SEI Launches New Online Campus for 2016
Enroll Now for January 11th Online Sessions
Renewable Energy Training – Any Device. Anywhere. Anytime.
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We are pleased to announce the launch of the new SEI Online Campus for 2016. New curriculum – new courses – new user interface – all from the most trusted technical training provider in the renewable energy sector – Solar Energy International (SEI)!
Starting January 11th, 2016 we will be offering our first round of SEI Online Campus Sessions for 2016 and would love to see you in one of our online courses! Register now for these technical training courses:
View Online Training Schedule >>
Egypt’s Feed-in Tariff Grows Solar Industry
SEI Responds with Technical Training
SEI ends 2015 with a major international impact effort!
SEIs Technical Director, Kris Sutton, traveled to Egypt in December for the Solar-Tec conference at the Cairo International Conference center. SEI has seen an uptick in students from Egypt enrolling in online classes and traveling to Paonia, Colorado for lab weeks. This is largely due the recent passing of a feed-in tariff in Egypt, launching the country’s solar market. Kris taught a Grid-Tied PV Design course that was very well-attended and created good discussion at SEIs booth.
SEI Alumni Walid Bessrour, Abdulmajeed Alrubayan, and Antony Soliman worked the SEI booth and helped with communication. They translated Arabic and shared in their own words their experiences as SEI students. With about half of the conversations spoken in Arabic, their help was invaluable! Thank you, Walid, Majeed, and Antony!
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SEI Alumni Highlight: Khalid Grant
When the 2008 recession hit, projects in the BC oil and gas industry dried up quickly and it seemed every day someone was being laid off. I decided to pursue greener pastures and return to Ontario where the Green Energy Act was about to be launched. Knowing of my desire to enter the solar industry, my sister researched the best solar energy textbook available, purchased and mailed it to me. On January 19th, 2009 I arrived home to my apartment to find a box outside my door with SEIs Photovoltaics Design and Installation Manual inside.
After many early morning calls to Ontario solar companies, I took a week off work and flew to Toronto in May 2009 to informally meet with prospective employers about the possibility of them hiring a mechanical engineer who worked in the oil and gas industry. Although I had read SEIs book cover to cover many times, employers required certification earned from actually completing the course. So in June 2009, I signed up for SEIs September 2009 PVOL101 course.
The course was unlike any education or training I had taken before. Well laid out format, challenging quizzes, engaging exercises, informative supplementary material, knowledgeable and experienced instructors and an incredible student community. I was hooked and knew that this would only be the first of many SEI courses.
During the course, I supplemented my online training with local hands-on training and was able to volunteer with the City of Toronto during a solar hot water heater awareness initiative. Completing the SEI course unlocked the door to my solar career. Upon mentioning the SEI name in an interview, my future employer practically handed me the position right then, based entirely on the stellar reputation of SEI since he had done their training in Colorado years prior. Alumni are everywhere!
Solar Energy International was crucial to me securing a Solar PV Designer and Engineer position at Torontos leading solar installer, Solsmart Energy Solutions in November 2009. Over the years I took three additional SEI training courses: PVOL202, PVOL203 and PVOL206 to increase my solar knowledge. As a result, I was empowered to accept more responsibilities, ask for raises (and receive them!) and be promoted to a Project Manager.
After designing and project managing 100s of systems and helping numerous customers embrace solar power in Canada, I moved to Barbados in 2013 and started a consulting company, Solar Genesis Inc. I am also a solar investor and blogger.
Take your career the solar way, sign up for SEI today!
Khalid Grant
Founder/Solar PV Consultant
Solar Genesis Inc.
www.solargenesis.com
SEI’s PV351L: Tools and Techniques for Operation and Maintenance Lab Hits the Road!
With cold temperatures and snow at the Paonia, Colorado training center, we have been taking our most advanced class, PV351L: Tools and Techniques for Operation and Maintenance Lab Week, on the road.
Over the past couple of months, we have offered this 3-day mobile lab class in Fort Carson, CO for the Solar Ready Vets program; in San Francisco, CA for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission; in Mesa, AZ for the Salt River Project; and in Phoenix, AZ for Arizona Public Service. This course pairs classroom presentations with hands-on learning and troubleshooting systems.
Joe Villacci, PV Curriculum Developer and Instructor regularly teaches PV351L and says “It’s been great to work with students to take it to the next level in this course! Operations and maintenance work requires a complex understanding of the PV system. Problem solving skills are critical as we safely troubleshoot and diagnose issues on real-world systems. As we apply modern performance verification techniques along with hands on use of the latest tools and metering equipment, we are finding that experienced solar veterans, field technicians, electricians, and utility engineers all can benefit from the challenge of this course!”
Students agree; one student commented that The content presented in the labs was very helpful and reinforced experimental results with the classroom learning.
Are you ready to take your training and knowledge to the next level? SEI will be offering PV351L throughout 2016 at our training facility in Paonia, CO, at Central Carolina Community College in Chatham, NC, and on the island of Guam. Check out the training schedule!
We keep these classes small with a 1:4 student-teacher ratio to maximize your time with the tools and equipment. Reserve your spot today!
SEI and Dividend Solar Launch Partnership to Expand Instructor-Based Training Program
SEI will offer discounted programs to the Dividend Solar Installation Partner Network
SEI and Dividend Solar are announcing a partnership to expand the reach of SEIs technical training programs to Dividend Solars network of solar installation partners. SEIs industry-leading training will help accelerate the continued education of solar installation professionals, and continue to raise the bar for solar workmanship in the U.S.
Read full announcement…
SEI Announces Final Solar Professionals Certificate Program Graduating Class of 2015
 SEI Announces the final Solar Professionals Certificate Program graduating class of 2015!
We are pleased to highlight the following SEI students who went above and beyond to complete a full program of study and training through SEI’s technical training program:
- Eric Ames
- Geoff Bamford
- Lucas Ebenezer Burgesson
- Maximo Fernandez
- Daniel Frey
- Ross Karcher
- Daniel Kobrin
- Delton Landry Jr.
- Brian Nash
- Kevin Nelson
- Kristen O’Brien
- Russell Pickard
- Joseph Plummer
- Jeff Sandlin
- Dan Sendlak
- Stephanie Serra
- Gareth Wood
If you want to get the very best technical training in renewable energy technologies – apply today!
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