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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Did you know SEI is considered one of the GREENEST schools in the world?

When you come to SEI’s Paonia, Colorado training facility for your hands-on lab experience, the solar PV systems you see throughout our facility are all part of the renewable energy magic that keeps our non-profit operations going!

We have approximately 28kw of Solar PV operating here at SEI and we produce approximately 40,000 kWh per year (40MWh). We recently received a check for overproduction from our utility, Delta-Montrose Electric Association (DMEA), for $745.07 at $0.075 per kWh which is approximately 10 MWh of annual overproduction!

Our annual consumption for the entire facility is around 30,000kWh per year or 30MWh which includes SEI’s and SEI Professional Services’ (SEIPS) offices. That means we are generating 125% of our annual consumption for SEI and SEIPS combined!

This accounts for all the electricity for the facility and operations, including AC in the summer, all heating in the winter (we also have solar thermal systems operating), and all the free electric vehicles charging stations we have on campus.

We are also getting ready to add an additional 10kW of Solar PV with the new carport here on campus. So when you come to SEI and get your training on all of those hands-on lab stations throughout the facility – you can feel proud that the electricity produced is helping change the world through SEI’s non-profit educational mission!

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SEI launches Solar Forward: A new solar advising program for rural Colorado communities

This year, Solar Energy International (SEI) has launched a new statewide initiative for rural communities in Colorado. Read more about the program that powers rural Colorado communities into the future by starting or supporting solar markets: 

SEI is seeking communities interested in growing their local solar, renewable energy, and energy efficiency markets to participate in a new program, Solar Forward.  The Solar Forward program is a grassroots approach, relying mainly on community participation, to stimulate solar growth in a region. SEI’s Solar Forward community adviser will partner with a community group to provide tools and technical expertise to drive solar initiatives in the community.

Solar Forward empowers community groups who are interested in growing their solar markets, by providing them with a dedicated adviser to provide consulting on community solar initiatives.  The adviser will assist communities every step of the way in the program planning and implementation processes.

SEI is an industry-leading solar training facility, and the core of our mission is the belief in a world powered by renewable energy. With over 60,000 trained alumni and extensive technical curriculum, in addition to experience establishing all of these programs in our home base of Delta County, we want to keep this momentum growing and spread the success throughout the state of Colorado!

How it works:

Learn more or apply today on the Solar Forward webpage: https://www.solarenergy.org/solar-forward/

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Take a deep dive into battery technology and meet the lab yard’s first Lithium Ion battery

Solar Energy International recently added a brand new SMA Sunny Island AC-coupled system to it’s battery-based hands-on training in the Paonia, Colorado lab yard. Danny Bailey, SEI’s PV Lab manager weighs in on SEI’s first Lithium Ion battery:

The new Sunny Island AC coupled system is comprised of the following components: The primary battery based inverter is an SMA, Sunny Island SI4548 which has a 4500W output at 48Vdc. This is accompanied by a Grid-Direct SMA SunnyBoy4000TL-22-US that is connected to a 4KW CertainTeed, Apollo II BIPV solar shingle array.

The point of common coupling integrates SMA’s Smartformer, which is an autoformer that takes the 120V output of the Sunny Island and steps up the voltage to 240V and enables the Sunny Island to be compatible with the 240V output of the Sunny Boy. The Smartformer also contains a Bypass switch, as well as a load shedding contactor to regulate loads in the backed up loads panel. The system also has an automatic transfer switch to show students how to incorporate a generator into this system, as well as a backed up loads panel in order to run loads in the event of a grid failure.

The battery for this system has been provided by Blue Planet Energy. The battery, Blue Ion, is Lithium Iron Phosphate Li-FePo4, and is considered one of the safest lithium chemistries on the market today. The battery capacity is 16kWh and is comparable to a lead acid bank of 32kWh because of the capability of discharging this battery to 100% depth of discharge (traditional lead acids batteries are not recommended to go below 50% DoD). Not only does the Blue Ion pack high power density, but it is installed in a very sleek cabinet along with the BMS and a main overcurrent protection device, and takes up about half the space of a similar capacity lead acid battery bank.

 

On top of the previous attributes that the Blue Ion battery offers, there are no requirements for venting or fire suppression (some of the lithium options available today require specially engineered fire suppression systems due to there inherent fire danger), which is a huge benefit when trying to install these in a residence. A huge thanks goes out to Blue Planet Energy and our SEI instructor Kyle Bolger helping SEI get it’s first Lithium Ion Battery!

Come train on an emerging storage technology, Lithium Ion at SEI to stay on top of the latest trends in solar+storage technology.

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In Colorado next month: Come out to the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association Summer Solstice (We’ll be there!)

A message from the Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (COSEIA): “Join COSEIA and New Energy Colorado at our Summer Solstice Concert in the park! Celebrate with us with fantastic live music, food and drinks as we celebrate our successes and an industry and prepare for the future. 

Our event will be held on Wednesday June 20^th from 5:30pm-9:30pm at the Lakewood Heritage Center – 801 S Yarrow St., Lakewood, CO 80226 

Buy your ticket today: http://www.newenergycolorado.com/events “

SEI will be representing with a solar cooking demonstration, you won’t want to miss it! 

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