SOLAR ENERGY NEWS & TECHNICAL INSIGHTS
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 Energy International (SEI) Announces Strategic Reorganization and New Leadership
A new Executive Leadership Team (ELT) has been created as part of a year-long strategic planning process. Paonia, Colorado - Solar Energy International (SEI) today announced a transformative divisional and leadership reorganization, aimed to meet the workforce training demands of a fast-growing, technically challenging, and increasingly diverse solar industry. SEI’s board of directors is proud to share that this new Executive Leadership Team (ELT) has been created as part of ...
Webinar to present new financing options from Colorado’s green bank, CCEF
SEI’s Solar Forward is collaborating with the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) to present Colorado Clean Energy Fund (CCEF)’s latest financing products Paonia, CO- Colorado’s first green bank, Colorado Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) began in 2021 developing products for difficult-to-finance renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, like small commercial solar installations and for borrowers without competitive credit or access to capital. Green banks like CCEF specialize ...
Solar Forward Summer Wrap-up
In its seventh year, the Solar Forward Program is wrapping up its summer programs with many successes from community coordinators. So far this year Solar Forward has worked with four communities: San Miguel County for education and outreach in partnership with the non-profit Solar United Neighbors; Grand County as a consultant for a for-profit solar company, Active Energies Solutions; and advising two communities on implementing ...
What the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022” Means for Solar
By now you have heard way too much about the momentous Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) being signed into law by President Biden. While this important legislation assists with health care costs and implements tax reform to address the deficit, what Solar Forward is most interested in is what this legislation means for energy. Highlights of the IRA Energy Incentives: 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC) on ...
Electrical Contractor Magazine: Native Champions for Solar: The sun is rising on renewable power installations on Tribal lands
As Red Cloud began contacting other Northern Plains tribes, he found interest in solar-generated electricity. He then reached out to Solar Energy International (SEI), a nonprofit based in Paonia, Colo., which is focused on training for solar electric and thermal installers. In 2008, he opened the Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center (RCREC) to bring professional training to Pine Ridge. Now, RCREC offers SEI-certified solar-installation training ...
Zero Mass Water system wows students and Solar Fair attendees
SEI would like to send a big shout out to Zero Mass Water for taking water vapor in the air and condensing it to a drinkable form! Recently, SEI, through a generous donation by board member and instructor Ken Gardner, acquired a Zero Mass Water unit that with the aid of PV can take everyday air and change it to very drinkable water. The unit ...
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 ...
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 ...
You won’t want to miss this! What makes SEI’s campus in Paonia, Colorado so special? [VIDEO]
https://youtu.be/IUQm6qTUP5w The sky is speckled with stars as far as the eye can see as you sit around a roaring campfire, ukulele and laughter abound in the background as tent flaps ripple in the wind, the moon’s distorted reflection stares back at you from a solar panel--no, you are not at summer camp (although it feels like it), you are at Solar Energy International ...
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. ...
FIMER supports Solar Energy International (SEI) through Industry Sponsorship
FIMER’s generous donations over the next 3 years will help SEI realize their vision of building a global solar energy workforce. PAONIA, CO. , JUNE 5, 2020 – Solar Energy International (SEI) is excited to announce its collaboration with FIMER as a watt-level industry sponsor through SEI’s Industry Sponsorship Program. FIMER’s generous contributions will help cover SEI’s general operating expenses to facilitate the building of ...
Solar energy education opportunities expand for Caribbean practitioners through the launch of the Caribbean Solar Energy Training Network (CaribSETNet)
Paonia, Colo., August 20, 2020 – Solar Island Energy and Solar Energy International (SEI) announced today their partnership to provide practical, technical skills training to current and aspiring Caribbean PV practitioners through the launch of the Caribbean Solar Energy Training Network (CaribSETNet). This year CaribSETNet will award 10 to 20 partial or full tuition scholarships in solar training to selected applicants to advance their professional ...
You’re Invited to EMPOWER 2020 | Virtual Solar Summit 20+ Speakers | 7 Sessions | Up to 4 NABCEP CEUs
https://youtu.be/4XBCksn_xw8 On July 23rd, join Aurora Solar with solar industry leaders, policy insiders, and growth experts as we discuss how the solar industry can navigate the challenges and possible opportunities amid COVID-19. The one-day virtual event features six panel sessions on practical topics such as digital lead generation, solar plus battery storage, digital permitting and more. View the summit schedule here—sign up for all ...
FREE Webinar on Drones, 3D Mapping and LiDAR on April 22nd!
SEI is partnering with Scanifly to offer a first time ever course on Drones, 3D Mapping and LiDAR. Attendees of this FREE 90 minute webinar can expect to learn everything about using drones for project development purposes: what drone to buy, how to fly drones, best practices for building an in-house or third party drone team, how to incorporate drones into onsite assessments, and what benefits drones will have to ...
Solar Energy International expanding online solar training during pandemic
Solar training organization Solar Energy International is postponing all in-person training that was scheduled for March through May, but will have an expanded focus and training options through the SEI Online Campus during that time. “We wanted to reach out to all of our students, alumni, employers and supporters to let you know SEI is open for business and that we are pushing forward ...
SEI partners with Kenneth King to provide scholarships
Solar Energy International (SEI) is excited to announce a new scholarship opportunity provided by the Kenneth King Foundation. Established in 1990, the Kenneth King Foundation is a private, grantmaking organization. Located in Denver, Colorado, the Foundation’s mission is to perpetuate and expand the humanitarian principles developed by their late founder Kenneth King. Today, they support organizations that provide basic needs, create jobs, and foster entrepreneurship. ...
Help support a solar-powered radio station in Tanzania
In 1997, Lukas Kariongi was an eager young Maasai from East Africa who traveled to Solar Energy International (SEI) for solar energy training. At SEI, he began his life-changing training to be a solar technician as a tuition-funded scholarship student. When Lukas first began his SEI journey back when the campus was based in Carbondale, Colorado, he linked up with SEI co-founder, Johnny Weiss. Aligning ...
SEI’s local solar initiative, Solarize, concludes with over 400kW of solar installed in Delta County
Solar Energy International’s (SEI) Solarize Delta County Farms has officially come to a close, and the cumulative success of all three Solarize campaigns can finally be revealed. The final results are: nearly 60 new solar installs equaling over 400kW, nine new jobs, and over $1.5 million invested by community members in solar energy in Delta County! Solarize is an outreach model that includes a driving ...
GRID Alternatives Colorado and Solar Energy International Empower Women in Solar
Last month, GRID Alternatives Colorado (GRID) and Solar Energy International (SEI) joined together to engage more women in the solar industry. Both GRID and SEI recognize that women continue to be underrepresented in the solar workforce and are committed to developing and leading job training programs that provide women with pathways to access technical careers in the solar industry. In August, SEI and GRID kicked ...
SEI Family Mourns the Tragic Death of Instructor Mike Sullivan
We are deeply saddened and stunned by the unexpected death of SEI Instructor Mike Sullivan. Since 2009, Mike taught over 40 classes and over 1000 students through both online and in-person trainings. Mike died on Monday in a climbing accident on Steeple Peak area of the Wind River Mountain Range in Wyoming. Mike was a living legend at SEI because of how fully he lived ...
Delta-Montrose Electric Association and SEI Bolster Solar in the Schools Program
Solar Energy International’s (SEI) Solar in the Schools program secured solid funding this month, when Delta-Montrose Electric Association (DMEA) committed $150,000 to the program. DMEA’s Board of Directors voted unanimously at their regular May board meeting to funnel $150,000 from the co-op’s Unclaimed Capital Credit fund to support the installation of solar electric systems at five high schools within DMEA’s service territory. Where does DMEA’s ...
Sudanese Student Invigorates SEI’s Mission
It is stories like the one of Eissa Ali, that galvanize the work of SEI. Eissa is from Khartoum, Sudan where he and his wife are raising two children. His background is in electrical engineering and he’s built a career in the green building industry. He is a talented professional who will do great things with SEI’s solar training. He is also someone who would ...
Solar Energy International (SEI) Kicks Off Instructor Training Week
SEI's 9th Annual Instructor Training Week kicks off with dozens of SEI instructors and staff converging on Paonia, Colorado for a full week of professional development. This professional development event is for the nation's leading solar energy instructors from SEI who are preparing the nation's (and the world's) students for a clean energy workforce. The event is filled with technical and instructional training to keep ...
SEI Kicks Off Another Session of Solar Ready Vets Solar Training at Ft. Carson – Colorado
Congratulations to the 25 transitioning soldiers and vets who began SEI's Solar Ready Vets at Ft. Carson earlier this month. This is an intensive 5 week training program sponsored by the Department of Energy. Though this photo was shot in the classroom, over 50% of the class is hands-on. The class is being taught by Brian Mehalic and Tom Honey, who is a Navy vet. ...
A Community In Transition: SEI’s solar PV training offered at local High School
There are 13 students at Paonia High School at the fore-front of the growing applications of renewable energy production in Colorado’s North Fork Valley; Paonia, CO. These inquisitive high school students are exploring the nationally-growing industry of solar PV. Paonia Colorado, known for its roots in agriculture and coal mining is the home of Solar Energy International (SEI). SEI is committed to an innovative future ...
Solar Energy International (SEI) Graduates First U.S. Army Cohort of Solar Ready Vets from Ft. Carson
Congratulations to the newest 23 graduates of the Solar Ready Vets program! This most recent training event, led by SEI, was held at the Ft. Carson Army Base near Colorado Springs. These transitioning service members and vets participated in six intensive weeks of training and progressed from the basics of electricity, to the fundamentals of grid-tied PV design and installation. They learned not just how ...
Solar Energy International (SEI) Launches Solarize North Fork Valley Colorado – Buy Together. Save Together.
On May 1, Solar Energy International (SEI) will be launching the Solarize North Fork Valley program, a 3 month energy efficiency and solar educational campaign in the North Fork Valley (Paonia, Hotchkiss & Crawford) running from May 1, 2015 through July 31, 2015. Check out the details on our website: https://www.solarenergy.org/solarize-north-fork/ Events: May 1, 2015 Paonia Launch Event - Western Colorado Solar Fair (Open and ...
Earth Day 2015 News: Solar Energy International (SEI) Announces Scholarship Photo Contest
To celebrate Earth Day 2015, Solar Energy International (SEI) has announced a photo contest where the winner will win a $795 SEI Online Campus scholarship! To enter the scholarship contest, just snap a photo or selfie of something you or your family or your business or your school or your organization are doing to promote a more sustainable future for the planet Earth. Tag your ...
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Solar Energy International (SEI) recognized by Clinton Foundation for Solar Workforce Training in Latin America
Puerto Rico, February 19, 2020 - Solar Energy International (SEI) was recognized as an exemplary commitment maker by Secretary Hillary Clinton during the Clinton Foundation CGI Action Network on Post-Disaster Recovery event in Puerto Rico. Matthew Harris, SEI’s Spanish Program Business Development Director, represented SEI’s partnership with Bosque Modelo on the Work-Based Training for Women in Renewable Energy commitment to action. [yotuwp type="videos" id="LiSi-WxzvHU" column="1" ...
From the Biopharmaceutical industry to teaching solar to kindergarteners – the path of an SEI alumnus
Saul Gonzalez Mendoza is an SEI alumnus from Puerto Rico. With no previous background in solar, Saul completed two SEI Certificate Programs (in both english and spanish) and is finishing his third one. He also earned his NABCEP associate credentials. Highlights of his solar journey include working on Footprint Project solar installations alongside of communities that helped energize areas most affected by hurricane Maria, becoming ...
Kathy Swartz, SEI’s Executive Director, elected as new board member of Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)
PAONIA, CO. – Solar Energy International (SEI) is thrilled to announce that Kathy Swartz, SEI’s Executive Director, was recently elected as a board member of Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). Swartz is one of four other newly elected at-large SEIA members that will serve for a two-year tenure, helping SEIA create strategies that facilitate growing tax and trade policies, strong state solar markets and secure ...
Intersolar North America 2020 is coming – get FREE access to the Expo Hall before Dec. 31, 2019
Intersolar North America is the premier solar event that connects innovators and decision makers in the solar + energy storage industry. With a dynamic exhibition floor and robust conference program, Intersolar North America provides business-to-business professionals a platform to advance business, expand education, and drive networking. Happening February 4-6 in San Diego, California, immerse yourself in three days of face-to-face business and networking and cutting-edge technical ...
SEI’s Solar In the Schools (SIS) outreach program hosts its sixth Solar Lab Days for Delta County 8th graders
This week SEI's Solar In the Schools (SIS) outreach program hosted its sixth Solar Lab Days for Delta County 8th grade students. Due to weather 3 of the 4 middle schools were able to participate. Over two days 160 students spent the day at SEI’s campus rotating through hands-on energy labs which included lessons and activities in energy efficiency, climate change, solar site analysis, testing properties of ...
SEI Team Member, Bertram Peterson helped solar power a refugee camp in Greece
Bertram Peterson, SEI Spanish Program Curriculum Translator and Developer, recently participated on an installation of 24 kw interconnected PV systems in a refugee camp in Lesbos, Greece. "In order to improve the living conditions in the camp, I joined a team from TU Delft to found Energy for Refugees, an NGO that aims to provide energy to those who need it most. With a couple ...