Here at Solar Energy International (SEI), there’s no such thing as an off-season! When class isn’t in session at our campus in scenic Paonia, Colorado, our Lab Team is working hard to make sure that our campus is featuring the latest and greatest in solar training technology for when students return for solar energy training in the spring.
SEI Director of Campus and Hands-On Training Pete Muller has been filling us in all winter on some updates to expect on-campus in our upcoming spring and summer class sessions. Check out the following highlights:
Open-air Pavilion:
“To add to a recent list of newly-built structure on campus, we have constructed an open-air pavilion to house more training space! It was an obvious need to expand the training area for the pole-mount system with a grid-tied SMA inverter. The rough-sawn post & beam structure also hosts two battery-based multi-mode systems: Outback Radian and Schneider Conext XW+. These three systems are highlights in the two most popular classes on campus: 201L Grid-Direct: Solar Electric Lab Week and 301L Battery-Based: Solar Electric Lab Week. The pavilion will elevate the student experience by providing comfortable working space, while also improving the look and feel of the Paonia, CO lab yard.”
New Campus Sign:
“SEI recently installed a new entry sign to it’s 10 acre property! The sign is just one of a flurry of facility improvements over the past year and distinctly marks the main entry from Mathew’s Lane for students traveling for classes. A near-future upgrade to the sign will harness the power of the sun, store it and release it when dark. That’s right! It will be a small battery-based lighting system illuminating the logo in the evening. The signwas made possible in-part by a generous gift from board member and instructor Ken Gardner of Gardner Engineering (fill in city), Utah. The elegant timber frame structure was built by Finnigan Carpentry based in nearby Hotchkiss, Colorado. SEI hopes the sign will increase visibility of our lab yard and remind people of the importance of a renewable future. And don’t worry if you loved the old rusted metal sign, it’s a classic and will be integrated on campus.”
Check it out this upcoming season!
Are you ready to book your solar training vacation? SEI offers hands-on classes at our campus in Paonia, Colorado, in addition to classroom-based learning. Learn more by checking out our training schedule online, and secure your spot in a session for spring or summer today!
SEI Professional Services (SEIPS) and SEI Engineering (SEIE) are extensions of Solar Energy International (SEI). SEI has a long and well respected heritage within the industry that dates back to 1991 as the leading non-profit technical training provider for the solar industry. SEIPS and SEIE were created in 2015 and 2016 respectively as a solar engineering and consulting company in response to the growing demand and requests from SEI’s 60,000+ students, alumni, supporters, and the broader solar industry to offer formal solar engineering, design, consulting, and field services across the globe. Visit: www.SEISolarPros.com
