Tales from the road: Solar Forward explores the San Luis Valley

In our efforts to power rural communities forward with solar energy initiatives, SEI’s Solar Forward Program Manager hit the road again this week to meet with community groups throughout Colorado in order to truly understand and explore the needs of these communities, and how Solar Forward can help.

Read her recap below:

As we are well aware from our experience at our home base in Paonia, Colorado, dirt roads tend to lead to the best places. In the case of Crestone, Colorado, in the heart of the San Luis Valley, this was no different. As I drove through Baca into the town of Crestone, a colorful hub nestled between high desert and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, dry shrubbery turned into lush grass, trees and gardens as I approached the local diner where I would be meeting the driving force behind kickstarting a solar market in the region.

Smiles and excited conversation about resiliency ensued as nearly two hours flew by during our meeting about a potential partnership. I am always energized by the the genuine excitement and light in the eyes of partners as I explain the premise of our program: As an industry leader in solar energy training since 1991, SEI seeks to offer free technical advising to rural communities looking to foster a thriving solar market.

Resiliency is an overarching theme at nearly every meeting I attend. At SEI, we recognize that rural communities can benefit from a solar market the most. Instead of sending millions of dollars out of communities to pay utility bills, let’s keep that money in the economies of the communities who need it the most.

The group was most excited about our Solar in Schools program, taking our curriculum and teaching it to local high school classes as a trade training opportunity for the solar workforce. In communities which lack accessibility, bringing industry-recognized training as a pathway into the fast-growing renewable energy workforce is special opportunity for students.

The meeting ended how many do, a tour around town to the places where personality shines through the most: breweries painted with colorful murals depicting cherished local symbols and values, pointing out hidden oddities and art along allies and neighborhood nooks. I love seeing the personality of a community through the lens of the people who love it so much that they are striving to improve local opportunities through solar.

Climbing up a nearby mountain lined with centers of worship for spiritual gathering, I was full of gratitude and excitement. SEI is so thankful for what rural communities offer the Solar Forward Program: an avenue to empower the growth of solar and a relationship to share our mission of a world powered by renewable energy.

Are you interested in getting your community involved? Visit solarenergy.org/solar-forward or email mary@solarenergy.org for more information.

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SEI Instructor Highlight: Meet Eissa Ali

From enrolling in Solar Energy International (SEI)’s RE100: Introduction to Renewable Energy to supervising the transition of more than 522 mobile network stations from conventional power supply to Off-Grid and Hybrid solar systems in Sudan, Mali, Ethiopia and Egypt, SEI Instructor Eissa Ali credits SEI’s solar energy training for his success in the solar industry.  Now, he’s SEI’s newest instructor leading courses in the Middle East.

Eissa graduated with a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Omdurman Islamic University in 2003, and later went on to receive an MBA from Sudan Academy of Science. In 2016, less than week after taking SEI’s RE100, Eissa first met the SEI team at a Dubai Solar Show Exhibition.

Eissa explained that he was so excited when he saw SEI represented at the Exhibition. He explained, “While exploring booths at the exhibition, I saw SEI. The first one I saw standing in booth was Rebekah Hren, I introduced myself and she briefed me about SEI. After that Kristopher Sutton joined in following his public presentation. They sparked a passion for solar in me that day.”

Eissa explained that following that meeting, he immediately started PVOL101 and was so enticed by the course content that he finished the course in less than four days.  He followed that course with PVOL202, kept taking classes, and went on to achieve his NABCEP Associate certification.

“Nothing compares to the experience of taking SEI classes,” Eissa said. “I finished PVOL101, PVOL202 & PVOL203 in less than six weeks. I was inspired by perfect presentations and supportive instructors and administrators.”

After Eissa completed PVOL203, he joined one of the leading solar integrator companies in UAE (Alsa Solar Systems) as an intern. Now Eissa is leading the technical sales team. “The main reason behind this fast promotion is the knowledge I keep getting from SEI classes,” Eissa explained.

Eissa taught his first class for SEI in April of this year, a PV101 in the GCC region. Now he’s teaching classes as a part of SEI’s Middle East Program,bringing his professional experience in the GCC market to give real-life examples to students who will work in the region . “My last class at The Sustainable City- Dubai was amazing because we had wonderful students and supportive co-instructor. ”

Follow in Eissa’s footsteps at SEI’s next PV101 offered in Oman! The next SEI solar PV technical training in the MENA region is coming soon: SEI, In partnership with Shams Global Solutions, will be leading their third PV101: Solar Electric Design and Installation (Grid-Direct) course in Muscat, Oman. the PV101 course will run from July 8th -12th, 2018 at the German University of Technology (GUtech) in Muscat. PV101 is the first and currently only solar photovoltaic training course officially certified by Oman’s Distribution Code Review Panel (DCRP) and supports applications to become a DCRP approved Solar Professional! PV101 builds solid understanding of various components, system architectures, and applications for PV systems and is ideal for professionals looking to get their start in the solar industry including designers, installers, engineers and educators.

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Solar Energy International and Shams Global Solutions Leaders of Solar Training in Oman

Solar Energy International (SEI) and Shams Global Solutions (SGS), a local Omani company, have partnered to launch Oman’s first and only certified solar photovoltaic training course! The course, PV101: Solar Electric Design and Installation (Grid-Direct) is officially certified by Oman’s Distribution Code Review Panel (DCRP) and supports applications to become a DCRP approved Solar Professional. This DCRP certification is required for individuals looking to work as a consultant or contractor for grid-connected photovoltaic systems in Oman’s quickly growing solar industry. SGS co-founder Michael Tsang said of the rapidly expanding industry, “Oman has a tremendous opportunity to train a new generation of internationally qualified specialists in renewable energy, and we are fortunate enough to help see that potential come to reality.”

In support of that objective, representatives of Oman’s Authority for Electricity Regulation (AER) and DCRP addressed the participants of the inaugural PV101 course in March of this year, explaining the certification process and how to submit course credentials. Since that first class, 52 students from the energy industry, electrical utilities and academia have completed the PV101 coursework which introduces the core concepts of the design and installation of grid-tied solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, including solar site analyses, PV system components, mounting structures, system wiring, interface protection and safety, among others.

The PV101 course is one of four courses that make up the Shams Oman training program. The program develops technical competency for PV Designers and Installers using SEI’s industry-leading curriculum which has been further localised by SGS for Oman’s regulations and connection guidelines. The three additional Shams Oman courses include hands-on, field-based courses for the installation and advanced operations and maintenance for grid-tied PV systems in addition to an advanced PV system design course. The hands-on courses will take place at SGS’s PV training center containing 9 kWp of grid-tied PV systems. The training center is located outside of Muscat at the German Technical University of Oman (GUTech) and is sponsored by BP Oman.

Kristopher Sutton, Director of SEI’s Middle East Program, explained, “the Shams Oman training program was designed to be a mix of the theory and the practical knowledge that makes anyone, whether you are an installer, designer, or project manager, competent to work in the solar industry. A great designer needs to know how to install a system and a great installer needs to know the reason for a design. This type of cross training builds high quality companies that are the foundation of a successful solar industry.”

More information about the program at www.shamsoman.com

About Solar Energy International:

Since 1991 Solar Energy International (SEI)  has provided industry-leading technical training and expertise through in-person and online solar PV training. Named the 2015 IREC Accredited Clean Energy Training Provider of the Year and with 55,000 alumni worldwide, SEI is the leader in renewable energy education. Visit www.solarenergy.org

About Shams Global Solutions:

Shams Global Solutions (SGS) is a private company based and registered wholly in Oman, with headquarters in the capital of Muscat. SGS focuses on creating and delivering educational and training services for sustainability. Particularly, our mission is providing the education, skills and practical experience required for the new generation of employment in Oman centered around renewable energy, sustainability and low-carbon technologies. SGS is proud to have provided solar photovoltaic training to students in Oman and the Gulf Region from organizations such as PDO, NAMA Group Members, Oman Solar Systems, GUtech, Bahwan Engineering Company, and United Engineering Project Co., among others.

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