Postgraduate Diploma in Electrical Design and Layout of PV Plants
800-hour online Postgraduate Diploma in Electrical Design and Layout of PV Plants. 8 modules covering IEC 62548 (design requirements for PV arrays), IEC 60364-7-712 (photovoltaic installations) and PVsyst. Dedicated tutor and open enrolment.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Select the main components of a PV plant.
Design the layout and civil works of the plant.
Size the DC system and its cabling.
Design the AC and medium-voltage installation.
Design the earthing system and protections.
Verify compliance with grid code requirements.
Optimise production through energy simulation.
Who it's for
- Photovoltaic design engineer looking to specialise in Electrical Design and Layout of PV Plants.
- Electrical engineer for solar plants looking to specialise in Electrical Design and Layout of PV Plants.
- Layout engineer looking to specialise in Electrical Design and Layout of PV Plants.
- PV performance engineer looking to specialise in Electrical Design and Layout of PV Plants.
- Solar EPC project manager looking to specialise in Electrical Design and Layout of PV Plants.
- Grid compliance engineer looking to specialise in Electrical Design and Layout of PV Plants.
- Graduates in engineering or science seeking to enter the solar photovoltaic sector.
What you'll work with
- IEC 62548 (design requirements for PV arrays)
- IEC 60364-7-712 (photovoltaic installations)
- Royal Decree 337/2014 (high-voltage installations)
- IEC 62446-1 (testing and documentation of PV systems)
- IEC 61724-1 (PV plant monitoring)
- IEC 60909 (short-circuit currents)
- Regulation (EU) 2016/631 (RfG grid code)
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Monofacial and bifacial modules1.2PERC, TOPCon and heterojunction technologies1.3Single-axis trackers and fixed structures1.4Central inverters versus string inverters1.5Junction and combiner boxes1.6Transformer stations1.7Step-up substation1.8SCADA and monitoring systems1.9IEC 62548 and IEC 61730 standards1.10Case study: comparison of inverter configurations
2.1Topographic survey and siting2.2Pitch, GCR and row-to-row shading2.3Trackers and adaptation to terrain2.4Access roads, drainage and fencing2.5Exclusion zones and easements2.6Layout optimisation with software2.7PVcase and PVsyst tools2.8Bifacial gain and albedo study2.9Driven piles and screw foundations2.10Laboratory: layout of a 50 MW plant
3.1String configuration and maximum voltage of 1500 V3.2Temperature coefficients and cold-weather voltage3.3DC cable sizing3.4Voltage drop and losses3.5Overcurrent protection3.6DC fuses and isolators3.7DC surge protection3.8Insulation fault detection3.9String box architecture3.10Practice: string calculation and DC cabling
4.1Sizing of transformer stations4.2Power transformers for PV4.3Ring and radial medium-voltage networks4.4MV cable sizing4.5Medium-voltage switchgear4.6Losses in transformers and cables4.7Night-time reactive power compensation4.8Plant auxiliary services4.9Complete single-line diagrams4.10Workshop: medium-voltage network design
5.1Earthing grid design5.2Step and touch voltages, IEEE 805.3Lightning protection, IEC 623055.4Neutral earthing schemes in plants5.5Protection coordination5.6Interconnection protection5.7Electric arc and safety5.8Short-circuit studies5.9Selectivity between levels5.10Laboratory: earthing grid calculation
6.1Requirements of the NTS for power park modules6.2Reactive power capability6.3Voltage dips and FRT6.4Voltage and frequency control6.5Power Plant Controller6.6Simulation models for the operator6.7Unit and plant certification6.8Power quality studies6.9Conformity tests6.10Case study: PQ curve at the point of connection
7.1Energy simulation in PVsyst7.2System losses and loss diagram7.3Performance ratio PR and capacity factor7.4DC/AC ratio and clipping7.5Levelised cost of energy LCOE7.6Design optimisation versus CAPEX7.7Tender documentation7.8Drawings and technical specifications7.9Detailed engineering review7.10Practice: DC/AC ratio optimisation
8.1Site selection8.2Layout design8.3DC system design8.4AC and medium-voltage network design8.5Earthing and protection8.6Grid requirements compliance8.7Production simulation and LCOE8.8Project documentation8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the enrolment period, which makes it possible to combine with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is PVsyst, PVcase, AutoCAD, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, ETAP, in free, academic or evaluation versions. The assessments are based on real procedures for PV plant layout design, DC and AC cable calculation, and verification of grid code compliance. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Select the main components of a PV plant.
Design the layout and civil works of the plant.
Size the DC system and its cabling.
Design the AC and medium-voltage installation.
Design the earthing system and protections.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow technical regulations.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 800 hours spread over 6 to 8 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with PVsyst, PVcase, AutoCAD, DIgSILENT PowerFactory and ETAP. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An in-house SEIUM diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised towards the higher programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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