SOLAR ENERGY NEWS & TECHNICAL INSIGHTS
Solar in the Schools Provides Solar Training to Students in Montana
In the spring of 2023, NorthWestern Energy and Solar Energy International - Solar In the Schools (SEI-SIS) continued piloting a solar energy training pathway program for high school students in Montana. SEI-SIS provided two immersive one day solar energy training sessions for technical education students at Helena High School and Capital High School in Helena, Montana. ...
Alumni Highlight: Susan Stark
“After working in another construction-related field for over 20 years I entered the solar installation business and quickly realized I needed tons of training. After much research, Solar Energy International became my prime source, and I began working through their online curriculum nights and weekends while working as a General Manager for an installation company in New Jersey. Eventually, after earning 4 Professional Certificates (including ...
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 ...
SEI Welcomes New Board President
Gerald Espinosa elected during March board meeting as former president Ken Gardner ends tenure Paonia, Colo., May 18, 2023 — Solar Energy International (SEI), a leading solar training educational non-profit organization, has announced that Gerald Espinosa from Pivot Energy was recently elected as their new Board President. Espinosa succeeds Ken Gardner, who served as Board President since 2016. Gerald joined SEI as an AmeriCorp VISTA in ...
SolarReviews’ Solar Industry Survey Results Now Available
SolarReviews’ Solar Industry Survey results are in and they're packed with exciting insights! With over 450 participants from across the industry, the survey, in partnership with NABCEP, reveals trends and expectations for 2023. The report highlights the top preferred solar brands, barriers to solar industry success, how the industry plans to adapt to the Inflation Reduction Act, and much more. Don't miss out on this ...
New Mexico Solar Workforce Development Program Making Strides
Students participate in a new solar scholarship program aimed at stimulating local participation in New Mexico’s solar industry Paonia, Colo., May 2, 2023 — July 2022 marked a milestone for Solar Energy International (SEI) as they partnered with The AES Corporation (AES) to increase access to solar energy education and career opportunities for New Mexico residents. Through the program's generous scholarship funds distributed by ...
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 ...
Take a deep dive into SEI campus’s battery technology and meet the lab yard’s first Lithium Ion battery
Solar Energy International recently added a brand new SMA Sunny Island AC-coupled system to it's battery-based hands-on training in the Paonia, Colorado lab yard. Danny Bailey, SEI’s PV Lab manager weighs in on system: The new Sunny Island AC coupled system is comprised of the following components: The primary battery based inverter is an SMA, Sunny Island SI4548 which has a 4500W output at 48Vdc. ...
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 ...
An SEI Alum’s take on green jobs: Why Mark donated stock
Mark left his expiate job in Belgium and returned to the U.S. in pursuit of living his passion through a green job. From Belgium to Carbondale, Colorado in 2002 he studied solar PV, solar hot water, wind, and natural building at Solar Energy International (SEI). Fast forward to today, Mark’s passion led him to an unsuspecting place: working for a pharmaceutical company. In his packaging ...
SEI’s Solar in Schools grows with the help of Jared Polis Foundation Grant
As cities across the country pledge their commitment to go 100% renewable, a challenge is presented to rural communities, like Delta County, who have been historically coal-producing, to transition into adopting energy practices of the future with limited resources compared to bigger cities. Since 2015, Solar Energy International (SEI) has recognized this struggle, and as a result sought out a means of economic development for ...
Colorado Gives Day: Help us give back to our home state!
An International Renewable Energy Leader, and the Rural Valley it Calls Home Solar Energy International (SEI) believes in a world powered by renewable energy, so it is only fitting that our mission begins at our homebase in Delta County, and in the surrounding communities in Colorado. Students who have visited SEI’s campus in Paonia know how special it is: the snow-capped mountains, the patchwork of ...
The season of giving: Donations benefit SEI’s scholarship program
Around this time last year, Solar Energy International (SEI) alum, Brittany Heller, sat down and made a list of goals for the upcoming year, one of them being to further her solar education through solar PV training, specifically in battery-based technology. Soon after Brittany met SEI Marketing and Communications Manager, Mary Marshall, and SEI Development Director, Marla Korpar, at a 200-kW installation in Norwood, ...
Rural Renewable Energy Alliance and SEI partner to teach a Liberian technician training
The following is a guest blog post submission from Carol Weis, former SEI staff member and co-founder of Remote Energy, who recently completed a training with the Rural Renewable Energy Alliance. In October 2017, Solar Energy International (SEI) taught a 2-week intensive battery-based class, partnering with Rural Renewable Energy Alliance (RREAL) at their facility in northern Minnesota for technicians from Africa. This training was part ...
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 ...
These are MUST ATTEND Solar Events
Register now for The California Solar Power Expo – May 1-2 The California Solar Power Expo is an interactive event designed for solar, smart energy, and storage professionals who are working in and with the California solar market to make powerful business connections. The event will feature exhibitor-led interactive training for installers as well as networking opportunities. Register now for Solar Power Southeast – May 11-12 ...
SEI Welcomes ECOMARK Solar as Solar Ready Colorado Employer Partner
SEI welcomes ECOMARK Solar as an employer partner to the Solar Ready Colorado outreach and training initiative! More info about Solar Ready Colorado - visit www.SolarReadyColorado.org "ECOMARK is excited to partner with Solar Energy International's (SEI) Solar Ready Colorado Training Program. We trust this program will ensure Colorado's clean energy workforce is trained at the highest level and will give our company a large pool ...
Solar Energy International (SEI) Celebrates 25th Anniversary at Solar Battle of the Bands 2016
Solar Battle of the Bands, a solar industry party and musical competition, announces its sixth annual event at the Mezzanine in San Francisco on Wednesday, July 13 at 8 pm. Founded in 2011, Solar Battle of the Bands (SBOB) is produced by Quick Mount PV, a solar mounting manufacturer based in Walnut Creek, CA. SBOB is a unique industry event that coincides with the Intersolar ...
Solarize Delta County Launches April 15!
Solar Energy International (SEI) is proud to announce the April 15th launch of Solarize Delta County, an effort to increase the accessibility and affordability of solar energy for all Delta County residents. With the support of the Delta County Economic Development (DCED), Solarize Delta County seeks to raise local awareness of solar, lower the cost of solar electric (PV) systems, and significantly ramp up adoption ...
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. ...
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FREE WEBINAR: 2020 NEC Changes Affecting PV & Energy Storage Systems
GoodWe, a leading, strategically-thinking enterprise which focuses on research and manufacturing of PV inverters and energy storage, has partnered with Solar Energy International (SEI) to provide a free webinar on Wednesday, December 9th, 2020. The webinar, 2020 NEC Changes Affecting PV and Energy Storage Systems, will focus on critical updates and changes in the National Electrical Code® that impact PV system design and installation, ...
NAES Corporation forms partnership with Solar Energy International (SEI) to deliver O&M Solar Technician training
Issaquah, WA., November 16, 2020 – NAES Corporation, one of the energy industry’s largest independent providers of operations, maintenance and repair services, has announced today their partnership with Solar Energy International (SEI) to provide Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Technician training to NAES employees. The collaboration, a continuation of NAES’ steadfast commitment to safety, integrity and quality of work, will provide professional solar education development to ...
Solar energy education opportunities expand for Coloradans through Kenneth King Foundation Scholarships
Paonia, Colo., October 27, 2020 – Solar Energy International (SEI) and the Kenneth King Foundation announced today their partnership with support from GRID Alternatives Colorado to provide underserved Coloradans scholarships for solar skills job training, as well as performance-based stipends and support services to reduce the financial burden of pursuing career training and job placement support. 14 Coloradans living in the Denver Metro area ...
Solar Energy International (SEI) and BayWa r.e. Solar Systems Invest in Industry’s Future, Award Solar Training Scholarships
Scholarship targets industry entrants needing an economic hand up, applications for second round still open SANTA FE, New Mexico – June 25, 2020 – Solar Energy International (SEI) and BayWa r.e. Solar Systems LLC (BayWa r.e.) today announced they have selected the first five recipients of solar training scholarships from the BayWa r.e. Scholarship Fund. The $10,000 scholarship fund was created earlier this year ...
An important message from SEI’s Executive Director
Dear SEI Solar Family, We must do better. As an organization we stand in solidarity with those fighting to end systemic racism and violence in America. We mourn George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and the far too many others whose lives have been destroyed by racism. Enough is enough. We can’t all be on the front lines of the protest, but each of us ...
Solar Energy International (SEI) announces new BayWa r.e. Scholarship Fund
Solar Energy Education Advances Workforce through BayWa r.e. Scholarship Fund Paonia, Colo., March 16, 2020 – Solar Energy International (SEI) and BayWa r.e. Solar Systems LLC (BayWa r.e.) today announced that they’re entering a partnership to create a scholarship fund, awarding over $10,000 in solar training tuition fees to SEI students. The BayWa r.e. Scholarship Fund will contribute 100% of tuition fees to nine, hand-selected ...