Note: Grant funding comes from Skillnet Ireland through the Irish National Training fund, and, as a result, is ONLY available to residents of the Republic of Ireland who work as a sole trader, or for a private or semi-state commercial company registered in ROI. If you are not eligible for the discount, you will still have the option to enrol by paying the full course fee. Please read Eligibility Criteria.

The certification consists of eight self-paced online courses and twelve in-person face-to-face lab sessions.

Online Modules: Self-paced

Labs:

• Date: 28th - 30th May
• Time: 09:00 - 17:00
• Venue: Munster Technological University, Tralee, Co. Kerry

Course Overview

This certification focuses on the new skills that are needed related to designing, operating, testing, maintaining, and replacing battery cells and packs for various applications. During the training, the different types of batteries that are already relevant today can be tested in a practical lab for their specific characteristics.

This certification allows participants to choose the right technology for the right challenge, set up battery systems, and evaluate battery performance. Moreover, to be able to work out a solid total solution, the Battery Management systems, the charging and maintenance of batteries and their recycling process are also discussed in more detail. Finally, sufficient attention is given to the safe handling of these electrical applications, both for the person and for the environment.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the certification, learners will be able to:

• Evaluate what battery technology is best suited for which application, based on its characteristics
• Analyse (dis)advantages of most used battery technologies
• Design and implement the best fit battery solution for each application
• Safely handle, test, repair, and dispose of battery systems, according to legal obligations

Online Modules

Course 1: Functioning of a Battery and Main Types

• Get introduced to the exciting world of batteries and the main components and working principles of this technology, which is crucial to the clean energy transition.

Course 2: Basic Technical Battery Characteristics

• Go through the basic vocabulary and technical characteristics of a battery.

Course 3: Battery Modules and Components of Batteries

• Learn how to distinguish the components of a Battery system.

Course 4: Power Converters

• Get introduced to power conversion and learn how to calculate the overall system energy efficiency in battery applications.

Course 5: Safety and Regulation

• Focus on the norms and standards for stationary and mobile battery applications.

Course 6: Stationary Applications

• Understand the main customer benefits of home energy storage systems and describes examples of grid integration services of energy storage systems.

Course 7: Mobile Applications & Small Electrical Devices

• Dig into the main mobile applications and small electrical devices.

Course 8: End-of-Life, Second Life, and Recycling

• Get an overview of the end-of-life and second life potential of lithium-ion battery technologies and introduces the two options for handling batteries reaching their end-of-life: reuse and recycling.

Lab Modules (in-person)

Day 1

Lab 1: Build your own physical battery pack

• Build a battery pack respecting all safety requirements

Lab 2: Read datasheets to create a battery pack

• Define a single cell capacity
• Find the cell capacity on a datasheet
• Find on a datasheet the discharge rate
• Make correct selection of a BMS

Lab 3: Charge, discharge, and test a battery cell

• Test a battery cell
• Charge and discharge a battery cell
• Define battery capacity

Lab 4: Handle batteries while respecting safety and regulations

• Handle and work with batteries in a safe way

Day 2

Lab 5: Stationary batteries: observing and doing

• How to discern home batteries from each other
• How a home battery interacts with a PV system
• What to consider when using a leadacid battery

• How to use a portable power battery

Lab 6: Dimension a residential PV and battery storage system

• Go through the steps of dimensioning a residential PV system
• Replicate a process for dimensioning home batteries
• Consider criteria depending on the local grid rules and tariff structure but also evaluate the influence of the consumption pattern
• Include back-up power
• Use some black-box dimensioning tools on the internet.

Lab 7: Connect batteries to converters

• How to connect several home battery systems
• How to make a connection for their set-up
• How they are connected to the PV installation and residential electricity grid

Lab 8: E-bike battery charging, repairing and testing

• Do diagnostics of battery
• Find problems and faults related to a broken battery
• Repair the identified fault

Day 3

Lab 9: Charge and discharge battery pack of an e-bike

• Charge and discharge a battery pack
• Interpret a discharge curve

Lab 10: Connect to charging infrastructure

• How to connect an EV to a charger
• Identify different charging plugs and the reasons
• Discern between AC and DC charging
• Evolution in charging speed
• Expectancy on speed at residential homes
• Commercial charging formulas
• Vehicle to grid possibility and its use in smart grids

Lab 11: Smaller electrical devices and traction batteries charging, repairing and testing

• Replace cells in a battery for power tools or other small devices with a focus on the NiMh technology

Lab 12: Dismantle battery packs for recycling

• Dismantle a battery in a safe way and isolate cells in a module
• Remove the battery pack in a safe way out the housing
• Remove the contact strips from the cells
• Remove the cells out of the frames

All labs in the Battery Technician Programme will be conducted on the premises of Munster Technological University and will be led by university lecturers. The date and logistical details will be provided closer to the workshop date.