NEWS
SEI alumni Jorge Fernández, a solar revolutionary in Mexico
The PV industry in Latin America is largely made up of professionals seeking training to transition from other careers to become solar energy professionals. Jorge Luis Fernández Gómez is part of a small segment that, since the beginning, has always aligned his career with renewable energy, laying a solid foundation by getting involved in the development and healthy growth of the solar industry in Mexico. ...
Highlighting Diversity; The Words and Stories We Choose – Kelsey Misbrener
Kelsey Misbrener is senior editor at Solar Power World magazine, the premier media outlet for the U.S. solar market. She gets excited about all things solar policy and also enjoys covering the inverter and software beats for SPW. She has a degree in magazine journalism from Kent State University and is passionate about renewable energy and the environment. In her free time, she ...
Blue Planet Energy Upgrades Solar Training Curriculum
For nearly 30 years, Solar Energy International (SEI) has been dedicated to training the global solar energy workforce. Instrumental in SEI’s curriculum is a Blue Ion battery with a recently-upgraded monitoring system, donated by Blue Planet Energy, enabling new digital training possibilities for future solar workforces. Blue Planet Energy’s Blue Ion battery is SEI’s only lithium-ion battery on campus, and its lithium iron phosphate ...
SEI expands contract training, curriculum licensing, and workforce development with new organizational role
Solar Energy International is excited to announce the promotion of Will White to Director of Business Development. In this new role, he will be focusing on expanding the reach of our contract training, curriculum licensing, and workforce development initiatives. He will be concentrating on the English-Speaking Americas, including the United States, Canada, and English-speaking Caribbean nations. SEI offers custom in-person courses, practical hands-on workshops and ...
SEI’s Executive Director participates in PV Magazine Roundtables USA discussion
SEI’s Executive Director, Elizabeth Sanderson, recently took part in PV Magazine’s #RTUSA21 where she discussed what solar needs to expand, including the necessity for a diverse, inclusive and equitable workforce and creating better partnerships to facilitate job placement. Watch now!
How Far Have We Really Gotten With Alternative Energy?
There’s a lot of hype and confusion about carbon-free energy sources. This Wall Street Journal article looks at five of them: how much they produce, what they cost, and what obstacles they face. SEI's Executive Director, Elizabeth Sanderson, is briefly quoted in this extensive article. Note: you will need a WSJ subscription to access this article. READ FULL ARTICLE
To Utility and Beyond
Susannah Pedigo came to Solar Energy International (SEI) with more than 20 years of management experience in the renewable energy sector. Her resume reads a lot like a recent history of the solar industry as she’s navigated the changes of the emerging market. Each role she took was newly designed to keep up with the changing demands of a growing industry. The unifying role of ...
SEI Instructors Reach New Heights in Solar
Jay Pozner and Lena Wilensky are SEI Instructors and solar extraordinaires with over 25 years of combined experience in the industry. For them, solar is a family affair. Jay, Lena and their daughter are based out of Almont, (on the Western Slope of Colorado) where they own and operate Nunatak Alternative Energy Solutions. Their business specializes in designing, installing, and maintaining power systems that will ...
SEI Team Member Highlight: Andrew Sprauer
Recently we had a chance to sit down for an interview with Andrew Sprauer, SEI's new Social Coordinator, who will be a great resource for our students when they are here this hands-on lab season. Andrew is super excited to show our students all of the great things to do while here in Paonia, Colorado. We asked Andrew to tell us a little more about ...
Strengthening Community Through Solar
Dayne came to Solar Energy International (SEI) with his eyes toward the future: his future career, a more prosperous future for his community, and a sustainable future for his wife and son. Dayne travelled from Lapwai, ID where he works at the Nez Perce National Historic Park and is a member of the Nez Perce Tribe. He sees solar as a way to support the ...
Solar Career Platform Launched!
We’re excited to announce the launch of the new Solar Career Platform at solartrainingUSA.org. Solar Energy International (SEI) is proud to be an official Training Provider of the Solar Training Network, and we know this platform will be helpful for students and job seekers nationwide. If you’re interested in a career in solar, you’ll be glad to know that the number of solar jobs in ...
Sudanese Student Invigorates SEI’s Mission
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 ...
Alumni Highlight: Josh Rogers, from SEI student to Director of Solar Operations for Duke Energy Renewables
At Solar Energy International (SEI) we love to share exciting news about what our alumni are up to as they move forward in their careers out in the field. Alumni Josh Rogers is the Director of Solar Operations for Duke Energy Renewables in Charlotte, North Carolina. According to Josh, he first learned about SEI a couple months after an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy ...
Check out the solar-powered clipper trike making its way across the Western U.S.!
This month, Eric Goakes stopped by Solar Energy International (SEI)’s campus in Paonia, Colorado during is cross country journey in his solar-powered “Clipper Trike.” The Trike is quite impressive! It can go up to 20mph on highways and interstates, in addition to having regenerative breaking and cruise control. It has 270W of solar on the bike which powers the motor on the rear wheel, a ...
Panasonic supports Solar Energy International (SEI) as key industry sponsor
Program recognizes highly-valued industry sponsors with long-term commitment to advancing SEI’s vision of a world powered by renewable energy PAONIA, Colo., – Solar Energy International (SEI) is excited to announce its collaboration with Panasonic Corporation of North America as a kilowatt-level industry sponsor through SEI’s Industry Sponsorship Program. SEI is a nonprofit training organization which offers cutting-edge solar and renewable energy training to the solar ...
Solar Energy International (SEI) and Red Cloud Renewable Launch Tribal Train the Trainer Program
SEI is proud to once again join hands with Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center (RCR) bringing advanced solar PV expertise, with an accessible technical curriculum that puts power into the hands of learners. Our ‘Tribal Train the Trainer’ model creates a new web of skillful solar trainers, equipped to initiate solar teaching and related projects in their own communities. Collaboratively, with generous support from All Points North Foundation, ...
Happy Earth Week: Here’s Your Chance to Win a FREE SEI Class!
HAPPY EARTH WEEK! Monday, April 22 is officially Earth Day, but at Solar Energy International (SEI) every day is Earth Day. We’re taking this week to celebrate the successes and journeys of our SEI students and alumni. On Earth Day we’re making a BIG announcement: One person in our network is going to receive an SEI online PVOL course of their choosing FOR FREE! Here’s ...
2019 lab sessions starting soon: Check out new additions to the SEI campus!
Paonia, Colorado is home to Solar Energy International (SEI)’s industry leading solar energy technical training facility. Since the early 2000s, tens of thousands of students have received hands-on experience in installing and commissioning solar systems at our lab yard. SEI offers classes on a variety of critical topics for industry professionals from grid-tied, to battery-based, and more advanced O&M classes. We’re constantly updating our lab ...
Media Queries
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Solar Energy International (SEI) Offers PV101 Solar PV Training in Tucson, AZ – Feb. 16
This course will provide an overview of the three basic PV system applications, primarily focusing on grid-direct systems. The goal of the course is to create a fundamental understanding of the core concepts necessary to work with all PV systems, including: system components, site analysis, PV module criteria, mounting solutions, safety, and commissioning. The course will also cover the basics of sizing a residential grid-direct ...
Solar Energy International (SEI) Announces Scholarship Award to Support National Shout Out for Solar Day – Jan. 16
With over 35,000+ alumni worldwide, Solar Energy International (SEI) instructors, staff, students, and alumni are prepping for National Shout Out for Solar Day. This special day is meant to display visual support for solar energy by people from all over the country (and the world) by posting photos into social media with posters available through the Solar Energy Industries Association website. To make things a ...
Over 200 Students Kick Off 2015 with Professional Solar Installer Training
Monday, January 12th was a big day at Solar Energy International (SEI). Not only for the fact that it was our first day of online courses for the 2015 calendar year, but available student spots for our online courses are almost completely full! With over 200 students starting courses this week, it is exciting to see how many people are hungry for technical training in ...
Help SEI Turn Sand Into Electricity – Open Letter to Solar Energy International (SEI) Alumnus
Dear Solar Energy International Alumnus, If you came away from your time at SEI with new and valuable skills… If your week or two weeks or month with SEI in Paonia left an impact on your life… If your training at SEI helped you get a job or grow your business… If you met others with whom you have maintained contact or perhaps even created ...
Solar Energy International (SEI) Kicks Off End of Year Giving Campaign to Support Non-Profit Mission
Greetings from all of us here at Solar Energy International (SEI), new test We are writing you today to thank you for helping us make this a successful year for renewable energy adoption all over the world. Your interest in renewables has helped SEI spread the word about our mission! We are asking for your continued support of our nonprofit mission as the year draws ...
Help Solar Energy International (SEI) Award $20,000 in Scholarships to our Latin American Students
Help us win $20,000 to support our mission! Solar Energy International is competing to win $20,000 through Sungevity Gives Back, a contest focused on what we do to Generate Positive in the world. All you have to do is cast your vote today. How is SEI going to Generate Positive for the Spanish Speaking Community? With the Sungevity Generate Positive award, SEI will provide scholarship ...