Sylvia Minton, Senior Vice President for MAGE Solar
The solar industry is young and growing fast. As a result, many of its professionals have had relatively short experience in the field. Many installers come from other trades and often possess a wealth of experience, which is tremendously valuable on the job. But it’s not solar expertise.
With installation prices around $6.23/W for projects less than 100 KW, according to SolarBuzz U.S. Deal Tracker, installer training is not a luxury anymore — it’s a company’s survival tactic. The more popular and mainstream solar becomes, the more a company must establish itself as a team of trustworthy, experienced professionals that works safely, focuses on quality, and delivers maximum yield and the highest return on the customer’s investment every time.
Why is this particularly vital for smaller installers, who primarily focus on the residential and small-scale commercial market? Because these companies are the heart of the solar industry. Nobody engages with the public more than these folks do. More than 78% of solar companies are installing residential systems, and more than 61% focus on commercial systems up to 50 KW, according to The Solar Foundation. That’s engaging with thousands of citizens on hundreds of installations, every day. For them, obtaining PV-training and certification may be the best long-term business investment they can make in the (potentially) largest solar PV market on the planet.
Dozens of providers offer traditional classes, but online courses, e-courses and crash courses are becoming increasingly common. The educational sector understands that every hour spent studying in the classroom or in front of the computer is time away from installations. Also, more detail-oriented courses are being developed to fill more varied knowledge niches (grounding and bonding, for example).
While meeting needs and accommodating convenience is important when selecting training courses, beware of attending dressed-up marketing classes. Opportunities to “learn” specific products should be provided for free, but they will not replace solid, product-agnostic training from a reputable educational facility.
Make sure that the course content is taught by NABCEP or UL-certified instructors and, when possible, that the content is approved by a neutral authority like NABCEP, so the earned credit hours count toward certification.
Check that the classes are up-to-date in terms of technology, as well as National Electrical Code, or NEC, requirements. In an environment like solar with rapidly changing technology, this is a must. The 2008 NEC won’t get you far anymore — a detail some providers “forget” to mention.
In the case of a PV 101 entry-level course, for example, evaluate if all relevant topics are covered, from design and construction, to wiring, site analysis, pulling permits, calculating ROI, securing financing, project management, troubleshooting and maintenance issues. If you’re not sure after reading the catalog, ask, and then ask again. Also, inquire about facilities for hands-on training and how much time is set aside from theoretical instruction to really get down and dirty. More is generally good, and there should be ample time to practice with assistance and feedback from a well-seasoned instructor.
Last, but not least, the best PV-training facilities deliver great after-sales service — the ones where you can go back and continue to ask questions, discuss specific problems encountered in the field or just keep in touch.
One of the best compliments we ever got was after a PV 101 class, when one of the students commented how much the class had enabled him to “take his business to the next level and grow with the future.” Back then, the gentlemen had just started a small PV installation business he was operating out of a garage.
While in class, he connected with an electrical engineer, and both of them soon found out they had similar ideas about what they wanted to pursue. Today, they conduct a successful installation business and employ around a dozen people — proof positive that training does work. SPW
By: Sylvia Minton, Senior Vice President for MAGE Solar
Member of Board of Directors for MAGE Solar Academy
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