Syllabus: (PV 431) Modeling PV-Battery Systems in SAM
Prerequisites: PV 430 Intro to System Advisor Model (SAM)
Course Description
This course works through a complete analysis using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
System Advisor Model (SAM) to model photovoltaic-battery systems for residential and commercial
behind-the-meter projects.
The course builds on PV 430: Introduction to System Advisor Model (SAM), which covers modeling
residential photovoltaic systems. For PV 430, the course handbook provides detailed descriptions of the
steps to complete each task. For this course, the handbook provides a description of the task, assuming
you are familiar with the steps from PV 430.
This four-hour online course will be held in (2) two-hour live Zoom sessions with instructor Paul Gilman,
and includes online coursework (assignments) to be completed.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
• Explain the difference between behind-the-meter and front-of-meter applications
• Create a SAM project for a residential PV-battery storage system
• Size the battery and choose dispatch options for energy arbitrage in response to time-of-use (TOU) energy rates
• Create a SAM project for a commercial PV-battery storage system
• Size the battery and choose dispatch options for demand charge management to reduce demand charges
• Account for the cost of replacing batteries and explore the affect of different dispatch options on battery life
• Determine whether a photovoltaic-battery system is cost effective
Required Materials
- Computer with Internet access
- System Advisor Model (SAM) – Download here: https://sam.nrel.gov/
Continuing Education Credits (CECs)
For more detailed information on MREA courses and Continuing Education Credits see our NABCEP Credentials and Continuing Education pages.
If you have questions about our training programs please don’t hesitate to ask, we can be reached via email at courses@midwestrenew.org or call us 715-592-6595.