Which Solar Training Program is Best?

The growth in the solar market is creating a lot of opportunity in the area of credentialing. It's also creating a lot of confusion for consumers and job-seekers looking for a way into the technical side of the industry.
 

As the federal government and U.S. states continue to push green-collar job initiatives, the need for a clear path from the classroom to the roof is as important as ever. But with more training and certification programs emerging all the time, that path is getting difficult to navigate.

Certainly competition is a good thing — and the credentialing space is no different. However, if new organizations continue to push different standards and give people mixed messages, up-and-coming renewable energy practitioners may not get the proper experience required to perform reliable, safe installations, says Jane Weissman, executive director of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC).

“It's a very chaotic and confusing market out there,” says Weissman. “I want to make sure that we have safe competent workers on the roof and that the public isn't confused about who's doing what under what kind of competencies.”

Ultimately, the end consumer is who matters most. If the consumer has a bad experience with solar because of poor work done by an under-qualified installer, the whole industry suffers.

Source:  Renewable Energy World     Read full article here.

CentroSolar America Launches Centroschool

CentroSolar America, a provider of modules, inverters, racking components and packaged photovoltaic systems, has launched its U.S. training program, CentroSchool. The first training event was held in April in Pleasanton, Calif.

"The goal of CentroSchool is to guide new installers into the solar business and to help existing ones build their businesses," says Deep Chakraborty, CEO of CentroSolar America.

CentroSolar America adapted the solar training format from its German parent, CentroSolar AG, which has been conducting solar training programs in Germany and trained over 500 installers per year since 2007, the company notes.

CentroSchool will be offered twice a month at various U.S. locations. The next two events planned will be in Mt. Laurel, N.J., on May 13 and Scottsdale, Ariz., on June 3. Students interested in attending other training sessions can sign up at www.centrosolaramerica.com or www.centroschool.com.

SOURCE: CentroSolar America