SOLAR ENERGY NEWS & TECHNICAL INSIGHTS
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 ...
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 ...
Solar Training at RE+ 2024
Come join us at this year's RE+ Conference in Anaheim, CA from September 9th-12th! Our SEI team members will be there to provide insightful training sessions and share their expertise. Don't miss this chance to network with industry experts and vendors in the North American solar industry. Gain valuable insights to elevate your skills and get an exclusive preview of the newest products and ...
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 ...
Alumni Highlight: Upskilling Can Turn Dreams Into Reality
At SEI, we are privileged to train a diverse group of solar learners annually, each with varying levels of knowledge. While some students seek solar education to break into the industry, we also work with professionals already in the field who are eager to enhance their expertise. One such learner is Thomas Nielson, a Utah resident with a background in physics, who has spent his ...
Solar Energy International (SEI) attends 11th annual Southern Colorado Construction Career Days
This past month Solar Energy International (SEI) was invited to attend the 11th annual Southern Colorado Construction Career Days in Colorado Springs. The mission of Construction Career Days is “To provide a venue for young people to explore the variety of career opportunities available in the construction industry upon graduation from high school. To host a day of hands-on experiences, to enable them to interface with expert ...
Climate-related catastrophe is omnipresent, take action NOW with Solar Energy International (SEI)
On Monday the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a report that reveals the severe impact of climate change may be experienced well within the lifetime of the general world population, if dramatic policy changes don’t happen fast. How fast? To prevent 2.7 degrees of warming, the report recommends that greenhouse pollution should be reduced by 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030, and 100 ...
Are you taking advantage of SEI’s job board?
SEI's job board can help employers find qualified employees, and help job seekers find opportunities in the solar industry Did you know that SEI has trained over 60,000+ people from all over the world on solar energy? Did you also know that SEI hosts an exclusive job board that only our 60,000+ alumni can view? If your company is looking to add an SEI trained ...
SEPA report predicts the rapid growth of solar+storage: SEI classes can help you get an edge on this emerging market
This week, The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) released its 2018 Utility Energy Storage Market Snapshot. According to SEPA, the report delivers "unbiased analysis and figures based on verified interconnection data from over 130 US utilities." This year’s Utility Energy Storage Market Snapshot covers the expanding applications of energy storage and key market trends. Here are some of the key take-aways from the report, based on ...
Members of the SEI community team up with San Juan College for a service trip in the Himalayas
For two weeks this past June, several members of the SEI family together with volunteers from San Juan College participated in a solar project in the Himalayas. In a continuation of the late SEI instructor Mike Sullivan’s humanitarian work on the Tibetan Plateau and throughout the world, SEI instructor Chris Brooks and San Juan College professor and longtime friend of Mike, Chris Strouthopoulos led the ...
Improve your solar resume in minutes with these tips from our Student Services Team
At Solar Energy International (SEI) we train around 2,000 students per season, many of them looking to break into the solar industry as a new career path. One question we get asked all the time is, how do I format my resume with past experience in a different industry in a way that appeals to solar employers? We sat down with the SEI Student Services ...
Members of the SEI community team up with San Juan College for a service trip in the Himalayas
For two weeks this past June, several members of the SEI family together with volunteers from San Juan College participated in a solar project in the Himalayas. In a continuation of the late SEI instructor Mike Sullivan’s humanitarian work on the Tibetan Plateau and throughout the world, SEI instructor Chris Brooks and San Juan College professor and longtime friend of Mike, Chris Strouthopoulos led the ...
Happy Summer Solstice! Are you 100 for 100?
Paul Ruiz envisions a world powered by renewable energy. He grew up in an off-grid cabin in the rural mountains of Costa Rica powered by solar and hydropower. He accessed electricity for the essentials only – lighting and refrigeration. He rode wild horses, wrangled cattle, and built things with his hands. As a young adult he sold roses to tourists, guided as a Costa Rican ...
With SEI’s help, high school students in Delta County install solar photovoltaic systems on their schools
Students at Paonia and Delta High Schools who are a part of Solar Energy Internationals High School Technical Training and Careers Pathways Program installed solar systems on their schools earlier this year. Nine Paonia High School students 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. ...
Would you walk a mile for water?
“Before going to school, her children would have to walk a mile each morning to fetch water for daily use. They would be late for school and were often punished for being tardy.” Solar Energy International alum Bilal Ahmed believes that everyone deserves access to clean water. A trained physician, Bilal took SEI classes so he could use solar energy as a tool to provide ...
Lighting the fire: A message from SEI Alumni Bilal Ahmed
Schools in rural Pakistan face energy poverty every day. Many have no, or very limited access to electricity. SEI Alum (years ’10, ’11, ’15), Bilal Ahmed, aims to change that. Bilal first came to us when he was a practicing physician in Bismarck, ND. However, his real passion is setting up solar PV powered wells in drought-stricken areas of Pakistan and powering small village schools. ...
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 ...
Announcing the new Solar Energy International (SEI) Online Alumni and Career Center!
SEI is excited to announce the launch of our brand new Online Alumni and Career Center (ACC). SEI students have helped SEI become what it is today - the leading Renewable Energy Training provider in the world! In return, we strive to continually improve the resources and information that we provide to our students and alumni, that you will need throughout your solar career. We are ...
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 ...
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 ...
Paradise Energy Solutions Selects Solar Energy International as Training Partner
We are excited to announce Paradise Energy Solutions, LLC has chosen Solar Energy International (SEI) as their official training partner! Through this partnership we're offering discounts on PV and FV courses to employees at Paradise Energy Solutions, LLC. Whether you're just starting out in the industry, or have been in solar for years, SEI's industry-leading solar training has something for everyone. With class topics ranging from solar ...
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 ...
History of solar documentary, ‘Solar Roots,’ to screen in Paonia, Colorado
PAONIA, Colorado — Renewable energy advocates and solar training professionals will have the chance to see the story of the start of the modern solar photovoltaic (PV) industry through the eyes of its pioneers. On March 26, Solar Energy International (SEI) and the Paradise Theatre in Paonia, Colorado, present "Solar Roots - The Pioneers of PV" as part of the SEI’s 11th Annual Instructor Training, ...
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 20th from 5:30pm-9:30pm at the Lakewood Heritage Center - 801 ...
NEW: SEI merch! Represent SEI out in the field or during your favorite summer activities
SEI has a lot in store for the busy summer class season. Seriously, check out all of the new products we’re offering in our online store and our student shop in Paonia, Colorado! Have you ever wished you could take SEI out into the field with you after training? Now you can! SEI now has a new line of construction gear: safety glasses, vests, wind-resistant ...
With SEI’s help, high school students in Delta County install solar photovoltaic systems on their schools
Students at Paonia and Delta High Schools who are a part of Solar Energy Internationals High School Technical Training and Careers Pathways Program installed solar systems on their schools earlier this year. Nine Paonia High School students 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. ...
AmeriCorps Volunteers serve with nonprofit ‘A Little Help’
In honor of National Service Recognition Day on April 3rd, AmeriCorps Members in Paonia, Colorado teamed up with a local non-profit called A Little Help to serve their community. AmeriCorps VISTAs (Volunteers In Service To America) from Solar Energy International and Elsewhere Studios, who are working on economic and community revitalization in Delta County, joined forces to do direct service in their community. A Little ...
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 ...
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 ...
Media Queries
For general press inquiries, please contact us. Explore SEI’s Media Kit and Brand Guidelines.
How Far Have We Really Gotten With Alternative Energy?
There’s a lot of hype and confusion about carbon-free energy sources. This Wall Street Journal article looks at five of them: how much they produce, what they cost, and what obstacles they face. SEI's Executive Director, Elizabeth Sanderson, is briefly quoted in this extensive article. Note: you will need a WSJ subscription to access this article. READ FULL ARTICLE
SEI Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with scholarships for U.S. Spanish-speaking residents
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in the United States from September 15th through October 15th to recognize a diverse range of people with Spanish-speaking backgrounds and honor their heritage, culture, spirit and extraordinary contributions as Hispanic Americans. At SEI we want to celebrate all of our Spanish-speaking students who inspire us daily with their initiative, commitment and dedication to pursuing the energy transition in their ...
Nextracker and Solar Energy International announce global scholarship to bring more women into solar
Nextracker and Solar Energy International (SEI) have announced their partnership to launch Half the Sun, a global scholarship program to support more women in joining the solar workforce. Women continue to be severely underrepresented in the solar industry, despite overwhelming agreement that a diverse workplace makes smart business sense. According the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), women account for only 28% of the Science, ...
CANCELLED: SEI is leading multiple technical training seminars at SPI 2021
While many of SEI’s team members were slated to attend SPI, the conference has been canceled due to Hurricane Ida. Click the button below to view more information. LEARN MORE
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 ...