[February eNews] SEI Launches Virtual Reality Project to Highlight Solar Careers

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Solar Energy International (SEI) is the industry leader in technical training for solar professionals all over the world.  Enroll today and join over 50,000 students and alumni who share our vision of a world powered by renewable energy!

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SEI depends on our donors to continue our educational programs.

Please join us! In 2017, we have ambitious and exciting plans to expand our Outreach Programs and reach more people than ever before. As always, we need your help to make this happen.

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how to donate to SEI.

 

SEI Launches Envision360 Google Cardboard Virtual Reality Project to Highlight Solar Careers
VR-Solar-Viewer

Do you envision a world powered by solar energy?  Solar Energy International (SEI) is proud to announce an innovative new project leveraging the Google Cardboard Viewer platform that will give anyone interested in working in the solar industry a new way to experience this exciting career field. 

As part of the Solar Ready Colorado initiative, SEI will be launching the Google Cardboard Envision360 project at the Solar Power Colorado Conference and Solar Career Expo on March 12-15. 

In addition to having the opportunity to meet with leading solar industry employers from across the State of Colorado, complimentary Google Cardboard Viewers will be given to all registered Career Expo attendees.  With these special VR Viewers, attendees will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a 360 degree virtual reality environment that showcases real world solar energy jobsites and interviews with solar professionals.

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“For the last 6 months, our team has traveled all over the state capturing video with traditional and special VR cameras to capture the sites and sounds of the industry.  We had the privilege of interviewing SEI alumni and other solar professionals who are working in the Colorado solar industry who now make up over 6000 Coloradans working towards a common goal of a world powered by solar energy.

We wanted to find a creative way to tell this story and we think this is a great way to get our message out: The solar industry is growing and SEI is here to give you the training you need to be successful!

The SEI Envision360 Google Cardboard project gives us the opportunity to give potential students a glimpse into what it feels like being on a roof, or in a utility scale solar farm, or in a warehouse preparing shipments of  solar modules and components for a job site, and many other solar jobs that keep this industry moving forward.  We’ve embedded the interviews of solar professionals from all across the Colorado solar industry as a unique way to hear their stories of how they got their start in this industry and give advice to people looking to enter this career”, said SEI’s Director of Marketing, Chris Turek.


SEI Hands-on Labs are Filling Fast – Enroll Now!SEI Training Overview Video

Watch SEI Training Overview Video >>

Early indications for 2017 are showing that our hands-on labs for this year are going to fill to capacity as they are already filling fast. Each of our PVOL101 online courses launched in the last few months filled to 100% capactiy with many of these students planing on attending the April 17th PV201L Lab Week session which is also 100% full.

So it goes without saying, if you plan on attending our industry recoginzed training in Paonia, Colorado this year – YOU SHOULD ENROLL NOW! 

View the 2017 Training Schedule >>
or call SEI Student Services at 970-527-7657 x1


Sudanese Student Invigorates SEI’s Mission

Eissa-Ali

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 have been impacted by President Trump’s travel ban.

From his first contact with SEI at the Intersolar Middle East conference in 2016, his passion for solar energy and vision for the future of his community have truly inspired the SEI staff. In the brief month’s we’ve known Eissa, he’s been an incredible reminder of the impact of SEI’s mission, especially in a changing political landscape.

Eissa, despite already employed in the sustainable building industry, was inspired to do more with solar energy and to make a shift in his career. He took a chance and committed to begin his solar training journey with SEI. Of his inspiration, Eissa said “I was working in the green building industry but it didn’t fulfill my passion for renewable energy, so I decided change my career… During the last six months I finished four courses with SEI, working toward a Solar Business & Technical Sales Certificate.

Read the full story…


Register Now! Join SEI at the NABCEP Continuing Education Conference
NABCEP

NABCEP’s annual CE Conference is happening March 13-15 in Dallas, Texas. This conference is primarily intended for NABCEP Certified Professionals who need continuing education credits in order to maintain their certification. The content presented in this conference is geared toward seasoned PV industry professionals who have several years of installation and/or technical sales experience. This is the ideal opportunity for NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professionals and PV Technical Sales Professionals to obtain all of the continuing education credits needed for recertification (18 hours every three years). Non-certified professionals can earn up to 18 hours toward certification eligibility.

SEI Instructors and Curriculum Developers, Brian Mehalic, David del Vecchio, Rebekah, Hren, and Roger Williams will be teaching two full-day workshops:

  • Photovoltaic Operations and Maintenance
  • Advanced Grid-Tied Battery-Based PV System Design and Installation

SEI will also have a booth (#307), so be sure to stop by to hear about updates and sign up for our new online class PVOL350: PV Systems Tools and Techniques for Operation and Maintenance. This advanced class is a great way for those already in the industry to get continuing education and take your career to the next level.

Don’t delay – register for this conference now….

 


SEI Alumni Team Up for Solar PV Install
in Remote Area of Perú

Peru

SEI Alumni in the photo are: Mauricio Gonzalez is from Medellín, Colombia and spent 6 weeks in Paonia taking most of SEI’s classes this past Spring. Andrew Sprauer is a US Marine that went to Paonia for a full 7 week training in the Fall, benefiting from SEI´s program to use his VA Education Benefits through his GI Bill. Karo Fernández is an SEI instructor, who flew to Perú to give support to this project and Solar Trust Chile.

Solar Trust Chile is also represented in this photo by Pablo Godoy and Bastián Acevedo. Pablo visited Paonia, Colorado to take SEI´s FV201L hands-on lab with 2 more people from Solar Trust last year. Bastián went to Paonia to take courses in the English format.

This is a 24 kW grid-tied system installed in the very small (and quite remote) town of Chulucana, Perú. The project developer is Solar Trust Perú, Solar Trust Chile´s Peruvian branch.

With all-Peruvian investors, this is a national project; Solar Trust Chile is providing the design, knowledge and experience. The system is installed in a low-income housing project called Villa Camila, and it will be used to offset part of the water pumping system consumption.

 


Attend Solar Power Colorado 2017!
Meet
Abby Hopper – SEIA’s New President

COSEIA

Solar Power Colorado is the largest solar gathering in the Rocky Mountain region, known for exceptional quality.  March 13-15 at the Omni Interlocken Resort in Broomfield, CO. 

With the theme “Innovation: Making Solar Mainstream,” Solar Power Colorado 2017 is shaping up as an invaluable exploration of the growing role of solar energy in a changing political landscape. While solar energy continues its record-breaking growth nationally and in Colorado, the sector faces major uncertainties as the new political order takes shape in Washington D.C. The conference will explore the growth of new financing, a coming boom in the solar plus storage market, leading state and local policy innovations, future utility models and much more. Plenty of time is reserved for networking and business development at the beautiful Omni Resort, so plan on rubbing shoulders with  about 500 solar industry, utility and government  policymakers.

Headlining the conference are  Dr. Martin Keller, the Director of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL),  former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter and Abby Hopper, the new president of the Solar Energy Industries Association. Leading solar companies will introduce the latest new technologies and services at a large Expo Hall, and a special Career Expo will allow jobseekers to explore careers with solar leaders. 

Please note, prices for a conference pass will be going up March 3rd, so buy your pass now to get discounted rates.

Register Here >>

More information on Solar Power Colorado 2017…


SEI’s Online Campus Upcoming Sessions

SEI Online Campus VideoSEI ONLINE CAMPUS OVERVIEW VIDEO >>

Online Sessions Starting April 10!

SEI Travels to Argentina in March!

SEI Argentina

SEI will be attending El Futuro Solar in Buenos Aires, Argentina – March 28-30.

Argentina is one of the hottest solar markets in LATAM. SEI is looking to share their expertise and knowledge throughout Latin America, focusing on providing industry-leading technical solar training to empower people, businesses and communities. Through SEI’s trainings, we strive to help develop a highly qualified solar workforce throughout the country and region.


Costa Rica Here We Come!
SEI Costa Rica

SEI will be leading an in-person, one week intensive technical training in Spanish on Diseño e Instalación de Sistemas Conectados a la Red on April 24-28 in Costa Rica. Save your place by contacting programahispano@solareenergy.com or registering online!

The Colegio of Engineers in Costa Rica (CIEMI), is opening its campus doors for all students interested in beginning their Solar Career with SEI. The training includes a record of completion and offers a special discount for members of CIEMI and CFIA. Not only is this a perfect chance to learn from the very best Spanish speaking instructors in the solar industry, but also a chance to visit Costa Rica’s beautiful beaches and landscapes. Looking forward to meeting you there!

 


REMINDER: The Colorado Solar Career Expo March 15th in Broomfield, Colorado

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Join us at the Colorado Solar Career Expo – March 15th at the The Omni Resort and Conference Center in Broomfield, Colorado!

To aid in job preparation and placement for SEI’s students and alumni, Solar Ready Colorado is hosting a career fair and networking event.

The Colorado Solar Career Expo will take place on Wednesday, March 15th 2017 from 1:30-4:00pm at the The Omni Resort and Conference Center in Broomfield, CO,. The event is co-located with Solar Power Colorado for maximum impact of a statewide audience. SEI is coordinating this event with Solar Ready Colorado partners COSEIA and GRID Alternatives Colorado. The Career Expo will host twelve leading solar employers in the state including, Sunrun, Namasté Solar, EcoMark Solar, and Sunsense.

The career fair is free to attend for both employers and attendees and is aimed at anyone who is actively looking for a job, is interested in talking to prospective employers, or is just getting started in the industry.

Career Fair Registration >>


Join SEI and WISE for #NationWISE Breakfast at the Solar Power Colorado Conference – March 14
Women in Solar
Come to the #NationWISE Breakfast at the Solar Power Colorado conference on the morning of Tuesday, March 14! This breakfast will feature a panel discussion of strong female leaders in the solar industry, as well as a short presentation on Solar Energy International (SEI) and Women In Solar Energy’s new training partnership! There will also be time to mingle and network with other women in the industry.

Register here…


SEI’s first general public training in the UAE was a wonderful event! The class included men and women from all around the region, including employees of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority. Many thanks to our partner RAK Research and Innovation Center at the American University of Ras Al Khaimah and especially Zaki Iqbal, a senior R&D Engineer at the University who is doing incredible work in renewable energy!


SEI Announces New Supporting Employer Partners for Solar Ready Colorado Initiative
SRC Lab Yard Panorama

SEI is pleased to welcome more employer partners and Career Expo participants, Bella Energy, Go Green Electric, Inc., and the Stion Corporation to the Solar Ready Colorado initiative.  Solar Ready Colorado is a statewide effort through Solar Energy International and industry partners to expand the activities of outreach, recruiting, and training to the rapidly growing Colorado solar industry and jobs market.

Through industry partnerships and support from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, the program provides a dedicated outreach and recruitment effort as well as technical training through Solar Energy International’s (SEI) long running, non-profit 501(c)(3) technical training program to those interested in entering the Colorado solar industry.

Bella-Logo-Horizontal
Bella Energy said, “We are proud to stand by the Solar Ready Colorado program in its new efforts to make training more accessible, and support an educated workforce for both Bella Energy and the greater solar energy industry. We encourage broad support of this valuable Solar Ready Colorado program.”
Go Green Electric Logo

“Go Green Electric is a locally owned and operated solar installation company out of Denver, Colorado, made up of a skilled team of solar design, installation, and maintenance professionals! Go Green Electric works closely with their clients to provide easy financing, personal design, and excellent customer service. The company is committed to their clients every step of the way, and is led by their NABCEP certified Master Electrician who has 20+ years of experience. Go Green Electric’s quality installations stand out, and they support Solar Ready Colorado’s mission of a well-trained workforce to support the Solar Industry here in Colorado!”

Stion

“The US solar workforce is growing 25% year over year, and technical training is necessary to ensure employees are successful at their jobs.  As a US-based manufacturer that sells the majority of product into the US market, Stion’s success is dependent on our employees’ ability to comprehend and clearly communicate the benefits of Stion’s unique solar technology. That’s why Stion whole-heartedly backs SEI and Solar Ready Colorado’s initiatives to connect technical learning opportunities, interested job-seekers and the companies that need them!

More information about Solar Ready Colorado…


SEI Expands Veterans Outreach Efforts
Use Your VA Education Benefits Today!

SEI Solar Vets

Solar Energy International (SEI) is pleased to offer comprehensive Veterans Educational Funding and outreach programs for veterans and active duty military personnel. We proudly offer educational opportunities and benefits to military members, their families, and veterans who have honorably served.

CALL SEI’s VETERANS COUNSELOR at
970-527-7657 x108
or email: [email protected]

SEI is now authorized to offer eligible veterans the ability to use their education benefits towards our in-person classroom and hands-on lab training through SEI’s Solar Professionals Certificate Program (SPCP).

This education funding approval is part of SEI’s broader expansion of their Active Duty Military and Veterans Outreach Program.  As an organization, SEI believes in the opportunities that renewable energy can offer our country, such as energy independence and sustainable use of our country’s natural resources.  With that in mind, we also honor those who have served our country and who are choosing to follow up their military service with a new kind of service;  service in the renewable energy sector.

Read more…


These are MUST ATTEND Solar EventsSolar Power 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.

SP SouthEast

Register now for Solar Power Southeast – May 11-12

Last year’s event was energized starting with opening remarks from the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the numerous special events, and the sold out exhibit hall. This year’s schedule looks to expand on last year’s success.

Over 300 companies attended last year, a 50% growth 2015. The Southeastern market is poised for more growth, along with this marquee regional event. Learn more about Solar Power Southeast.


Thank you for supporting Solar Energy International
To all Solar Energy International supporters, SEI sends thanks!

Help create a sustainable future. Please forward this e-newsletter to your friends and colleagues.

Solar Energy International – 39845 Mathews Lane • Paonia, CO 81428




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