SOLAR ENERGY NEWS & TECHNICAL INSIGHTS
SEI Training Now Counts Toward Licensed Electrician Apprenticeship in Colorado & Wyoming
Solar Energy International (SEI) and Independent Electrical Contractors Rocky Mountain (IECRM) have established a pre-apprenticeship plus agreement that creates a direct pathway from SEI's solar training into IECRM's four-year Electricians Apprenticeship Program. The partnership is, in part, a response to Colorado Senate Bill 165, which requires licensure for solar installation work, ensuring the state's renewable energy workforce meets professional credentialing standards. Career Exploration Before ...
Join SEI at Solarplaza Summit Asset Management North America
Solar Energy International (SEI) is heading to San Diego April 1–2, 2026, for the 12th annual Solarplaza Summit Asset Management North America—the leading conference on optimizing solar asset performance. We're bringing four hands-on training sessions designed to sharpen your O&M skills: Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Overview Build a strong foundation in the core concepts every PV O&M ...
Train with SEI at COSSA Mountain West in Denver
Join us for COSSA’s Solar Power Mountain West Installer Day on Tuesday, March 3rd! This year, SEI is bringing five high-impact training sessions to the conference, including a dedicated session on Colorado's new SB165 licensing requirements and pre-apprenticeship pathways into IECRM’s Electrician Apprenticeship Program. This is a fantastic opportunity to deepen your technical knowledge and earn NABCEP continuing education credits while connecting with the ...
See You at IESNA 2026 in San Diego, California
Mark your calendars for an unmissable solar industry event. We're heading to San Diego for Intersolar & Energy Storage North America from February 17-20th, 2026, bringing our expertise in renewable energy education to one of the industry's premier gatherings. Arrive a day early for our half-day technical training workshop on February 17th, designed to enhance your solar expertise with the latest insights and ...
SEI Partners with Nextpower to Expand Access to Solar Careers, Empowering People and Powering the Energy Workforce of the Future
Paonia, CO — November 25, 2025 — Solar Energy International (SEI) is proud to announce a new partnership with Nextpower (formerly Nextracker), whose support will significantly expand SEI’s Empowerment Program scholarships—broadening access to solar energy education and career pathways for students from all backgrounds. At SEI, the mission is clear: train the global solar workforce and empower communities through high-quality, accessible renewable energy education. Nextpower’s ...
SEI & AES Launch Commercial & Large Scale Solar Training Scholarship
Solar Energy International (SEI) has partnered with AES Clean Energy Services, LLC. to power SEI's new Commercial and Large Scale Solar Training Scholarship, creating new pathways into solar careers for students nationwide. AES is committed to economic growth and education as part of their social impact mission, and SEI specializes in training the next generation of solar professionals. Together, they're creating opportunities for displaced ...
Alumni Highlight: Suzanne’s new solar perspective
Suzanne had never really thought about solar energy until about two years ago, when she met a gentleman who was eager to share the advantages of solar energy and the ease of installation with her. Not long after, Suzanne found herself ordering a complete grid-tied solar system online with the information he had provided for her. Once the system arrived, and after watching a ...
Alumni Highlight: Max Hupertz, United Renewable Energy LLC
At Solar Energy International (SEI) we are thankful for and enjoy getting feedback from alumni, often informing us what they are up to as they move forward with their careers in the field. Max Hupertz, a recent graduate of SEI, is currently employed by United Renewable Energy LLC, where he is managing the construction of utility scale solar fields (ground-mount). He loves his job, saying ...
SEI Staff Stories: Roger Williams reflects on journey from SEI student to instructing PV201L
Check out this guest post written by SEI Instructor and PV Curriculum Developer Roger Williams: I quietly began my solar career (no, adventure!) in 2002, about 6 months after September 11th, 2001. That incident opened my eyes to a larger world - one in which we are all connected. Personally, I thought our reliance on oil was at least partially to blame, and I vowed ...
Solar Energy Trade Shows, LLC (SETS) Selects Solar Energy International (SEI) as Exclusive Conference Training Provider
Alexandria, VA (October 1, 2019) – Solar Energy Trade Shows, LLC (SETS), the team behind SPI, ESI, and North America Smart Energy Week, announced a new expanded partnership with Solar Energy International (SEI) to implement installer training content across select events within the Solar Power Events portfolio. As the solar industry is expanding, so too are the job opportunities. With solar installer jobs not only ...
Solar Energy International (SEI) awarded grant from the Western Colorado Community Foundation for sustainability upgrades on campus
The $5k prize will go toward a greener educational experience at SEI’s Paonia headquarters Paonia, CO– Solar Energy International (SEI) was chosen as a recipient of Western Colorado Community Foundation (WCCF)’s 2019 Environment grant, and the $5,000 will be put toward “reduce, reuse and recycle” efforts in their Paonia-based industry-leading lab yard. SEI is one of the longest running and most widely recognized technical solar ...
SEI Alumni in the Field: Commercial PV Installer for Namaste Solar
Ben Vandervliet first found out about Solar Energy International (SEI) classes from his brother who was a part of the SEI Solar Ready Vets program, and now he’s a full-time commercial PV installer with Namaste Solar based out of Fort Collins, Colorado. SEI can help launch your career in the solar industry, too! Ben shared details with us on how SEI classes helped him secure ...
Lithium Ion Battery Recycling
There has been a lot of discussion from students and instructors on SEI’s campus regarding lithium battery recycling. SEI’s Lab Manager and Instructor, Alex Jahp, was able to put together some information for our students and staff on the topic. Alex began his solar career with SEI courses in 2015 and now, as the Paonia Lab Manager, we all benefit from his continual learning and ...
Solar Panel Protection from Critters
OVERVIEW Pesky rodents can cause major issues in any solar system. In this informative article, Trevor Schwartz, SEI alumni and Field Service Technician at StraightUp Solar, shares his expertise on solar panel protection from critters "I was documenting much of my work on the roof as a Service Tech and soon realized that squirrels are one of our main issues in the Service ...
SEI Receives Historic $500,000 Grant to Advance Renewable Energy Education & Scholarships
Paonia, CO., 1/28/2025 - Solar Energy International (SEI), a leading provider of renewable energy education, has been awarded a $500,000 grant from Invest in Our Future, a fiscally sponsored project of RF Catalytic Capital, a subsidiary of The Rockefeller Foundation. The grant represents the single largest foundation support in SEI's history and will significantly expand access to renewable energy education and training. The funding will ...
Serving Those Who Have Served
At SEI, we are proud to support all U.S. military service members who are currently wearing the uniform or have honorably served our country in the past through our Veteran’s Program. In recent years, we helped launch the Solar Ready Veterans Program through the Department of Energy's SunShot initiative, offering our training to help veterans start their solar career journey. Today, one of the ways ...
A Life-changing Experience with Solar Education: Anaide’s Story
Solar Installation and Project Development is still a male-dominated sector of the solar industry, with just 27.8% of workers identifying as female. But through your support, SEI is changing that narrative by offering life-changing trainings and resources to women entering the solar workforce. Not only are we narrowing the gender gap and shifting the statistics, but we are empowering women to take a ...
Solar Energy International Announces New Scholarship Opportunity for Women
Paonia, CO., October 11, 2022 – Solar Energy International (SEI) announced today a new scholarship that empowers women from all over the world with solar energy training and professional development through the SEI Women in Solar Power program. The program aims to further bolster the growing network of women who are pursuing career pathways in the solar energy sector and support solar professionals actively ...
SEI and AES Launch Solar Workforce Development Program for Colorado Residents
Solar Energy International (SEI) and AES partner to create a solar training scholarship program that encourages participation in Colorado’s solar industry Paonia, Colo., October 10, 2022 — Solar Energy International (SEI), a leading solar training educational non-profit, has again collaborated with The AES Corporation, a global energy company accelerating the future of energy and a leading developer of utility-scale solar generation, to extend a solar ...
SEI and AES Launch Solar Workforce Development Program for New Mexico Residents
In partnership with Solar Energy International (SEI), AES supports solar scholarship program to stimulate local participation in New Mexico’s solar industry Paonia, Colo., July 26, 2022 — Solar Energy International (SEI), a leading solar training educational non-profit, has again collaborated with The AES Corporation, a global energy company accelerating the future of energy and a leading developer of utility-scale solar generation, to expand a solar ...
Nextracker Launches Half the Sun, A Global Solar Scholarship for Women
In partnership with Solar Energy International (SEI), Nextracker initiates 3-year scholarship program to foster female participation in solar industry FREMONT, CALIF. USA, August 18, 2021 — Nextracker™, the market leader in yield-enhancing PV system technology and solar trackers, and Solar Energy International (SEI), the world’s leading renewable energy technical training provider, today announced their partnership ...
SEI endeavors to advance inclusivity among renewable energy workforce with new PRIDE Scholarship
In June, SEI announced the formation of a new scholarship fund aimed to advance inclusivity within our organization and the renewable energy field as a whole. After revisiting SEI’s core values to Educate, Engage and Empower, we are striving to find new ways to create equitable systems within the structure and mission of our operations, including a dedication to evolve in how we work and ...
Solar Energy Education Continues to Advance Workforce through renewal of BayWa r.e. Scholarship Fund
Paonia, CO, August 9, 2021 – Solar Energy International (SEI) and BayWa r.e. announced today the continuation of their partnership to provide scholarship funds, re-upping their commitment to award another $10,000 in solar training tuition fees to SEI students. The BayWa r.e. Scholarship Fund will once again contribute 100% of tuition fees to future solar professionals hand-selected through SEI’s program, with a focus on supporting ...
Solar Energy International (SEI) Names New Executive Director
We are pleased to announce that Elizabeth Sanderson has been named Executive Director of Solar Energy International (SEI), the Colorado-based, industry-leading, internationally recognized, not-for-profit educational organization. Elizabeth joins SEI with an impressive history of leadership and experience that will be leveraged to take our non-profit educational mission of a world powered by renewable energy to the next level. With credentials including COO and Director of ...
New scholarship fund offers solar energy education opportunities for Spanish Speaking U.S. Residents
$20,000 Scholarship Aims to Increase Latino Representation Among Clean Energy Industry; Create Equitable Professional Development Opportunities Within Solar Businesses Paonia, Colo., June 7, 2021. Solar Energy International (SEI) and SolarReviews announced today their partnership to create a scholarship fund that provides financial assistance for U.S. residents with Spanish as their first language seeking solar energy education through SEI. The scholarship aims to increase hispanic representation among the ...
SEI and New Energy Equity announces the creation of the Lift as We Climb Foundation
ANNAPOLIS, MD, April 6, 2021- New Energy Equity LLC, a solar developer and financier based in Annapolis, MD, announces the creation and funding of its Lift as We Climb Foundation. The Foundation was started by New Energy Equity employees as part of a 2020 initiative called Operation Shared Success, supporting New Energy’s core purpose of “Leaving behind a better world”. Each year, New Energy Equity ...
Johnny Weiss – Celebration of Life
Johnny Weiss, co-founder of SEI, has recently been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of Leukemia, and his remaining time is now limited. In honor of his life and achievements, we are hosting an online Zoom Party with Johnny on Sunday, August 4 at 3pm Mountain Time (2 PM Pacific, 4 PM Central, 5 PM Eastern). Johnny has personally requested that our gathering ...
Johnny Weiss Receives the NABCEP Walt Ratterman Award: Honoring Humanitarian Efforts in Renewable Energy
Solar Energy International (SEI) is proud to announce that our co-founder and board member, Johnny Weiss, has been awarded the prestigious NABCEP Walt Ratterman Award in recognition of his outstanding humanitarian solar work. The award is named after solar energy pioneer Walt Ratterman. He tragically lost his life in 2010 while on a humanitarian mission in Haiti. It is awarded to individuals who ...
Join SEI for free COSSA conference training on February 27th, 2024
COSSA’s Solar Power and Energy Storage Mountain West conference is coming up soon and SEI will be attending, bringing some NABCEP-certified trainings with us. Conference attendees can join us on February 27th for the following free training: 2023 NEC® Changes Affecting PV and Energy Storage System PV + Storage Configurations for Non-fixed Rate Tariffs and Resiliency I-V Curves and Diodes Demystified Thermography and PV ...
Register for the 2024 NABCEP CE Conference
Will we be seeing you at this year's NABCEP conference? The advanced-level content presented at the annual NABCEP CE Conference is geared toward PV industry professionals who have experience with PV installation, solar + storage, technical sales, design, O&M, or system inspection. This is the only industry event that allows NABCEP Board Certified Professionals to obtain as many as 20.5 hours of continuing education ...
SEI Dedicates New Tech Center to Ken Gardner
Many of SEI's local staff, board members, instructors, students, and friends recently came together to celebrate Ken Gardner's outstanding contributions to SEI over the years. Gardner, a long-time instructor, board member and previous board president, has made a significant impact ...
It’s not just about training women…
The solar industry is on the brink of an amazing transformation - but a question still remains: how do we cultivate diverse talent so solar might realize its full potential? SEI has set out to answer that very question by considering how we provide meaningful training opportunities to those who face barriers to entry, women in particular. It's no secret that the solar sector is ...
Media Queries
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pv magazine: Solar jobs: 80,000 trained in the last three decades, over the next three years… double that
Solar has gone on an impressive journey, rising from a fledgling technology to a relevant part of the overall power generation mix, and the dominant technology in newly deployed projects. In 2012, about 2.7 GW of solar was reported to be active by the Energy Information Administration, and now, as of the end of 2021, 92.5 GW are installed. That’s an increase of over 3000% ...
Telluride Daily Planet: Never too young to learn about solar
It’s never too young to start learning about solar energy. On March 15, Andrea Wang, the Solar in the Schools program manager from Solar Energy International (SEI), visited Telluride Elementary to teach fourth graders about renewable sources of energy. "The goal is to bring up renewable energy literacy in schools and also get more understanding about solar electricity, talking about climate change and energy efficiency ...
Utah Business: AES launches solar scholarship for Utah residents
Utah — AES, a global energy company accelerating the future of energy and a leading developer of utility-scale solar generation, has collaborated with Solar Energy International (SEI), a leading solar training educational non-profit, announcing today their new partnership to provide solar workforce development services in Utah. The partnership includes two elements: a scholarship fund for individuals, and consulting services for colleges and universities. Both aspects aim to ...
AltEnergyMag: Solar Forward to Assist Eagle County with Community Effort in Solarize Campaign
Solar Energy International (SEI)'s outreach program, Solar Forward anticipates a successful Eagle County program in 2022 after learning about the community's goals and broad stakeholder support. Eagle County, like many mountain towns, is seeking thoughtful solutions to mitigating their carbon footprint and is now making a holistic solar campaign, like Solar Forward, a part of that conversation. Solar Forward will help Eagle County promote ...
SEI’s Latin America Business Development Director shares in a discussion on Building the Workforce of the Future
How can we build the robust, resilient workforce necessary for a regenerative future? Matthew Harris, SEI’s Latin America Business Development Director, shares in a discussion on Building the Workforce of the Future. Play the video above to learn how SEI is approaching the demand for solar workers, if we are on track with estimates, and what can be done to diversify the solar ...
Highlighting Diversity; The Words and Stories We Choose – Kelsey Misbrener
Kelsey Misbrener is senior editor at Solar Power World magazine, the premier media outlet for the U.S. solar market. She gets excited about all things solar policy and also enjoys covering the inverter and software beats for SPW. She has a degree in magazine journalism from Kent State University and is passionate about renewable energy and the environment. In her free time, she ...
SEI supporting EWB solar project to improve water system in orphanage and boarding school Wema Centre in Kenya
Karo Fernandez, SEI Curriculum Developer and Technical Instructor, traveled to the Wema Children's Centre in Bukembe, Kenya volunteering for Engineers Without Borders Chicagoland Professional Chapter to support improvement efforts for the electrical and water pumping systems. This included solar site assessment and power calculations to shift the existing electrical water pump, currently not operating due to grid failure, to a solar powered system. Additionally, she assessed the ...
SEI Will be the Leading Training Organization at Solar Power Mexico 2019
Solar Energy International (SEI) will be offering a total of 6 solar energy workshops during Solar Power Mexico 2019. The event will take place at the Citibanamex Center, Mexico City, Mexico from March,19-21. Solar Power Mexico is organized by three of the leading trade show companies in the world: Deutsche Messe, SNEC PV Power Expo, and Solar Power International (SPI) have joined forces to help ...
Solar Energy International (SEI) opens its first International Solar Training Center in Costa Rica
With this facility SEI seeks to accelerate and expand access to solar training to Spanish speakers throughout Latin America CARTAGO, COSTA RICA- Solar Energy International (SEI), an industry leader in solar energy technical training, opened its first International Solar Training Center in Costa Rica through a partnership with CFIA (Federated College of Engineers and Architects of Costa Rica) and CIEMI (College of Electrical, Mechanical and ...
A day unlike any other in SEI solar history
April 23 was a historic day for Solar Energy International (SEI). We inaugurated our first international Solar Training Center in Costa Rica. Since we started our Spanish Program in 2013, SEI has trained more than +13000 Spanish speakers. This new training center gives us the possibility to expand SEI's world-class solar training to more Spanish-speaking professionals. SEI seeks to empower more people with solar education ...
SEI provided a solar installer training workshop for the Solar Energy Education Program of Costa Rica Chamber of Industries
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 ...
SEI is looking for bilingual instructors for our Spanish Solar Installer Training 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 ...
SEI and Solar Tech Collective Partner to Launch New NFPA 70B Course for Electrical Equipment Maintenance
Paonia, CO - August 14, 2025 — Solar Energy International (SEI) and Solar Tech Collective (STC) are excited to announce the official launch of a new on-demand course, "NFPA 70B: The Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance," available now on SEI’s Online Campus. This course, developed by Solar Tech Collective and hosted by SEI, offers a comprehensive , deep dive into the updated NFPA 70B — a ...
Enhance Your Solar Skills at the 2025 NABCEP Conference
The premier event for solar professionals is just around the corner, and Solar Energy International (SEI) is excited to announce our participation in the 2025 NABCEP CE Conference in Reno, Nevada from March 24-27! What to Expect at This Year's Conference The 2025 NABCEP CE Conference brings together the best minds in the solar industry, offering unparalleled educational and networking opportunities. This year's highlights ...
How SEI’s All-Women Solar Training Program Is Changing the Game for Women in the Industry
When we talk about solar training, we often focus on technical skills, but we tend to overlook how important the learning environment is—especially for women in a male-majority industry. That's why having an all-women’s solar training program can make such a big difference for women to find an environment where they feel safe, supported, and empowered. 1. A Safe Space Where Learning Thrives For the ...
Growing Solar Careers for Women: Corporate / Non-profit Partnership Builds Safe Learning Communities for Those Often Excluded from Energy Jobs
Sungrow Americas sponsors Solar Energy International’s Women’s Lab Week, providing technical skills and career opportunities for Women+ in the fast-growing industry. Paonia, CO., Aug 1, 2024 — Solar Energy International (SEI) is a leading training institution in the renewable fields; founded in 1991 to teach technical skills on what was then an emerging industry, the Colorado-based non-profit now offers world-class curriculum and certification for ...
Senator Hickenlooper’s Visit to Solar Energy International (SEI): A Step Forward for Solar Equity and Workforce Development
On Thursday, June 27, Senator John Hickenlooper visited Solar Energy International (SEI) in Paonia, Colorado, marking a significant milestone for the solar industry and workforce development in the region. SEI, a nonprofit technical training school serving Colorado and the world since 1991, has been a beacon for solar education, training over 150,000 students and alumni worldwide. The visit underscored the importance of SEI's work and ...
New Partnership Leads the Way in Solar Workforce Development
Enstall & Solar Energy International team up to create new curriculum for entry level solar jobs and support veterans through scholarships Paonia, CO., May 8, 2024 — Enstall, a global leader in mounting and racking solutions, and Solar Energy International (SEI), a non-profit organization dedicated to solar energy education, have once again joined forces to strengthen the solar industry workforce. In March 2024, Enstall ...