Solar Water Pumping System2 lectures · 47 min
- 13Design of a PV System Using Excel File1 lecture · 26 min
- 14Basics of Autocad and Single Line Diagram of PV System30 lectures · 5.1 hours
- 15Design of Grounding System8 lectures · 1.7 hours
- 16MATLAB and ETAP PV Simulation5 lectures · 1.4 hours
- 17Bonus Lecture1 lecture
Who it is for
The instructor says it suits
- Solar enthusiasts
- Electrical power engineers
- Mechanical engineers
- Electrical and mechanical students
- Anyone who wants to get knowledge about solar system or PV System
- Complete beginners with zero solar experience or knowledge
What you need before you start
- No prior knowledge!
- Passion to learn!
How it compares
Against the other 335 rated Udemy courses in Engineering on CourseDuck:
- Rating4.5 out of 5higher than 55% of them
- Reviews4,692#15 of 336 by number of reviews
- Length28 hourslonger than 95% of them
- Last updatedJuly 2026more recently than 91% of them
Course Description
"Complete Solar Energy Design Course From Zero To Hero"
This is the only course out there with everything you need to know about solar energy from A to Z.
This course starts with the basic concepts of solar energy to the level you will become a professional in solar energy systems design.
Throughout the course, you will learn:
The fundamentals of solar energy
Components and design of on-grid and off-grid solar systems
Design of hybrid PV systems
Types and selection of solar modules
Types of charge controllers and their selection techniques
Types and selection of different solar inverters
Selection of suitable tilt angle and shading effect in PV systems
Types and selection of batteries in solar energy systems
Design and components of the solar water pumping system
Design of grounding or earthing system
Design of single line diagram of the PV system using the Autocad
Design of on and off-grid PV systems using the PVSyst program.
Design of protection of PV system
After Taking This Course, You Will Be Able To
Understand everything about solar energy systems, such as construction and selecting components such as solar panels, charge controllers, inverters, batteries, and busbars.
Design different solar energy systems such as off-grid, on-grid, and solar water pumping systems.
You will learn how to design protection and earthing system for solar energy systems.
You would be able to apply for jobs in the solar energy field as you will have all the knowledge you need to work in the field.
Bonus Gift:
You will find also the slides for the Ultimate Solar Energy Course for those who are interested in them or having them as a revision for themselves
More than 300 Pages of Solar Energy Course Slides.
Take this course if you've been looking for ONE COURSE with in-depth insight into solar energy.
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Instructor Details
- 4.5 Rating
4,692 Reviews
Engr. Ahmed Mahdy
I am Ahmed Mahdy an electrical power engineer, researcher, and the founder of Khadija Academy. I have helped over 100,000 students from 202 countries achieve career success through simple, easy courses over the last 10 years. In addition, I have a YouTube educational engineering channel called "Engr. Ahmed / Khadija Academy", where I regularly post videos related to electrical engineering. In 2018, I was nominated among the top 10% of instructors on Udemy, and I currently rank among the top instructors in the engineering sector of Udemy.
I have received the award for the best master's thesis in the Faculty of Engineering - Ain Shams University for 2022/2023.
Some of my published research works in the top electrical engineering journals worldwide:
1- Transient stability improvement of wave energy conversion systems connected to power grid using anti-windup-coot optimization strategy - Energy Journal - Impact Factor of 9.0.
2- Nonlinear Modeling and Real-Time Simulation of a Grid-Connected AWS Wave Energy Conversion System - IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy - Impact Factor of 8.8.
3- Modeling and optimal operation of hybrid wave energy and PV system feeding supercharging stations based on golden jackal optimal control strategy - Energy Journal - Impact Factor of 9.0.
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Reviews
By Umunadi O. E. Blessing on 9/19/2026
The lecturer is good with his teaching and explanation just that I am using phone so must of the pictures he is explaining I can't see them well but it is educating
By Gerry Blanc on 9/10/2026
This course is very important to me because I already learned so many things about solar energy installation and also the main concept about of how the system works.
By kilyndra Taylor on 8/10/2026
I am not able to understand the instructor. I find this teaching to be long winded and boring.
By Hagayudha Timotius on 7/23/2026
Kursus ini cocok untuk saya yang ingin memperdalam desain dan sistem PLTS untuk skala perumahan sampai utilitas.
By Uyiosa Richmond Izekor on 7/23/2026
The course has helped refine my understanding of solar energy operation and installations. It has equipped me with the theoretical knowledge of the profession.
By Kavin R on 7/12/2026
Excellent course =, I find it very useful and simple, I am grateful to the engineer Ahmed for making this course. Now I feel confident on the PV Design. Thank you.
By Abhay on 4/20/2026
give me the pdf notes regarding the course for revision before the interview which help to quick reply revision
By Daryll Joseph Osila Barba on 3/30/2026
the course is very well organized. the instructor is very knowledgeable and explains very clearly. I am a civil engineer but I can follow the course without difficulty.
By Richard Madu on 3/21/2026
His teaching is detailed, clear and easy to grasp. I have been into solar installations and needed so many clarifications that I didn't get during my class room training. This video has so far helped me understand some unclear concepts.
By Selva Swetha on 2/28/2026
While many courses are excellent, some could benefit from stricter quality checks to ensure clarity and depth. amazing
By Bernard Cooper on 12/20/2020
It was well delivered with illustration. very good and well explained with examples
By Samuel on 12/20/2020
Step by step learning. Amazing details for non professionals. Lots of very useful resources and clear explanation despite difficult accent from the Egyptian teacher
Quality Score
No CourseDuck member has rated this course yet. Taken it? Give each part a thumbs up or down.
Overall Score : 90 / 100
- Video Duration:
28h - Price: $17.99
- Provider: Udemy
- Updated:
July 2026 - Level:
All Levels - Language:
English - Certificate:
Yes - Lectures:113 in 17 sections
- Students:24,600
- Subtitles:6 languages
- Udemy badge:Bestseller
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