For 30 years, Solar Energy International (SEI) has been dedicated to training the global solar energy workforce. SEI delivers hands-on experience, safety, and technical skills solar training to scale the global workforce at a pace to that significantly impacts climate change — whether that’s equipping utilities with the skills to operate large-scale solar farms, or helping people access clean, reliable energy for the first time. SEI offers online training as well as in-person workshops at its facilities in Paonia, Colorado.

SEI’s Solar Professional Certificate Program (SPCP) is the industry’s most comprehensive training program. With custom program tracks, SPCP prepares professionals with foundational solar skills and technical theory in the solar industry segment of their choice. All SPCP tracks are a combination of hands-on, safety, and technical skills training.

SEI’s online and in-person training programs also count towards the training requirements for taking the NABCEP Associate and Professional certification exams. NABCEP offers two levels of credentials: 1.) PV Associate Credential, which can be taken after training and 2.) Professional Certifications, which requires both training and field experience.

May 2, 2022 – May 6, 2022 OR September 12, 2022 – September 16, 2022 TUITION: $1595.00

Students in this class will learn the theory behind and gain hands-on experience with a wide range of state-of-the-art analytical tools. The class will focus on PV system operations and maintenance, performance evaluation, and troubleshooting techniques using tools such as the IV Curve Tracer, Insulation Resistance Tester, Thermal Camera, Multimeter, and Clamp-On Meter.

PREREQUISITE COURSES: Before participating in the PV351L course, students MUST complete PV101 or PVOL101, PV202 or PVOL202, and PV201L OR an equivalent course from another organization, have NABCEP certification, or demonstrate field experience and pass placement quizzes.

Students who complete the PV351 workshop will be able to:

SEI Contact Training Hours: 5 days in person = 40 hours

This course provides approved credit hours towards the following NABCEP Certifications and Recertifications:

This training will cover design considerations as they apply to both low and high head micro-hydro systems. The focus will be on core concepts that may be applied to a wide range of hydro applications. Participants perform preliminary system sizing for mechanical and electrical power generation of 50-watt to 100-kilowatt capacities. The course combines class lectures with site tours and lab exercises.

Participants perform preliminary system sizing for mechanical and electrical power generation of 50-watt to 100-kilowatt capacities. This training combines class lectures with site tours and lab exercises. Hands-on exercises include: methods of flow measurement, determining head, analyzing and assembling small functioning systems. The class is taught by two highly experienced Micro-hydro installers/instructors.

This is a 3-day course consisting of classroom lecture with tours and hands-on labs. Lectures are presented in PowerPoint format with exercises, quizzes, group discussion, and homework. Tours and lab provide an opportunity for students to see systems and apply the theory they learn in lectures. This workshop is worth 24 contact training hours.

June 20, 2022 – June 24, 2022 OR August 8, 2022 – August 12, 2022 OR September 26, 2022 – September 30, 2022 TUITION: $1595.00

This solar training workshop offers five days of hands-on installation practice with grid-direct systems. By working in small groups, students will put what they’ve learned in PV101 to the test. Students will fully install and commission a wide variety of system types before testing the system, then de-commissioning and breaking down. Students rotate between a commercial ballasted roof, two steep roofs, a ground-mount, and a pole-mount system that contain a variety of inverters, racking hardware and mounting methods. Students will learn fall protection best practices and different harness set-ups. They will learn lockout/tagout procedures to create a safe working environment and use an assortment of meters to test systems.

PREREQUISITE COURSES: Before participating in the PV201L course, students MUST complete PV101 or PVOL101 OR an equivalent course from another organization, have NABCEP certification, or demonstrate field experience and pass a placement quiz. Please contact sei@solarenergy.org if you feel you are qualified to skip the prerequisite for PV201L.

Students who complete the PV201L workshop will be able to:

Note: This class is a great complement to PV301L, the Solar Electric Lab Week (Battery-Based).

SEI Contact Training Hours: 5 days in person = 40 hours

This course provides approved credit hours towards the following NABCEP Certifications and Recertifications:

June 27, 2022 – July 1, 2022 OR August 15, 2022 – August 19, 2022 OR October 3, 2022 – October 7, 2022 TUITION: $1595.00

Safely install, test, and commission battery-based PV systems in this solar training workshop. Lab stations are comprised of both stand-alone and grid-tied with battery back-up systems, and include both AC and DC coupled systems. Integrating generator back-up will also be covered. Participants will concentrate on battery safety, wiring, and maintenance, and will wire balance of system components including: combiner boxes, disconnects, power centers, controllers, battery banks, and inverters. Set-up, basic programming, and testing of components for specific battery-based applications will be integrated into the lab sessions. Students will learn fundamental procedures for safe installation and commissioning practices, and all exercises will have an emphasis on battery safety considerations.

PREREQUISITE COURSES: Before participating in the PV301L course, students MUST complete PV101 or PVOL101, PV203 or PVOL203 OR an equivalent course from another organization, have NABCEP certification, or demonstrate field experience and pass a placement quiz.

Students who complete the PV301L workshop will be able to:

SEI Contact Training Hours: 5 days in person = 40 hours

This course provides approved credit hours towards the following NABCEP Certifications and Recertifications:

PV201LW: Solar Training – Women’s Solar Electric Lab Week (Grid-Direct)

With female-only instructors and participants, this hands-on course offers women a uniquely supportive learning environment to build their solar knowledge foundation. This course offers the same curriculum as SEI’s co-ed PV201L, but is intended to further encourage participants to get ALL those solar questions answered and offer networking opportunities with each other and existing women in the solar industry. This solar training workshop offers five days of hands-on installation practice with grid-direct systems. By working in small groups, students will put what they’ve learned in PV101 to the test. Students will fully install and commission a wide variety of system types before testing the system, then de-commissioning and breaking down. Students rotate between a commercial ballasted roof, two steep roofs, a ground-mount, and a pole-mount system that contain a variety of inverters, racking hardware and mounting methods. Students will learn fall protection best practices and different harness set-ups. They will learn lockout/tagout procedures to create a safe working environment and use an assortment of meters to test systems.

PREREQUISITE COURSES: Before participating in the PV201L course, students MUST complete PV101 or PVOL101 OR an equivalent course from another organization, have NABCEP certification, or demonstrate field experience and pass a placement quiz.

Students who complete the PV201L workshop will be able to:

SEI Contact Training Hours: 5 days in person = 40 hours

This course provides approved credit hours towards the following NABCEP Certifications and Recertifications:

For more information on any SEI training course and to enroll today, hit the SEI website.

We have a ton video interviews and additional content on our YouTube page. Recently we debuted Power Forward! -- a collaboration with BayWa r.e. to discuss higher level industry topics as well as best practices / trends for running a solar business today. Our longer running side project is The Pitch -- in which we have awkward discussions with solar manufacturers and suppliers about their new technology and ideas so that you don't have to. We've discusses everything from residential rail-less deck attaching and home solar financing to large-scale energy storage value stacking and utility-driven new home solar + storage microgrids. We also post our Project of the Year announcements there! Interviews with this year's winners will be up starting the week of Nov. 8. Head there and subscribe today to stay on top of all this extra stuff.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

©2022 Copyright Solar Builder Magazine   |   Wordpress Website by OuterBox