SEI’s Solar in Schools achieves new milestone: First successful 10 kW high school install in Paonia

Nine Paonia High School students who are participating in Solar Energy International’s high school solar course had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience installing a solar system for their school this February. They worked during their class period for a week alongside Empowered Energy Systems LLC, who donated their time to the project, to install a 10kW ground mount solar system. The students learned about every step of the installation process from excavation and pouring concrete to setting the railing and placing the solar panels. Now they can leverage the skills gained from this experience to pursue a career, or continuing education, in the solar industry or other technical trades.

One of the participating students, Harley Ewert 2019, shared the value of his experience,

“Working on solar installation isn’t the typical education you think of having in high school, but it exemplified how important learning first hand can be. It is amazing how quickly a term or item can be remembered when it is tied back to a physical experience rather than a definition on a computer screen.”

The system will output approximately 16,000 kWh/year of solar electricity and save the school approximately $1,500/year. This year students learned technical skills during the installation, and over subsequent years students will have the opportunity to collect a variety of data from the system to accompany physics, math, or science curriculum in the school. Not only is this 10kW solar system offsetting some energy costs for the school, but it serves as an educational resource for years to come.

Solar Energy International organized the donations and installation of the solar system. The Trina Solar solar panels and Sunny Boy inverters for the system were donated in collaboration with the Solar Foundation. While the funds for the rest of the system were local donations from community members, businesses, and utilities including DMEA, Basin Electric. Empowered Energy Systems LLC donated their time to install the ground mount and involve the students in a safe manner, and the AC electrical work was donated by Aubrey Harris from Electrical Service and Repair LLC.

Beata Ramza, Solar Energy International AmeriCorps VISTA, reflects on the experience, “This project was a culmination of the community coming together to donate time, skills, and resources to provide an educational opportunity to Paonia High School students. It’s truly inspiring to see what we can do when we work together.” From start to finish, the installation of the Paonia High School solar PV system was a local effort that will benefit the community for years to come.

The picture below shows the Paonia PV 101 students and their instructor Mandy Cotten alongside Jim Heneghan from DMEA, Pete from Solar Energy International, Kristen, Joey, JJ, and Joseph from Empowered Energy Systems LLC, and Aubrey Harris from Electric Services and Repair LLC, in front of one row of solar panels from the Paonia High School 10kW solar system.

Original press release by Beata Ramza.

The post SEI’s Solar in Schools achieves new milestone: First successful 10 kW high school install in Paonia appeared first on Solar Training - Solar Installer Training - Solar PV Installation Training - Solar Energy Courses - Renewable Energy Education - NABCEP - Solar Energy International (SEI).

from Solar Training – Solar Installer Training – Solar PV Installation Training – Solar Energy Courses – Renewable Energy Education – NABCEP – Solar Energy International (SEI) https://www.solarenergy.org/seis-solar-schools-achieves-new-milestone-first-successful-10-kw-high-school-install-paonia/
via IFTTT

Colorado Solar Career Expo results are in, participation doubles from last year!

Solar Energy International (SEI) would like to extend a HUGE thank you to everyone who made the 2018 Colorado Solar Career Expo possible. We are proud to announce that this year’s Expo had double the participation from industry employers compared to last year, over 24 came out to network with industry job seekers!

The Expo was brought to you in partnership with GRID Alternatives and the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (COSEIA), as a part of the Solar Ready Colorado initiative. Solar Ready Colorado is a statewide effort through Solar Energy International and industry partners to expand the activities of outreach, recruiting, and training to the rapidly growing Colorado solar industry and jobs market.

Through industry partnerships and support from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, the program provides a dedicated outreach and recruitment effort as well as technical training through SEI’s long running, non-profit 501(c)(3) technical training program to those interested in entering the Colorado solar industry.

The Expo, which was co-located with COSEIA’s 2018 Solar Power Mountain West Conference,  also attracted over 115 Colorado-based job seekers who had the opportunity to network with employers such as Namaste Solar, Sunrun, RES Group, Empire Solar Group, juwi Inc., Vivint Solar, the Sierra Club, and many more.

The Expo followed a Solar Jobs Panel led by SEI Director of Marketing and Communications Christopher Turek, with panelists from Sunsense Solar, Empowered Energy Systems, and SEI. Attendees were able to hear about the most sought-after skills employers are looking for in the industry today.

Want to kickstart your career in solar before next year’s Expo? Start your solar training today with SEI! Our one-stop-shop class for your introduction into everything solar PVOL101: Solar Electric Design and Installation, starts April 9!

SEI Solar Ready Colorado Solar Career Expo

Thank you again to the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (COSEIA) and GRID Alternatives for partnering with SEI and making the 2018 Colorado Solar Career Expo an amazing event last week. Dozens of employers and hundreds of people from all over the state gathered at the conference to help push the industry forward during this amazing career networking event. We are getting so many calls and emails from people interested in jump starting their career in the Colorado solar industry after the amazing event last week. If you couldn't make it – no worries! Check out www.SolarReadyColorado.org for more information on our training schedule – career counseling – and employer connections!

Posted by Solar Energy International (SEI) on Tuesday, March 20, 2018

The post Colorado Solar Career Expo results are in, participation doubles from last year! appeared first on Solar Training - Solar Installer Training - Solar PV Installation Training - Solar Energy Courses - Renewable Energy Education - NABCEP - Solar Energy International (SEI).

from Solar Training – Solar Installer Training – Solar PV Installation Training – Solar Energy Courses – Renewable Energy Education – NABCEP – Solar Energy International (SEI) https://www.solarenergy.org/colorado-solar-career-expo-results-participation-doubles-last-year/
via IFTTT

SEI prepares students to empower developing countries with renewable energy applications in updated RDOL101

Whether you are a renewable energy professional with a vision of improving lives through clean energy in developing countries, or a Peace Corps volunteer about to embark upon international field work, Solar Energy International (SEI)’s RDOL101: Appropriate Technology for the Developing World is a great place to begin.

This course takes a look at appropriate technologies (practical solutions that are both affordable and accessible) to address many of the United Nations’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals to transform our world.  Rather than focusing on one technology, the course provides an overview of options so that you, the project developer or field worker, can work with a community to brainstorm solutions to meet their specific needs. Included are clean technologies to address water, sanitation and hygiene, food processing and cooking, lighting and rural electrification, biomass, and shelter.

New to the course are several lessons on successful project development and implementation, all the way through monitoring and evaluation to assess a project’s impact on the local community. Highlighted is the critical importance of the participatory process in technology transfer projects, with lessons learned from both successful and unsuccessful real-world endeavors. The course culminates with a final assignment where students must apply what they’ve learned and design a community project.

Laura Walters, SEI curriculum developer who has also worked with several international development organizations including USAid, We Care Solar and Remote Energy said, “I love how this course makes you really think about the simplest way to solve a problem. The course is both broad and comprehensive- not only do we examine technology solutions but we also discuss how to implement a project successfully, which in reality, can be more important than the technology itself!”

The next online session begins April 9th, sign up today!

The post SEI prepares students to empower developing countries with renewable energy applications in updated RDOL101 appeared first on Solar Training - Solar Installer Training - Solar PV Installation Training - Solar Energy Courses - Renewable Energy Education - NABCEP - Solar Energy International (SEI).

from Solar Training – Solar Installer Training – Solar PV Installation Training – Solar Energy Courses – Renewable Energy Education – NABCEP – Solar Energy International (SEI) https://www.solarenergy.org/sei-prepares-students-empower-developing-countries-renewable-energy-applications-updated-rdol101/
via IFTTT

Solar Energy International honored with Solar Energy and Storage Award

SEI was recognized by the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association at 2018 Solar Power Mountain West

Aurora, CO.- On Monday, March 12 Solar Energy International (SEI) was recognized by the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (COSEIA) at 2018 Solar Power Mountain West’s Solar and Energy and Storage Awards in the category for projects sized 100 kW- 500 kW.

The awards recognized “the success stories of the Colorado industry.” And focused on “the people, processes, products and the innovation that drive the industry forward to achieve success in a competitive market,” according to COSEIA.

SEI was honored for their efforts in developing the solar market in their rural home base in Western Colorado, Delta County. A three-year cumulative effort led by SEI’s team of AmeriCorps VISTAs (Volunteers in Service to America) has been successful in garnering 400 kW of installed solar in the region, amounting to $1.5 million invested locally in solar energy.

“We are so thankful to COSEIA for highlighting our rural community’s solar market in Delta County,” Mary Marshall, former VISTA and program coordinator for SEI’s Solarize Delta County Farms program, and current Solar Forward program manager, said. “It is imperative to elevate success stories like those of Delta County that have the potential to inspire a solar movement throughout rural America.”

Marshall added, “This award is shared by not only SEI VISTAs, but our amazing partners in Delta County who made all of our outreach programs possible, such as our partnered installers, Empowered Energy Systems, who were also nominated for an award, and so many more supportive community members who encouraged the growth of solar and Solarize.”

Delta County was also recognized for taking positive strides to encourage a thriving solar market in the fall of 2017 with a bronze SolSmart Designation through a program by the Solar Foundation, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technology Office.

SEI’s efforts in Delta County continue today on a broader scale through the new Solar Forward program, where communities throughout Colorado are encouraged to apply for SEI’s technical assistance in implementing their own solar outreach efforts. VISTA efforts continue as well with an innovative “Solar in Schools” vocational training program with SEI curriculum for high school students.

At the awards, Kathy Swartz, SEI executive director, was also nominated for a Lifetime Achievement award by COSEIA.  The honor went to SEI alum Blake Jones who went on to start Namaste Solar.  Congratulations to Blake for his lifelong work in pushing the Colorado solar industry forward!

The post Solar Energy International honored with Solar Energy and Storage Award appeared first on Solar Training - Solar Installer Training - Solar PV Installation Training - Solar Energy Courses - Renewable Energy Education - NABCEP - Solar Energy International (SEI).

from Solar Training – Solar Installer Training – Solar PV Installation Training – Solar Energy Courses – Renewable Energy Education – NABCEP – Solar Energy International (SEI) https://www.solarenergy.org/solar-energy-international-honored-solar-energy-storage-award/
via IFTTT

SEI will provide a workshop on Costa Rica Chamber of Industries’ solar energy education program

The Chamber of Industries of Costa Rica invited Solar Energy International (SEI) to provide a workshop on PV Design in its educational program “Solar Energy for Efficient Electric Generation.”

This program offers knowledge for the use and optimization of the application of solar energy including the implementation and maintenance primarily in the industrial and commercial sector. This specialization has been developed in partnership with the 4E Program of the German Cooperation GIZ.

In SEI we are very pleased to accompany the Chamber of Industries’ efforts to help the growth of the solar industry in Costa Rica and Central America by bringing world class solar technical training to its main players.

We appreciate the opportunity and look forward to continue to collaborating with organizations that support SEI’s mission of empowering communities, businesses and people through renewable energy education.

This year we will continue to grow our training efforts for Spanish speakers by offering our in-person certified courses to Latin Americans at our new international training center in Costa Rica.

Learn more about the in-person courses that we will be offering this year in Costa Rica, and enroll today!

FV101: Diseño e Instalación Solar Eléctrica (Sistemas Interactivos) – April, 16-20 / October, 29 to November, 2

FV203: Fundamentos de Sistemas Fotovoltaicos Basados en Baterías – July, 16-20

FV201L: Laboratorio Fotovoltaico de Sistemas Conectados a la Red – April, 23- 27  / November, 5-9

Check out our spanish online courses calendar for 2018:

Cursos En Línea

We have a great solar year ahead and we hope that in 2018 you can join our more than 60k alumni from all over the world!

The post SEI will provide a workshop on Costa Rica Chamber of Industries’ solar energy education program appeared first on Solar Training - Solar Installer Training - Solar PV Installation Training - Solar Energy Courses - Renewable Energy Education - NABCEP - Solar Energy International (SEI).

from Solar Training – Solar Installer Training – Solar PV Installation Training – Solar Energy Courses – Renewable Energy Education – NABCEP – Solar Energy International (SEI) https://www.solarenergy.org/sei-will-provide-workshop-costa-rica-chamber-industries-solar-energy-education-program/
via IFTTT

SEI is looking for bilingual instructors for our Spanish Program!

Solar Energy International (SEI) is a 501(c)3 non-profit education organization with a mission to provide industry-leading technical training and expertise in renewable energy to empower people, communities and businesses worldwide. Founded in 1991, SEI has trained more than 60,000 people from around the world. As an organization, we are committed to offering the highest quality, unbiased renewable energy training that we can. We are a group of people passionate about renewable energy and are continually striving to be the best training organization that we can be.

Since 2013 SEI has provided the same industry leading technical solar training for Spanish speakers within and outside of the USA, with a focus in Latin America. Over the past four years SEI has trained over 3,000 Spanish speakers from around the world.

As Spanish classes continue to grow, SEI is hiring two new bilingual instructors to be a part of our Training Team. Instructors combine their solar technical knowledge and vocation with their ability to effectively communicate concepts to various audiences to share knowledge and empower others. Instructors are contractors who must be available to teach a minimum of two classes per year, depending on course demand. SEI offers online and in-person classes, and hands-on lab classes in Spanish. We are looking for bilingual instructors who can teach either online and/or in-person Spanish language courses.

Instructors must be actively working in the industry installing or designing PV systems, taking classes and trainings, earning new certifications, and staying up-to-date with current codes and standards. These positions are contractual and instructors are not SEI employees.

For more information about SEI, and in particular, our Spanish course descriptions, please visit:

Calendario de cursos

Job Description:

• Teach one or more of the following class formats:
  • Grid-tied and/or battery-based online courses (FVOL101; FVOL203; FVOL202). Online courses are 6-weeks in length and average 10-15 hours/week of teaching.
  • Grid-tied and/or battery-based in person courses at locations throughout Latin America (FV101; FV203; FV202). In-person classes are one-week in length, Monday-Friday.
  • Grid-tied and/or battery-based hands-on lab classes in one of SEI ́s training facilities. In hands-on lab classes the instructor leads a group of 5-7 students through a real installations ending with commissioned, live PV systems. These are one-week in length, Monday-Friday.
• Explain technical concepts to students of all backgrounds, ages and learning styles.
• Incorporate your own personal solar installation and design experiences into the prepared curriculum when answering student questions.
• Communicate and uphold best practices and industry standards.
• Communicate with SEI staff and co-instructors in preparation, implementation, and evaluation of courses (in English).
• Prepare in advance for every course by taking time to review slides and notes in depth. Study SEI ́sdefined terminology and use it both online and in person.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 4-years experience installing and designing PV systems and a strong technical understanding of best practices and industry standards.
• Experience with, and understanding of the US National Electrical Code (NEC) highly valued.
• Actively installing, designing and/or inspecting PV systems in your current job role.
• Teaching experience preferred.
• NABCEP certification preferred.
• Bilingual, English/Spanish. Fluent native Spanish speaker (preferably Latin America). Fluent in reading, writing and speaking English (you will be expected to audit technical courses in English as part of your training).
• For online classes: proficiency in Spanish spelling, grammar and punctuation
• For in-person classes: ability and disposition to talk in front of an audience for multiple hours a day, several days in a row.
• Experience with MS PowerPoint and MS Office Suite
• Ability to work self-directed in an online, virtual environment with a remote team
• Ability to communicate efficiently with co-workers via email and Skype
• Willingness to travel either throughout the Latin American region and/or to the US, and ability to obtain the proper tourist visas

Candidates will be asked to complete an application and a set of technical questions and must audit and pass
SEI’s PVOL101 class. Phone interviews will also be scheduled.

To apply, please complete the application below, where you’ll be able to attach you cover letter and resume in English, including three references:

Spanish Instructor Job Posting Application

The post SEI is looking for bilingual instructors for our Spanish Program! appeared first on Solar Training - Solar Installer Training - Solar PV Installation Training - Solar Energy Courses - Renewable Energy Education - NABCEP - Solar Energy International (SEI).

from Solar Training – Solar Installer Training – Solar PV Installation Training – Solar Energy Courses – Renewable Energy Education – NABCEP – Solar Energy International (SEI) https://www.solarenergy.org/sei-looking-new-bilinguals-instructors-spanish-program/
via IFTTT

Our Spanish free online course on Renewable Energy is updated, enroll today!

At Solar Energy International (SEI) we are committed to providing the best possible education in renewable energy, which is why our curriculum is frequently updated by our team of IREC (Interstate Renewable Energy Council) certified instructors to always be at the forefront of the industry.

Our free online course RE100: Introduction to Renewable Energy  covers the basics of renewable energy, and is a great introduction for those new to the field, those who are looking to make a career change, or those who just want to learn more about renewable energy, energy efficiency, and the basics of electricity. Join over 25,000 individuals who have gotten their first taste of renewable energy in RE100 – you won’t emerge as an expert, but you will learn a lot about the different technologies and trends, what situations are more appropriate for one type of renewable energy system versus another, and how to make a difference with your own energy consumption.

Last month we updated our Spanish version of the free online course ER100: Introducción a las Energías Renovables to match our English version. Now all of our Spanish speaking student seeking to start a solar career can have access to the most advanced data and technologies in the industry. These are some of the updates:

• We updated the data and statistical graphs with the most recent research on the Latin America industry.
• We renewed all the presentations.
• We updated the resources and additional readings that we put at all students disposal as a complementary study.
• We included new resources in Spanish of the topics covered.
• We updated links to web pages of interest.
• We updated the references to the Spanish courses that we have recently launched.
• We standardized technical terms in Spanish so our students begin to familiarize with the lexicon of the renewable energy industry in Latin America.

Are you thinking on starting a career in the solar industry? This is the best starting point. Join one of the organizations with more trajectory educating in renewable energy, with more than 26 years in the industry and over 60k alumni all over the world. Start SEI’s free course at any time here, click below to enroll today!

Introduction to Renewable Energy

The post Our Spanish free online course on Renewable Energy is updated, enroll today! appeared first on Solar Training - Solar Installer Training - Solar PV Installation Training - Solar Energy Courses - Renewable Energy Education - NABCEP - Solar Energy International (SEI).

from Solar Training – Solar Installer Training – Solar PV Installation Training – Solar Energy Courses – Renewable Energy Education – NABCEP – Solar Energy International (SEI) https://www.solarenergy.org/spanish-free-online-course-renewable-energy-updated-enroll-today/
via IFTTT