Printable Version

Solar Instructor Training Network

The Solar Instructor Training Network promotes high-quality training in the installation of solar technologies. Nine regional resource and training providers support the professional development of trainers and instructors of solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar heating and cooling (SHC) technologies across the country.

The goals of Solar Instructor Training are to accelerate market adoption of solar technologies by ensuring that high-quality installations are standard and to create sustainable jobs within the solar installation industry.

Background

The Solar Instructor Training Network was launched in October 2009 to address a critical need for high-quality, local, and accessible training in solar system design, installation, sales, and inspection. Solar Instructor Training is a 5-year effort intended to create a geographic blanket of training opportunities in solar installation across the United States.

In partnership with the U.S. Departments of Labor and Education, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) addresses workforce development barriers within the solar industry. In addition to ramping up its efforts to increase the number of trained workers in the solar industry, DOE finances accreditation of solar trainers and training programs, certification of solar installers, and distribution of best practices for training programs. Answers to frequently asked questions about the Solar Instructor Training Network are available.

Funding for Regional Resource and Training Providers

DOE plans to invest $27 million, including $10 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, to the network of regional resource and training providers below. The regional resource and training providers are well-established solar training institutions offering expert instruction and top training facilities. In order to deliver the most appropriate training possible, the regional resource and training providers collaborate on a regular basis with each other, educators, solar industry representatives, workforce investment boards, and state and federal agencies.

The regional resource and training providers offer train-the-trainer workshops and are jointly responsible for developing curricula, career pathways, and regional labor market studies. These providers are using innovative approaches to training, including distance learning courses and mobile laboratory training modules. Regional resource and training providers offer instructor training in PV and/or solar heating and cooling technologies.

Awardees

The nine winners were announced on October 8, 2009. The award amounts listed reflect the maximum possible amounts in total funding for each awardee, not only Recovery Act funds.

Mid-Atlantic States

• The Pennsylvania State University
  By engaging a broad spectrum of stakeholders, the Pennsylvania State University's Mid-Atlantic Solar Regional Training Center will support a comprehensive training infrastructure for sales, design, installation, commissioning, and service of both solar PV and solar heating and cooling technologies.

• North Carolina State University
  This project will develop a training program for solar professionals, installation workforce, and local educational instructors. By collaborating with a local energy industry leader, North Carolina State University will also provide additional professional development opportunities to the local workforce such as providing apprenticeships with companies.

Midwest

• Midwest Renewable Energy Association, Inc.
  The Midwest Renewable Energy Association will provide instructor development opportunities and organize a network of instructors, installers, engineers, administrators, and other industry stakeholders to create and share instructional resources. The program will use team learning methods and collaborative technologies to create instructional resources.

Northeast/New England

• Kennebec Valley Community College
  Kennebec Valley Community College will develop a nationally accepted train-the-trainer program. The goal is to target instructors from community colleges, career and technical education centers, and private industry training incubators in northern New England who are looking to enhance their existing programs through the inclusion of solar heating and cooling installation training courses.

• Hudson Valley Community College
  This project will establish a network of Institute of Sustainable Power Certified instructors across the northeast and develop a solar photovoltaic training facility that will support future instructor training in the region.

Rocky Mountain States

• Rocky Mountain Solar Training Consortium: Salt Lake Community College, Solar Energy International, and the Utah Solar Energy Association
  This project will train trainers and offer professional development activities at community and technical colleges that are developing new or improving existing solar PV and solar heating and cooling installation courses. Participating institutions from states within the region will be selected through a competitive process. This project will also further develop and implement train-the-trainer courses via the Internet and hands-on workshops, based on Solar Energy International's nationally recognized solar photovoltaic and solar heating and cooling curricula.

South Central

• Houston Community College
  Houston Community College will establish a network of educational, industry, and state partners to ensure the availability and effectiveness of solar installation training throughout the region. This project will also provide professional development opportunities for educators at institutions that wish to start or improve training and education programs in solar installation.

Southeast

• University of Central Florida
  This project will create the Southern Alternative Energy Training Network, which will develop industry-recognized and staff-alternative energy training centers throughout the southern U.S. The resulting programs will create a trained pipeline of workers to meet current and future employment demands needed by the solar industry.

West Coast

• California Community Colleges Board of Governors
  The California Solar Training Partnership will create a statewide standardized training curriculum and certification program for solar PV and solar heating and cooling instructors, organize train-the-trainer events, and provide professional development and curricular resources to California Community College faculty, regional occupational programs, and high schools.

National Administrator of the National Consortium for Solar Instructor Training

No selections were made for a National Administrator of the National Consortium for Solar Instructor Training. The role of the National Administrator is to create, convene, and manage the National Consortium, experts who improve instructional practices in the solar installation process throughout the United States.

DOE plans to re-compete this category in a future financial opportunity. Visit the current financial opportunities page for updates. National Administrator of the National Consortium for Solar Instructor Training was competed under the Market Transformation Funding Opportunity Announcement, Topic 2: Solar Workforce Development, Category 2.