SEI Blog SEI to Bring Spanish PV Program to 50 Central American Solar Technicians in 2013Posted by: chris on December 20, 2012 If you read the news back in September, you saw that the US Department of State awarded Solar Energy International (SEI) $190,000 to be a part of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA). At the April 2009 Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, leaders of the Western Hemisphere underscored the fact that energy and climate change are among the most important issues confronting our future and reaffirmed their commitment to work together towards a clean energy future. Responding to these shared challenges, U.S. President Obama invited all ... Read More »
2012 Reflections and Looking Forward to 2013 for Solar Energy InternationalPosted by: chris on December 20, 2012 I often receive the question…so what does SEI do when your lab classes wind down for the season in Paonia, Colorado? The answer is…plenty! Though the year is drawing towards a close, SEI does not. In fact, we are busier than ever. For our regular readers, I thought you may appreciate some highlights from the past two months. Kuwait City, Kuwait: SEI’s Kris Sutton and Jay Peltz just finished teaching PV203: Solar Electric Design (Battery-Based), which included an installation, for 15 engineers in partnership with the Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research.Arizona Public ... Read More »
Solar Energy International Assists the National Park Service with Solar PV Integration Posted by: chris on December 20, 2012 Solar Energy International (SEI) has been assisting the National Park Service (NPS) in eastern Utah over the past couple years with solar electric design and installation consulting services. The various Parks in the region have numerous PV systems, mostly of the “stand-alone” variety due to their remote locations. Being early adopters, these National Parks are now replacing 20-year-old, off-grid PV systems that have served the parks and public well. This fall SEI completed a project in Arches National Park working with their maintenance staff to upgrade an existing ... Read More »
Thanksgiving Greetings from the SEI TeamPosted by: chris on November 20, 2012 You make SEI the incredible non-profit organization that it is. By Kathy Swartz, Interim Executive Director It’s hard to believe that 2012 is coming to an end. The days are getting shorter, the nights are colder, and snow is in the mountains. In this time of Thanksgiving, we have so much to be thankful for at Solar Energy International. We are thankful for you— our alumni, our friends, and our supporters. You make SEI the incredible non-profit organization that it is. We’ve had over 22,000 people take training from SEI during our 21 years of non-profit service ... Read More »
SEI Alumni Highlight - Azuriel MayoPosted by: chris on November 20, 2012 SEI's Alumni highlight for the month of November goes to Azuriel Mayo. We had the opportunity to catch up with Azuriel to see how he is doing. "I have had the blessings of being raised by a family that has a strong sense of interest in our impact as humans on this planet. My father was into recycling long before it was vogue and he was acutely aware of the waste that we humans generate. During the first oil crisis of 1972, he found ways to recycle large plastic bags at the food cannery where he worked. Later, he designed a house that had a wonderful deck that was ... Read More »
SEI Trains Solar Technicians in Benin, AfricaPosted by: chris on November 20, 2012 SEI and SELF (Solar Electric Light Fund) have teamed up to train 6 new solar technicians and provide a refresher course for SELF’s other solar technicians in the northern region of Benin, Africa. SELF is a US based non-profit that provides solar power solutions for water pumping, community garden irrigation, schools, and health clinics. They have made a long term commitment to help with social and economic development in the region around Kalele in Benin. SEI is providing the training program for all of the local technicians to improve their skills and work toward a region ... Read More »
SEI Alumni Highlight - Jason KechijianPosted by: chris on October 25, 2012 Jason Kechijian is one of SEI's stand out alumni and certificate program graduates. We caught up with Jason recently to see how he is doing in his solar career and ask him a few questions about how SEI helped him attain his goals.How did SEI help you prepare for your career? Jason: After finishing a multi-family construction project right before the market collapsed and the development bubble burst, I knew that a career in construction was my destiny. Knowing that the previous successes were unlikely I wanted to position myself for a bright future. I woke up in the ... Read More »
SEI Travels to Antigua for Solar TrainingPosted by: chris on October 24, 2012 SEI recently held a PV101: Solar Electric Design and Installation training on the island of Antigua. The Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA), under the banner of its Green Antigua campaign, enacted an interconnection standard to allow PV systems to be tied into their grid. One of the requirements for the installer is that they must take SEI's PV101 and PV203 (battery-based) training or test out. The participants in this intense SEI training included a cross section of members from the private and public sectors. The training consisted of theoretical and practical ... Read More »
SEI and Grid Alternatives Team Up - Solar PV Installations for Low Income HousingPosted by: chris on October 24, 2012 GRID Alternatives (GA) is expanding to Colorado where SEI’s Co-Founder Johnny Weiss and Noah Davis Manager of SEI’s Solar In the Schools Program recently helped with several ‘barn-raising’ style PV installations with low-income homeowners in Denver. Long-time friends of SEI, GA Founders Tim Sears and Erica Mackie have the mission to empower communities in need by providing renewable energy and energy efficiency services, equipment and training. Based in California, GRID Alternatives works collaboratively with communities and local organizations to identify specific needs ... Read More »
Solar In the Schools PV RC RacersPosted by: chris on October 23, 2012 The Solar In the Schools K-12 outreach program is hitting the road with cutting-edge solar RC cars built and driven by students. Four teams of students will be working under supervision this winter to build high-performance PV-direct radio-control model cars. The project will require students to construct their own array and customize the mechanical and electrical systems of their 1/10 scale cars to maximize solar performance on the track. The finished RC cars, which are not currently raced anywhere else in the world, will come together for a demonstration race in May ... Read More »
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