Solar PV News and Programs

SOLAR PV PROGRAMS
The following prorams are designed to meet specific needs of students entering the solar field from other industries. Contact PTC to receive your free solar career guide. For More information about upcoming classes, please go to http://www.solarliving.org/

Solar PV Installation, Design, and Integration
Course Duration: 40 Hours ( Not offered in Winter 2012)
This course offers a great immersion into solar technology, and hands-on training. Students will gain experience in mounting solar panels, racking with roof penetrations, wire inverters, DC and AC disconnects, and load center/service panels.

Course Topics include:

PV Systems
Electricty Fundamentals
Semiconductor Technology
Construction Safety
Circuits/Inverters
Installation Fundamentals
The Energy Market

For upcoming classes and registartions please goto http://www.solarliving.org/courses/solar-trainings/
Or contact PTC.

Solar PV Installation, Design and Integration with AutoCAD

Course Duration: 60 Hours
This course combines all the training of the PV Design and Installation class with an additional 20 hours of AutoCAD training. Students will gain hands-on experience making drawings in AutoCAD that document the design of a photovoltaic power system. Students will learn to:

Draw and edit basic CAD entities such as lines, rectangles and circles
Prepare a site plan in CAD using measurements gathered on-site
Organize and manage complex CAD drawings using grouping and layers
Create a single line electrical diagram for a typical PV power system
Create a mechanical diagram showing a conduit, racks and footings.
Label (annote) a CAD drawing and prepare it for publication.

CAD4Solar
Course Duration: 24 Hours
Course Modules:
PV295: CAD4SOLAR-Design a PV Solar System with AutoCAD.

Computer Aided Design is an essential tool for design and shape analysis of almost any engineering system by professionals. AutoCAD software has become a fundamental tool for design and analysis of Solar PV systems in the industry.

The objective of the AutoCAD4SOLAR course is to prepare you to design a Solar PV system and obtain necessary inspection ready documents for the permitting process. AutoCAD4SOLAR offers you customized training with case studies and documentation of real residential PV system design. AutoCAD is the main platform of instruction, but application of other software tools and spreadsheets will be discussed.

Topics include:
• Review of Electrical and Mechanical drawing of PV systems
• Fundamentals of AutoCAD
• AutoCAD user interface
• PV layout and Design in AutoCAD
• Electrical Diagrams, single line and three line diagrams
• Documentation and publishing

This program is offered Onsite and online via WebEX.
What to know what you will be learning on this course?
We have captured a quick overview of the program on this link.
https://software4solar.webex.com/software4solar/ldr.php?AT=pb&SP=MC&rID=18687627&rKey=3f9de12bd6312173

Please contact PTC for the upcoming classes.
For information about the upcoming Live Webcast of CAD4SOLAR , please go to

Individual Workshops

Solar PV 100, Introduction to Photovoltaics
To Enroll. Please Contact PTC (650) 286-4141

If you are looking for Solar PV training to find employment in the ever-expanding PV market, then this workshop is the first step to familiarize yourself with the concepts of solar electricity. This entry-level workshop provides the foundation in the Solar PV field.

Topics include:
Basics of electricity
The nuts and bolts of solar components
Simple ways to save money by improving energy efficiency
Determine ideal system size based on equipment costs, incentives/rebates, and grid utility rates.

The format for this class will primarily be lecture and discussion. Please bring paper, pen, and a scientific calculator with you to class.

This course is offered by Solar Living Institute, PTC Solar training partner. For additional information about this program please go to SLI Website.

Solar PV200: PV design & Installation Intensive
To Enroll, Please Contact PTC
If you are looking for PV training, including hands-on practice, to find employment in the ever-expanding PV market, then this workshop is for you. Or if you are simply seeking to immerse yourself in the concepts and mechanics of solar electricity, this workshop provides a great foundation. Through demonstration and hands-on practice, students will gain experience in racking and wiring PV modules and balance of systems components.

Course topics include:
•   Conservation & Efficiency Practices
•   PV Markets and Applications
•   Safety Basics
•   Electricity Basics
•   Solar Energy Fundamentals
•   PV Module Fundamentals
•   System Components
•   System Sizing
•   PV Electrical & Mechanical Design
•   Performance Analysis & Troubleshooting

PV295 CAD4SOLAR LIVE on-line
Location: Live On-line Instruction via WebX
This instructor-led online WebX class takes place four Saturday mornings: Feb 19, Feb 26, Mar 5 and Mar 12; 8am-noon. Computer Aided Design is an essential tool for design and shape analysis of almost any engineering system by professionals, and increasingly SketchUp is being used. Both AutoCAD software and SketchUp has become a fundamental tool.

For Future Upcoming classes, Please contact PTC

Solar PV255: PV Sales Fundamentals
To Enroll, Please Contact PTC
This interactive workshop (formerly titled The Right Way to Sell Solar) will help improve the quality and accuracy of sales presentations. It will outline what information salespeople should provide customers about solar options based on speciﬁc site conditions that determine the quality of a system’s design, primarily associated with size and location.

Topics covered include:

* Code of ethics for solar sales people
* Overview of how PV solar systems work and components
* Overview and use of the physical tools needed for site analysis
* How to conduct a site visit
* Solar Economics
* Basic overview of system design
* Preparing professional, accurate proposals and estimates

Solar PV283: Solar Training Effective PV Marketing and Sales
To Enroll, Please Contact PTC

In order to establish and grow a successful solar sales business, you need to know more than the mechanics of an installation. Crafting a successful sales process, understanding calculations of ‘Return on Investment’, and navigating the complex world of solar finance will help differentiate you from your competition and give you the competitive edge you will need in this growing and dynamic industry.

Strategic lead generation and tracking
Calculating and explaining ROI in multiple forms
How to set up and determine system pricing
Navigating different utility rate structures, tariffs incentives and rebates
Creating clear, accurate and compelling reports
Financing and leasing options; understanding the opportunities and pitfalls

Solar PV267: Solar Training Economics and Finance for Residential and Commercial PV
To Enroll, Please Contact PTC

This course is designed to develop expertise in the factors that affect the cost and profitability of a Solar PV System. It is geared towards installers and contractors who have a general understanding of the solar sales process and goes into deep detail on how to calculate and provide data to potential system owners as a way to finalize a sale. Training will include several case studies and looks into local rates & incentives that effect the ROI of a system.

Topics include

Utility rate structure
Incentives and rebates
Factors of solar PV payback
Showing economic payback and system sizing in a compelling proposal
Solar financing: overview and comparison of financing options in the solar marketplace

Students can expect to have a firm understanding of the components of system sizing, cost, production, and payback to present a compelling value proposition to a buyer.

Course fees include a course textbook and other resource materials. Please bring a scientific calculator with you to class.
This course is offered by Solar Living Institute, PTC Solar training partner. For additional information about this program please go to SLI Website.

Solar PV Sales and Marketing Series

Solar PV 255: Fundamentals of PV Sales
To Enroll, Please Call PTC at (650) 286-4141

Note: This course can be taken individually, but is best taken in series with PV283 and PV267.
This interactive workshop (formerly titled “The Right Way to Sell Solar”) will help improve the quality and accuracy of sales presentations. It will outline what information salespeople should provide customers about solar options based on speciﬁc site conditions that determine the quality of a system’s design, primarily associated with size and location.

Topics covered include:

Code of ethics for solar sales people
Overview of how PV solar systems work and components
Overview and use of the physical tools needed for site analysis
How to conduct a site visit
Solar Economics
Basic overview of system design
Preparing professional, accurate proposals and estimates

This is an excellent overview of solar sales basics providing a solid foundation for our Solar Sales & Marketing classes.

This course is offered by Solar Living Institute, PTC Solar training partner. For additional information about this program please go to SLI website.

Solar PV Marketing

PV 283: Effective PV Marketing & Sales
To Enroll, Please Contact PTC (650) 286-4141
Best taken in series with PV255 and PV267

In order to establish and grow a successful solar sales business, you need to know more than the mechanics of an installation. Crafting a successful sales process, understanding calculations of ‘Return on Investment’, and navigating the complex world of solar finance will help differentiate you from your competition and give you the competitive edge you will need in this growing and dynamic industry.Strategic lead generation and tracking

Calculating and explaining ROI in multiple forms
How to set up and determine system pricing
Navigating different utility rate structures, tariffs incentives and rebates
Creating clear, accurate and compelling reports
Financing and leasing options; understanding the opportunities and pitfalls

Students will leave this course with a firm understanding of how to set up and grow their solar PV business in their current markets, based on the fundamentals of the sales process and the range of financing options.

This course will be taught by a Clean Power Finance training professional and by Solar Living Institute, PTC Solar training partner. For additional information about this program please go to SLI Website.

Solar PV267:Economics & Finance

PV267: Economics & Fianance For Residential & Commercial PV
To Enroll, Please Contact PTC (650) 286-4141
This course can be taken individually, but is best taken in series with PV255 and PV283

Utility rate structure
Incentives and rebates
Factors of solar PV payback
Showing economic payback and system sizing in a compelling proposal
Solar financing: overview and comparison of financing options in the solar marketplace

Students can expect to have a firm understanding of the components of system sizing, cost, production, and payback to present a compelling value proposition to a buyer.

This course is offered by Solar Living Institute, PTC Solar training partner. For additional information about this program please go to SLI website

Green Tech Careers

Solar News:

BrightSource Energy Inc. of Oakland won $1.37 billion in federal loan guarantees Monday to build solar power plants in the Mojave Desert.

Solar Economy and Jobs

In 2007, Congress included the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program in its energy bill. The program will provide about $2 billion per year to state and local governments for building and home energy efficiency, energy audits, transportation, fuel conservation and installing solar panels on public buildings.

The federal money would be used in the following areas

Developing new green construction
Alternative fuel vehicles
Retrofitting existing buildings
Improving public transportation

Ramping up renewable energy resources, solar, wind and others. This will create 3.3 million jobs.

Did you know that California is the “leading growth in nation’s Green economy”?

A study released on June 10, 2009 by PEW Charitable Trusts reports that California is “leading growth in nation’s Green economy. Venture capital for green industries from 2006-2008 was $6.58 billion dollars, more than five times the next closest state.

Solar Job Boards and Listing of Direct Links to Companies Hiring Pages

http://www.solarliving.org/display.asp?catid=98&pageid=201

Additional job resources are also available on PTC 's partner website

http://www.solarliving.org/resources/

Pacific Technical College and Solar Living Institute Offer Solar Programs

Solar Living Institute (SLI), a non-profit solar training and sustainability education organization, and Pacific Technical College have formed a partnership to expand solar and green tech training programs at PTC Location in San Mateo and San Jose, CA.
Solar Living Institute has been offering professional solar training programs at their 12-acre sustainability center in Hopland California for the past 15 years. The Partnership allows SLI and PTC to expand solar job training programs in the heart of silicon valley, the national hub of the Solar industry.

Programs are Offered at Pacific Technical College Location:
1660 S Amphlett Blvd. Ste 112
San Mateo, CA 94402

To Enroll for the the Solar Programs, Please Call Pacific Technical College at
(650) 286-4141