NEWS
Solar Forward to Assist Eagle County with Community Effort in Solarize Campaign
Eagle County’s Walking Mountains Science Center became Solar Forward’s latest community partner, backed by strong stakeholder involvement and holistic goals EAGLE COUNTY, CO- Solar Energy International (SEI)’s outreach program, Solar Forward anticipates a successful Eagle County program in 2022 after learning about the community’s goals and broad stakeholder support. Eagle County, like many mountain towns, is seeking thoughtful solutions to mitigating their carbon footprint and ...
Elizabeth Sanderson, SEI’s Executive Director, elected as new board member of Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)
PAONIA, CO. – Solar Energy International (SEI) is proud to announce that Elizabeth Sanderson, SEI’s Executive Director, was recently elected as a board member of Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). Sanderson is one of fifteen other newly elected SEIA board members and division chairs that will serve for a two-year term, helping SEIA advance strong policies at the state and federal levels to ensure open, competitive ...
Solar Energy International and Mayfield Renewables Team Up to Offer Online Energy Storage Training
PAONIA, CO. - The cooperative relationship between Solar Energy International (SEI), the industry-leading training organization for solar professionals, and PV design firm Mayfield Renewables goes back decades. In January 2022, the two organizations will start a new collaborative chapter by hosting two training courses developed by Mayfield Renewables on SEI’s online educational platform. The launch represents their first official educational collaboration. SEI’s Executive Director, ...
SEI’s Latin America Business Development Director shares in a discussion on Building the Workforce of the Future
How can we build the robust, resilient workforce necessary for a regenerative future? Matthew Harris, SEI’s Latin America Business Development Director, shares in a discussion on Building the Workforce of the Future. Play the video above to learn how SEI is approaching the demand for solar workers, if we are on track with estimates, and what can be done to diversify the solar ...
This university’s two year master’s program incorporates SEI solar training into its curriculum and offers $10k in fellowship funds
Are you interested in being part of the global energy transition to renewables and participating in a two-year masters’ program? Western Colorado University’s Master in Environmental Management (MEM) has partnered with Solar Energy International (SEI) to create a master in environmental management degree that integrates SEI training with MEM program courses for students interested in doing their 600+ hour second year project ...
Solar Forward Welcomes Graduate Fellow, Eryka Thorley
Master in Environmental Management student Eryka Thorley joins the Solar Forward team to help create a network for solar education and outreach Paonia, CO - When Solar Forward first began a partnership with Western Colorado University (WCU) of Gunnison, CO in 2018, it could not have predicted the quality and experience that the Solar Forward Fellows would bring to developing the program. Over the past ...
NABCEP now available worldwide!
Attention international alumni! SEI is excited to announce that NABCEP certification just got more accessible. On October 17, The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners announced that for the first time NABCEP’s Photovoltaic (PV) Associate exam will be administered outside of North America. According to a press release on NABCEP’s website, the international exam will be the same one that is offered in North ...
SEI’s solar energy training impacts projects around the world
Lessons learned at Solar Energy International (SEI) can be life-changing for students who take our solar energy training both online and in-person at our campus in Paonia, Colorado. In the case of SEI alum, Estevan Figueroa, the impact of SEI classes will spread across the world as he takes what he learned in PV301L: Solar Electric Lab Week (Battery-Based) to Uganda. Estevan traveled to SEI’s ...
Alumni Highlight: Students Terry and Bill Jackson prepare for an install in Sudan in Paonia lab classes
Students gleefully huddled around the lab yard’s steep roof mounted solar system smiling for photos as the Solar Energy International (SEI) banner whipped in the wind in the background. Cameras flashed as photos abound and the soft crunch of wood chips enveloped the lab yard as the class scattered, certificates-in-hand, to say their final goodbyes: it’s graduation day at SEI’s campus in Paonia. Terry Jackson, ...
SEI Alumni Highlight: Daniel Saldarriaga – Vulcano Operations Director in Colombia Shares Advice and Experience
“—We can’t live on this planet leaving a CO2 mark - there has to be a way to change this destructive behavior that humans have. I think solar is a way to change that. Vulcano’s Operation Director - Daniel Saldarriaga “—On the other hand we have to help the economy. Not the macro economy which people in general doesn’t understand, but the day to day ...
Alumni Spotlight: Tim Chester
A confluence of passions led Tim to spend 8 weeks pursuing solar training at SEI’s training facility in Paonia, CO. A veteran and an educator, Tim recently completed SEI’s Solar Professionals Trainer Certificate Program before he begins his new job as a solar instructor newly developed solar training program at the Rural Institute for Veterans Education and Research (RIVER). RIVER is a a special program ...
SEI Student Spotlight: Eli Bowles
Eli Bowles has been in the renewable energy industry for over six years, but enrolled at Solar Energy International (SEI) to jump start his solar training! Eli is currently a Renewable Energy Instructor at the College of Southern Idaho with a background as a Wind Turbine Technician and training specialist. He brings years of practical and technical experience to his students but came to SEI to deepen ...
Solar Energy Trade Shows, LLC (SETS) Selects Solar Energy International (SEI) as Exclusive Conference Training Provider
Alexandria, VA (October 1, 2019) – Solar Energy Trade Shows, LLC (SETS), the team behind SPI, ESI, and North America Smart Energy Week, announced a new expanded partnership with Solar Energy International (SEI) to implement installer training content across select events within the Solar Power Events portfolio. As the solar industry is expanding, so too are the job opportunities. With solar installer jobs not only ...
Instructor Highlight: Why We Love PV201L with SEI Instructor and Curriculum Developer Karo Fernandez
By Karo Fernandez, SEI Instructor for PV201L and Curriculum Developer. PV201L… is where I get inspired I have been teaching for Solar Energy International (SEI) for six years. Every experience I have had as an instructor, especially through hands-on installation classes, has been rewarding. There´s always an opportunity for growth, in many different aspects of career and personal goals. Part of what I love about ...
Solar Energy International (SEI) awarded grant from the Western Colorado Community Foundation for sustainability upgrades on campus
The $5k prize will go toward a greener educational experience at SEI’s Paonia headquarters Paonia, CO– Solar Energy International (SEI) was chosen as a recipient of Western Colorado Community Foundation (WCCF)’s 2019 Environment grant, and the $5,000 will be put toward “reduce, reuse and recycle” efforts in their Paonia-based industry-leading lab yard. SEI is one of the longest running and most widely recognized technical solar ...
SEI Alumni in the Field: Commercial PV Installer for Namaste Solar
Ben Vandervliet first found out about Solar Energy International (SEI) classes from his brother who was a part of the SEI Solar Ready Vets program, and now he’s a full-time commercial PV installer with Namaste Solar based out of Fort Collins, Colorado. SEI can help launch your career in the solar industry, too! Ben shared details with us on how SEI classes helped him secure ...
Native Americans Embrace the Sun
A New Way to Honor the Old Ways Pine Ridge, South Dakota (August 15, 2019) - Red Cloud Renewable (RCR) and Solar Energy International (SEI) are pleased to announce selection of the first class of Native Americans to receive a full scholarship as part of the professional level Tribal Train the Trainer (T4) Program for Solar Certification. Seven Native Americans, four men and three women ...
Fluke supports Solar Energy International (SEI) as industry sponsor through equipment donation
Fluke’s generous donation will be featured in SEI’s industry-leading lab training facility in Paonia, Colorado PAONIA, CO. –Solar Energy International (SEI) is excited to announce its collaboration with Fluke as a megawatt-level industry sponsor through SEI’s Industry Sponsorship Program. Fluke achieved megawatt sponsor status through a donation of professional electronic test tools and softwareto be featured in SEI’s industry-leading lab training facility in Paonia, Colorado. ...
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[BREAKING NEWS – WATCH LIVE NOW] President Obama to Announce Expansion of Military Base Solar Training Programs
President Obama to Announce Expansion of Military Base Solar Training Programs President Obama announced last fall the launch of a pilot solar training program to provide service members transitioning out of active duty with the skills needed to become the leaders of the nation’s clean energy economy. Solar Energy International took on this mission through the Department of Energy’s Solar Instructor Training Network. With less ...
Solar Energy International (SEI) Celebrates 10 Years of Hands-on Renewable Energy Lab Training in Paonia, Colorado
Solar Energy International (SEI) is pleased to celebrate our 10th year of offering hands-on labs at our Paonia, Colorado campus with a full schedule of training available. The 2015 lab training season starts on April, 20th - we hope to see you here! Check out the 2015 Hands-on Labs training schedule... SEI has a rich tradition of teaching by doing. Over the past 24 years ...
SEI Alumni Highlight: Vincent Curry
About Vincent As a Safety & Quality Coach for SolarCity, I am responsible for observing work, both completed and in-process, and ensuring work environments are in compliance with SolarCity Safety and Quality policies. I report directly to the Area Safety Manager to whom I convey the results of job site audits, accident/incident investigations and develop innovative solutions to new risks. Safety & Quality Coaches are ...
Solar Energy International (SEI) Honors Graduating Marines and Sailors at Camp Pendleton through the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Reach for the Sun Training Program GallerySolar Energy International (SEI) Honors Graduating Marines and Sailors at Camp Pendleton through the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Reach for the Sun Training Program
Solar Energy International (SEI) Honors Graduating Marines and Sailors at Camp Pendleton through the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Reach for the Sun Training Program
Solar Energy International (SEI) is pleased to announce the first graduating class as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) “Reach for the Sun” military solar training pilot program. This solar training program's goal is to provide military personnel who are transitioning out of active duty with the technical skills needed to become leaders in the world’s clean energy economy. Through the Solar Instructor ...
SEI Work Trader Position Open – Apply Today!
For over 20 years, SEI’s Work-Trade Program has enabled people from around the world to hone their renewable energy technology skills and improve their capabilities while helping to strengthen and grow SEI. In fact, the majority of our current staff were once work-traders! Program Overview: CURRENT WORK-TRADE POSITIONS: Summer Helper position This person will work at SEI’s PV lab facility in Paonia, Colorado. More than ...
SEI Alumni Highlight: Martin Hirschhorn
We recently received a great story by one of our SEI Alumni that demonstrates the connections you can make in the solar industry by becoming an Alumni of SEI's solar training program. Your path WILL cross many times with fellow SEI alumni and instructors on many projects during your career. "The last system I project managed was a 1.1MW system featuring 28, PVI 28TL’s and ...