About this course

A Course for Energy Storage Technical Professionals

Energy storage systems (ESS) are booming and poised for strong growth. This is your chance to get access to highly technical and up to date information on the latest best practices for ESSs.

Knowing the material in this course is the best way to get the entry level knowledge to be ESS smart and ready for the second step in the renewable energy revolution. Besides bottling sunshine and using it at a different time, ESSs can make the grid run more smoothly and even reduce the use of fossil fuels without any renewables on the grid. This course will go into the different technologies, focusing more specifically on lithium batteries. 

We will also discuss electric vehicles, which are already loads on our grid, but will soon become sources with bidirectional charging stations and EV home backup.

Course outline

7 modules
18 - 22 hours to complete
19:11 hours of video lectures
Welcome • 12 assignments
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.

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Module 1 • 7 assignments
History of Energy Storage, Markets and Applications for ESS's, and Safety Basics

This week you'll learn about the beginnings of solar PV technology, current markets and applications for the technology, and the basic safety considerations and requirements for solar PV installers. Topics include: different types of PV systems, OSHA, National Electrical Code (NEC), arc flashes, overcurrent protection devices, fall protection, and lockout-tagout (LOTO).

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Module 2 • 8 assignments
Energy Storage Fundamentals

This week covers concepts, definitions, terminology, and formulas related to electricity. It also lays out the science, data, and principles you must understand to grasp how solar energy is collected. Topics include: Ohm's Law, power, energy, voltage, current, batteries, multimeters, measurement, types of DC connections, transmission, insolation data, solar time, sun paths, shading, and solar radiation.

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Module 3 • 15 assignments
Common components for Energy Storage Systems

For small and large scale energy storage systems, we will cover some of the top brands, how they work and how they are designed.

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Module 4 • 11 assignments
Various Energy Storage System Topics.

In this module we cover virtual power plants, C-rates, supercapicitors, lithium vs. lead-acid batteries, battery discharging, state of charge, 3-phase power, grounding and off-grid systems.

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Module 5 • 32 assignments
More ESS!

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Conclusion • 5 assignments
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!

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Continuing Education Units

Approved for the following CEUs

  • NABCEP Advanced Credit Hours
  • NABCEP JTA
  • NABCEP Building or Fire Code
  • NABCEP RE Elective
  • NABCEP PV Associate Renewal

NABCEP Registered Provider

This course counts towards the training requirements for taking NABCEP professional certification exams and CEUs for renewing all certifications.

Instructor

Sean White

2014 IREC Trainer of the Year, HeatSpring / White House Energy Inc. / Sean White Solar / Norcal Solar

Sean White was the 2014 Interstate Renewable Energy Council Trainer of the Year. He is an IREC Certified Solar PV Master Trainer and has authored several books on solar. He contributed to the development of the NABCEP PV Installation Professional Job Task Analysis and has been a member of the NABCEP PV Installation Professional Technical Committee. Sean is a...

Frequently asked questions

Full FAQ
How does this course work?
You can begin this online course instantly upon enrollment. This 5 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.

Reviews

4.7
Based on 242 reviews
555
students have taken this course
09/21/2025

This was a great course, just like all of what Sean teaches. He makes things interesting and educational at the same time.

Clayton Hanks
President, C.H. Electrical
07/03/2025

I would recommend to others!

Donny Legendre
05/17/2025

The information provided was much more in-depth than expected across more areas than I knew existed - I loved it! I will definitely be returning to this course several times over the next 12 months to stay current with my knowledge and any new material!

Christian Blaser

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