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Certificate in Renewable Energy Management class starting in July – sign up now!

Posted on: May 16th, 2012 by shannon No Comments

This program is for the non-installer, who would like to learn more about policy, technologies, and finance in the renewable energy industry.  It’s a unique program, and the only one like it offered in the country! Participants attend class both in person and online, and have a group project to wrap up the end of the course.

Seats fill up quickly, so be sure to sign up soon.  The first 10 registratns receive $200 off the cost of the class, so remember to ask if you are one of the first ten to register!

Learn more and register

N.C. Solar Center Offers New Certificate in Renewable Energy Management

Posted on: February 29th, 2012 by shannon No Comments
First non-degree program of its kind in North America

 Classes Start March 15th – Seats are still available!

Renewable energy and energy efficiency activity in North Carolina have been booming since the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard passed in the summer of 2007. In 2011, North Carolina’s clean energy sector employment grew by 18 percent from 12,500 employees in 2010. Meanwhile, participation for N.C. Solar Center’s photovoltaic training alone increase by 248 percent in 2010 as compared to the number of PV class participants in 2006.

The boom in the renewable energy industry has matured to involve more non-technical personnel who don’t necessarily have a renewable energy background. With tax credits and other incentives available, project development has become more competitive – and complicated. To help advance the market, the N.C. Solar Center is launching the Certificate in Renewable Energy Management (CREM) in March 2012 and is offering its Renewable Energy Technologies Diploma Series online.

“The Solar Center has always been at the heart of educating professionals and the North Carolina public on renewable energy technologies,” says Lyra Rakusin with the Solar Center’s Training Programs. “It was a natural progression to now offer classes for people involved in project management and sales. It also made sense to add online versions of our installer-focused courses to allow for more flexibility.”

The Certificate in Renewable Energy Management is a 40-hour hybrid program offered with both online and on-site components to maximize class communication and networking opportunities. Supported in part by Southern Energy Management and the Department of Energy’s Solar Instructor Training Network, this non-credit certificate program will be offered from March to May, and is the only non-degree program of its kind in North America that includes topics to help develop commercial-scale projects. A group project to be presented at the last day of class is required to complete the course.

The program is also taught in alignment with the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) Task Analysis for PV Technical Sales so that taking this in combination with our installer classes and other NABCEP requirements gives participants eligibility  to sit for the NABCEP PV Technical Sales Examination.

Bob Kingery, co-Founder and President of Southern Energy Management teaches the first two days of the program that focuses on technology. “As a business owner myself, I can attest to the importance of continued training for technical and non-technical personnel in this ever changing and growing industry,”” says Kingery. “When I learned that it was a program that covered topics on policy and finance, I was quick to offer my support.”

The focus of the CREM program is tri-fold: Technology, Finance and Policy. These areas are the main drivers that move the renewable energy industry forward. Topics include:

 

  • Overview of solar electric, solar thermal, wind, and other renewable energy technologies
  • Renewable energy policy landscape (learning to navigate the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (www.DSIREusa.org)website
  • Introduction to definitions, identifying revenue streams and financing options, and risk management and contract structuring

 

Elective topics on marketing, sales and understanding the utility will be offered.  Over 44 hours of topics are available, but one need only take 40 hours to earn the certificate. The more technical weeklong workshops under the Renewable Energy Technologies Diploma Series that are geared for installers are also available and can help give a more in-depth understanding of specific technologies.

The first online photovoltaic workshop is scheduled for April to May and will run for six weeks, including five hours a week of live, online classes, which is also recorded so it can be downloaded at a later time. Those who wish to get hands-on training can take the one-day, hands-on Solar workshop that will be offered throughout the year.

For those who are interested in shorter courses, one to two day workshops are available. Visit www.ncsc.ncsu.edu where you can view of a list of training and events.

Contact:

Shannon Helm, N.C. Solar Center, 919-423-8340, shannon_helm@ncsu.edu

Maria  O’Farrell, N.C. Solar Center, 919-538-8287, maria_ofarrell@ncsu.edu

 

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Certificate in Renewable Energy Management

Posted on: November 15th, 2011 by shannon No Comments

A New Program on Technology, Policy and Finance for the Non-Installer

Business professionals and students are keenly aware of the changing energy landscape. Many professionals want to know more about the renewable energy industry but find that available workshops on renewables are too technical or geared for the installer. The goal of the CREM program is not only to provide a sound foundation of how existing renewable energy technologies work, but also to have a firm grasp of policies and financial options so they can make informed decisions as a manager and businessperson in the renewable energy industry.

 

CREM graduates will be able to:

  • Understand the fundamentals of how solar electric and solar thermal technologies work.
  • Describe renewable energy policy terminology.
  • Understand how federal, state and local policies, incentives and regulations can affect the health of the renewable energy industry.
  • Navigate the current financial landscape and assess different financial models
  • Sit for the NABCEP Technical Sales Certification Exam

 

Topics and Activities Include:

 

Technology

  • Overview of the history of solar electric and solar thermal technologies
  • Basics of how solar technologies work
  • Future of the grid
  • Tour of systems

 

Policy

  • Overview of the renewable energy policy landscape
  • Definitions and how policy design impacts financial investments
  • Maximize the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) website

 

Finance

  • Overview of financing options for residential and commercial Systems
  • RECs, sRECs and Carbon Credits
  • Identifying revenue streams
  • Risk management and contract structuring

 

Additional topics for marketing, sales, and understanding the permitting process will likewise be offered.

 

Location:

The program is onsite and online. It requires the participant to be present in Raleigh, North Carolina on the first two days and last day of class. A day-long class on August 2 will be held in Raleigh and also be available online. The majority of the course topics will be a recorded 2-hour or less webinar that may be retrieved at a later time. This provides more flexibility to those who cannot attend the live online session.

 

Expectations and Outcomes:

Participants will be required to attend 90% of the class, pass the short quizzes and submit a group project and a 5-10 page document of their project to complete the program. Successful students receive a non-degree certificate from NC State University.

 

Schedule and Fees:

July – September 2012 -   Register

Registration Fee: $1,998    

Call (919) 513-2161 and ask if you’re one for the first 10 registrants to get $200 off.

Dates scheduled onsite in Raleigh: July 19 – 20, August 2 (also offered online) and a day during the week of September 24th (date to be announced).

 

 

For more information contact Lyra Rakusin  or 919.513.7769

Green Job Training in the Southeast

Posted on: August 30th, 2011 by shannon No Comments

Story by: cleanenergy.org

Recently, it seems that every politician has the exact same top three priorities: Jobs, Jobs and Jobs. Some of those jobs can come in the form of green jobs. Green jobs vary from manufacturing and construction to sales and consulting. Apollo Alliance, a coalition of business, labor and environmental groups championing green employment defines a green job as: “paying decent wages and benefits that can support a family. It has to be part of a real career path, with upward mobility. And it needs to reduce waste and pollution and benefit the environment.”

Source: Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Employment Security Division, Labor Market Information Section, Green Jobs Study, Spring 2011Distribution of Green Jobs in Tennessee. Source: Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Employment Security Division, Labor Market Information Section, Green Jobs Study, Spring 2011 

Sold on green jobs but not sure where to start? Several colleges and organizations offer quick training in the field of your choice and some manufacturing companies partner with neighboring colleges to train future employees. Listed below are just a few upcoming green job training opportunities here in the Southeast:

One-day, weekend, or week-long workshops:

North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) certification is highly recommended for individuals pursuing employment in solar PV, solar thermal, and small wind installation fields. Several Southeastern groups provide the training necessary for the NABCEP tests, as well as other certifications. If you are interested in certification, here are some non-degree training programs to check out:

  • Appalachian State University (Boone, N.C.)- ASU’s 2011 workshop series is in full swing. Most workshops are held on Saturdays. Upcoming sessions include Community Scale Wind, Solar Hot Water, Small Wind, Microhydro, and PV Design, and the National Electric Code.
  • North Carolina Solar Center (Raleigh, N.C.)- NCSC is hosting week-long classes this fallin solar PV, solar thermal, small wind, and green building.
  • Southface (Atlanta, Ga.) – Southface is a great resource for one-day training in a variety of energy efficiency fields, such as building weatherization and energy auditing.
  • Tennessee Solar Institute (throughout Tenn.) – TSI partnered with colleges across the state in the past year to provide free, week-long training courses in solar PV installation.

There are several local colleges who have semester courses in a variety of green fields. For example, Pellissippi State in Knoxville, Tennessee has a solar PV installation program.

Solar Manufacturing

Recently, Tennessee has attracted several large solar manufacturing facilities. These companies are partnering with local colleges to provide training for future employees.

These are just a few of the green job training opportunities available in our region, and more will develop as the market for renewable energy grows here and elsewhere. The Southeast is expected to be a manufacturing hub for the rest of the nation, according to the Department of Energy’s report 20% Wind Energy by 2030. Solar energy job growth in the Southeast has grown at least 34% just in the past year according to the Solar Foundation’s National Solar Jobs Census. In addition, there’s huge opportunity in the Southeast for energy efficiency improvements. As our nation’s clean energy portfolio grows, the Southeast is primed and ready to be a leader in green manufacturing and services.

Workforce Development

Posted on: March 27th, 2011 by admin

Renewable Energy Technologies Diploma Series

The Renewable Energy Technologies Diploma Series is a non-degree professional development programs that allows participants to build interdisciplinary courses that give an in-depth understanding of several renewable energy technologies, as well as residential green building principles and strategies. Since 2004, the Solar Center has been the ISPQ-Accredited Training Program –Renewable Energy Technologies Diploma Series. This Diploma Series’ five-day workshops focus on intermediate and advanced solar electric technologies (photovoltaics), solar thermal technology, and small wind technology. We also offer a 5th course in residential green building strategies.  You must complete 3 five-day workshops within three years to complete your RET Diploma.

A certificate of completion from N.C. State University is given at the end of each weekly course.

Anyone can earn these diplomas but we also offer professional credits for: NC electrical contractors , registered architects, professional engineers, and LEED accredited professionals can receive continuing education credits by taking these courses.

 

Certificate in Renewable Energy Management

Business professionals and students studying to be in the private sector are keenly aware of the changing energy landscape. Many professionals want to know more about the renewable energy industry but find that available workshops in renewable energy are too technical or geared for the installer. The goal of the Certificate in Renewable Energy Management is not only to provide a sound foundation of how existing renewable energy technologies work, but also to have a firm grasp of the technology, policies and financial options so they can make informed decisions as a manager and businessperson in the renewable energy industry.


Short-Course Professional Development Workshops

Outside or in conjunction with the Renewable Energy Technologies, the Solar Center’s Training Program team also offers short-course workshops spanning no more than three days. The workshops may offer a combination of continuing education and professional credits for AIA members, professional engineers and other licensed trades.

 

Southern Mid-Atlantic Provider of Solar Instructor Training (SMAPSIT)

This DOE-funded Train the Trainer program is specifically targeted at full time community college instructors in NC, SC, DC, VA and MD teaching electrical, plumbing, or HVAC. For more information and applications please click on the link above.

 

N.C. Solar Center Training program staff biographies:

 

Maria O’Farrell- Program Manager

Lyra Rakusin- Extension Specialist

Joann Henry- Workforce Development Program Assistant