SolarWorld Americas Selects
SEI as Official Training Partner!
 SolarWorld Americas Inc., Americas largest manufacturer of crystalline silicon solar cells and photovoltaic modules, has selected industry-recognized non-profit renewable energy training school Solar Energy International (SEI) as a solar installer training partner.This partnership will provide professional development for SolarWorlds rapidly growing solar installer network. Solar installation training opportunities are available for installers just entering the field, all the way up to seasoned veterans seeking advanced technical knowledge.
At SolarWorld, we understand that choosing a high-quality PV module is only the first step towards a high-quality installation. As the solar industry and our installer network continue to grow at a rapid pace, comprehensive design and installation training is more important than ever. Partnering with SEI gives our installers the opportunity to be industry leaders in installation quality, said Sarah Wilder, SolarWorlds Manager of Product Training.
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Solar Energy International (SEI) Receives Approval for Veterans Education Funding
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.
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 SEIs Solar Professionals Certificate Program (SPCP).
This education funding approval is part of SEIs 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 countrys 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.
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SEI Alumni Highlight: Emily Petrossian
Emily Petrossian (second from the left in the photo) is the newest member of a battery manufacturing company based in California. She is the latest team member to attend solar installation training at Solar Energy International (SEI), sponsored by a company who routinely send their employees to train with SEI. Her goal was simple: to understand the uses and applications of her companys battery technology in the solar field.
Emily was well versed in batteries, providing technical support to customers. However, she wanted to increase her understanding of how batteries work in their solar electric systems so as to better answer her customers questions. So, her employer enrolled in her in SEIs courses and she arrived in Paonia, Colorado to complete the hands-on PV301L: Solar Electric Lab Week (Battery-Based). In fact, the SEI Battery Lab Class was her first hands on solar experience.
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SEI Alumni Highlight: Stephanie Gulliver
Stephanie Gulliver (second from the right in photo) is an Electrical Engineer from San Francisco, CA. She is returning to SEI for her second class in solar electric systems and solar installation training. This Spring she enrolled in PV 202: Advanced PV System Design and the NEC (Grid Direct) with the purpose of pursuing professional solar installer training to remain at the forefront of her field.
As an Electrical Engineer, this means staying on top of the constantly changing National Electrical Code (NEC), especially as it concerns solar electric systems. In San Francisco, Stephanies company does design work for new buildings so she applies the NEC a lot in my job
and the standards keep evolving. Stephanie says it is important for her to better understand the implications of the NEC standards when it comes to solar because it is being used in more and more buildings. In addition, her education with SEI and this course in particular helped her understand how the NEC applies to the design and electrical systems for the entire building. She added its a great real-world addition to the classes I took in university.
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SEI Alumni Highlight: Daniel Gisonda
 Solar Energy International (SEI) was a dream come true for Daniel Gisonda for whom solar had been a lifelong pursuit. As a child, Daniel was frequently found exploring with Discovery Zone solar kits and to this day spends his free time tinkering with small solar projects such as converting a conventional refrigerator to run off of solar charged batteries.
And now, after completing his service in the Coast Guard, these small projects grew into a larger plan for Daniel and his wife to build an off-grid home in Alaska.
Armed with big plans and a search engine, Daniel found SEI during his online searches to pursue his Solar Training quest. He enrolled in a series of classes that would take him through the basics of solar electric systems to more advanced knowledge on the configuration of battery based systems; also enrolling in Micro Hydro and Solar Hot Water Pumping courses to keep his options open. Though his solar training was supposed to be in the pursuit of building an off-grid home, it quickly became about building a career.
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Jane Weissman Steps Down as
Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) President/CEO
SEI extends a heartfelt thank you to Jane Weissman for her tremendous service to the solar industry. Jane is stepping down from her role as president and CEO of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council. Jane has been a powerful force in advocating for regulatory reform, higher standards of training, and protecting consumers.
“Jane has been a mentor, a friend, and role model. Though small in stature, she is a force to be reckoned with and has fought tirelessly to advance the solar industry,” stated Kathy Swartz, SEI’s Executive Director. On behalf of all of us at SEI and our 45,000 alumni who have benefited from her years of service, we wish you the best Jane!
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Summer Classes and Labs are Filling Fast!
Watch SEI Training Overview Video >>
If you plan on attending any of SEI’s solar training events this summer – YOU BETTER ENROLL SOON! Class seats are going fast for our highly attended hands-on labs, classroom courses, and online courses.
2016 Classroom Courses Schedule
June 2016
PV101: Solar Electric Design and Installation (Grid-Direct)
June 13 – June 17 | Paonia, Colorado
PV202: Advanced PV System Design and the NEC (Grid-Direct)
June 27 – July 01 | Paonia, Colorado
July 2016
PV203: PV System Fundamentals (Battery-Based)
July 11 – July 15 | Paonia, Colorado
PV303: Advanced PV Multimode and Microgrid Design (Battery-Based)
July 25 – July 29 | Paonia, Colorado
August 2016
PV202: Advanced PV System Design and the NEC (Grid-Direct)
August 15 – August 19 | Paonia, Colorado
PV203: PV System Fundamentals (Battery-Based)
August 22 – August 26 | Paonia, Colorado
2016 Hands-on Labs Schedule
June 2016
PV351L: PV Systems Tools and Techniques for Operation and Maintenance Lab Week (Grid-Direct)
June 13 – June 17 | Paonia, Colorado
PV201L: Solar Electric Lab Week (Grid-Direct)
June 20 – June 24 | Paonia, Colorado
July 2016
PV301L: Solar Electric Lab Week (Battery-Based)
July 18 – July 22 | Paonia, Colorado
August 2016
PV201L: Solar Electric Lab Week (Grid-Direct)
August 08 – August 12 | Paonia, Colorado
PV301L: Solar Electric Lab Week (Battery-Based)
August 29 – September 02 | Paonia, Colorado
View the 2016 Training Schedule >>
or call SEI Student Services at 970-527-7657 x1
SEI Online Campus Sessions Start Monday, July 11th – Enroll Today!
SEI’s Online Campus is launching another round of industry leading technical training on Monday, July 11th! Join our live instructors and students from all over the world by registering for any or all of the following online courses – click for more info:
SEI Solar Professionals Certificate Program Spring 2016 Graduates
 We are proud to announce the following students have successfully completed over 200 training hours within our technical certificate training program and join the hundreds of SPCP graduates and over 45,000 alumni worldwide who have taken classes since we started as a school over 25 years ago:
- Christopher Danz
- Jeffrey DeJoannis
- Danny Grace
- Kristen Keravich
- Megan McPherson
- David Merritt
- Frank O’Grady
- Brandon Payne
- Craig Teasley
- Gus Woodward
Do YOU Have What it Takes?
SEIs Solar Professionals Certificate Program (SPCP) is our most rigorous training program. Complete a multi-course track and graduate from the worlds leading renewable energy technical training school Solar Energy International!
or call SEI Student Services at: (970) 527-7657 x1
As the solar industry becomes more and more competitive, SEIs full training program will help you stand apart from the growing number of people who have taken only the bare minimum to sit for NABCEP Certification or who have not received any formal training at all.
If you are considering completing a path of training through SPCP in 2016, you will want to apply for admission and scheduling of your prerequisite training as soon as possible in order to complete the program in a timely manner.
Contact SEI Student Services today to speak to a SPCP advisor or complete the online application today.
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