Hong Analytics One Year Anniversary: A 60-hour Energy Analytics Curriculum

One year ago, I incorporated Hong Analytics LLC to house my consulting practices. At this anniversary, I would love to review a major milestone that was recently accomplished:

A 60-hour energy analytics curriculum. 

One of the frequently asked questions I have been getting from my clients is

Tao, can you recommend some training courses I should take?

If a SAS user asked me this question, my answer would be easy:

Check out the list of my recommended SAS courses.

While the list was put together two years ago, it can no longer address all the needs from my clients. For instance, some clients want to know more about the applications of analytics in the utility industry; some do not have access to advanced analytics software; some need to develop wind and solar forecasts rather than load forecasts; some are interested in the state-of-the-art load forecasting methodologies.

To bridge the gap, I have developed a 60-hour (or 7.5 days) energy analytics curriculum. The curriculum is made of 5 courses as illustrated below:

A 60-hour Energy Analytics Curriculum

1. T101/ Fundamentals of Utility Analytics: Techniques, Applications and Case Studies
2. T201/ Introduction to Energy Forecasting
3. T301/ Electric Load Forecasting I: Fundamentals and Best Practices
4. T302/ Long Term Load Forecasting
5. T401/ Electric Load Forecasting II: Advanced Topics and Case Studies

If you are new to the industry, analytics, or both, you can start with T101. If you are new to energy forecasting, T201 would be a good start. T301 is the flagship course that has accommodated a wide range of audience. If you are a long term load forecaster using MS Excel, you may take T302. If you are looking for the secret sauce, T401 is the level you should reach.

Did I forget to develop a master level course? No. Nobody can become a master in 60 hours. One may be able to talk like an expert after completing this 60-hour curriculum. To reach the master level, one has to spend 10,000 hours on the subject. Of course, the BigDEAL would be the #1 choice for energy forecasters!

The next offering of Fundamentals of Utility Analytics has been scheduled in Chicago, IL, August 10-11, 2016. Look forward to seeing some of you over there!