Studies & Degrees in Solar Energy Thermal
Solar thermal energy is the use of sunlight to produce heat rather than electricity. A collector on a roof or on the ground absorbs solar radiation and passes the heat to a fluid, which then heats water, a building or an industrial process. It is a different technology from solar photovoltaics, which turns light directly into electricity, and from solar thermal power plants, which concentrate sunlight to reach the high temperatures needed to generate electricity.
Spain's energy agency IDAE describes solar thermal as a mature technology that supplies heat demand in buildings, industry and agriculture, and notes that current installations need little maintenance and can be monitored remotely. The International Energy Agency's Solar Heating and Cooling Programme publishes a yearly market report, Solar Heat Worldwide, to which 72 countries now provide data.
What students learn
Courses start with the solar resource: radiation, the position of the sun, and the orientation, tilt and shading of collectors. They then cover the equipment. According to the US Energy Information Administration, flat-plate collectors are the most common non-concentrating type; a heat-transfer fluid circulates between the collector and a storage tank, and active systems use pumps or fans to move it. Students learn to size the collector area for a given hot-water demand, design the hydraulic circuit, choose storage, expansion and control components, and plan installation, commissioning and maintenance. Most programmes add building regulations, energy efficiency and a cost and payback study.
Qualifications and levels
- Vocational training (FP). In Spain the official route is the higher-level qualification Técnico Superior en Eficiencia Energética y Energía Solar Térmica, in the Energy and Water professional family. It takes 2,000 hours and includes a training period in a company. Holders learn to configure solar thermal installations and manage their assembly and maintenance, and to apply the procedures for the energy certification of buildings.
- University degrees. Solar thermal is a subject within engineering degrees (energy, mechanical, industrial) and renewable energy master's degrees rather than a degree of its own. In Spain an official bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits and an official master's degree 60, 90 or 120.
- Short and online courses. SEAS, Estudios Superiores Abiertos, in Zaragoza offers an online Curso de Energía Solar Térmica of 150 hours and 6 ECTS credits. Its syllabus runs from collectors and the f-chart sizing method to the hydraulic circuit, regulation and an economic study. According to SEAS, the course leads to a university's own qualification (título propio) issued by the Universidad San Jorge, and applicants must be over 18. SEAS also lists a 900-hour, 36 ECTS online Diploma de Especialización Universitaria en Energía Solar.
For any course outside the official FP and university systems, ask the school what recognition the certificate has and whether it counts towards the installer accreditation required in your country or region.
Where to study
SpainExchange lists 10 active schools for solar thermal energy: nine in Spain and one in China. The Spanish list includes two public universities, the Universidad Miguel Hernández in Elche and the Universidad de Huelva, the online centre SEAS in Zaragoza, and training centres such as Acedis Formación, CCC Centro de Estudios, Campus Training, IUSC in Barcelona and Churruca Formación in San Sebastián. The Center for Sustainability Shanghai is the school listed in China.
Most of the Spanish offer is taught in Spanish, and a large part of it is online or blended. Programme catalogues change from year to year, so confirm with each school that it currently runs a solar thermal course, in which mode, and with how many practical hours.
Careers
TodoFP, the vocational training portal of Spain's education ministry, lists the following jobs for the higher-level qualification: person in charge of the assembly and maintenance of solar thermal installations, sales representative for solar installations, energy manager, promoter of energy efficiency programmes and assistant in the energy certification of buildings. SEAS adds work in engineering offices that draw up projects for these installations.
Demand is linked to building rules. SEAS points out that Spain's Technical Building Code (Código Técnico de la Edificación, Real Decreto 314/2006) is mandatory for new and renovated buildings. Solar thermal is also used for swimming pools, district heating networks and industrial process heat.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between solar thermal and photovoltaic energy?
Solar thermal systems collect the sun's heat and transfer it to water or another fluid. Photovoltaic panels convert sunlight directly into electricity. The training is different, although many renewable energy programmes cover both.
How long does it take to qualify in solar thermal energy in Spain?
The official vocational qualification, Técnico Superior en Eficiencia Energética y Energía Solar Térmica, takes 2,000 hours. Short courses are much briefer: the online course at SEAS has 150 hours.
Do I need a university degree to work with solar thermal installations?
No. In Spain the higher-level vocational qualification leads to jobs in the assembly and maintenance of solar thermal installations. Designing large installations is usually done by engineers.
Can I study solar thermal energy online?
Yes. SEAS, for example, teaches its solar thermal course online. Ask about practical training, because installation skills are learned on real equipment.