GCI offers Solar PV Training Curriculum to institutions looking to jumpstart or supplement their Green education & training programs.

GCI´s Solar PV Curriculum is tried and true. More than 1500 students have successfully completed this practical, hands-on training and many have gone on to become installers, sales people, estimators, PV entrepreneurs, and designers at companies that include Sungevity, Sunlight & Power, Clean Power Finance, Sun Door Solar, Save a Lot Solar, and more.

For additional questions, please contact:

Christopher A. Gower, Ph.D.
Alternative Energies Education
Green Career Institute
Direct: 913-397-8980
cgower@greencareerinstitute.com

Description of GCI´s Solar PV Training Curriculum:

Authors: Solar PV subject matter experts Dr. Francisco Machuca and Dr. Nick Carter.

SOLAR PV1: INSTALLER

Materials: 10 Free Textbooks included with purchase*, instructor´s lecture notes, power point presentations, hands-on exercises, classroom exercises, bill of materials and blue prints for solar training classroom build-out, quizzes, and exams.

Instruction Time: Approximately 16-20 hours (classroom and lab exercises)

Learning Objectives: The implementation of clean, affordable solar photovoltaic energy is on the rise. GCI´s Solar PV1: Installer course is a practical, hands-on introduction to residential solar electric systems (photovoltaic or PV). Students will discover Solar PV principles, learn the terminology, and get hands on with the hardware & tools. From the classroom to the rooftop, students will learn to build a working solar system end-to-end.

Topics Covered:

• Basic Electrical Principles
• How Sunlight Becomes Electricity
• Terminology & Technology
• Matching Racking Solutions to Roof Types
• Environmental Factors: Shade & Temperature
• Grounding
• Design 101
• Installation Safety, Hazards, and Safety Equipment
• Roofs: Finding Rafters, Mounting Stand-Offs, Sealing Penetrations, Protecting Roof Integrity
• Conduit: Hands-On Lab on Bending Conduit
• Build a Working Solar System on a Roof

SOLAR PV2: DESIGNER

Materials: textbook, instructor´s lecture notes, power point presentations, hands-on exercises, classroom exercises, bill of materials and blue prints for solar training classroom build-out, quizzes, and exams.

Instruction Time: Approximately 16-20 hours (classroom and lab exercises)

Learning Objectives: This course provides an in-depth treatment of solar photovoltaic (Solar PV) design topics, and is intended for those with a background in Solar PV installation and/or those who have already completed Solar PV 1. Solar PV2: Designer is designed to give students a comprehensive knowledge of sizing and designing Solar PV systems for every homeowner´s needs. Students learn how to design by exploring the most common design examples and learn to operate tools of the trade, including hands-on and online calculation and feasibility tools used to design Solar PV systems for residential and commercial applications.

Topics Covered:

• PV Design Process: Introduction & Overview
• PV Load Calculation: Overview of Tools & Resources
• PV Production Calculations
• PV Systems: Comparing Options
• Modules & Inverters
• PV Interconnections
• Residential and Commercial Grid-Tie
• Wire Sizing
• Interactive Design

SOLAR PV3: ESTIMATOR

Materials: textbook, instructor´s lecture notes, power point presentations, hands-on exercises, classroom exercises, quizzes, and exams.

Instruction Time: Approximately 8 hours (classroom and lab exercises)

Learning Objectives: This course is designed for those with an interest in becoming part of the solar sales workforce, company executives who need to understand the numbers, and those with an interest in the cost estimation process. The course is intended for those with working knowledge of solar power systems, or those who have already completed Solar PV1. This course is instructor-led, complemented by hands-on exercises and training. This course reviews the fundamentals of solar PV installation and design.

Topics Covered:

• Solar PV: Introduction, Systems, Types & History
• Solar PV Equipment & Components: Introduction and Overview
• Solar PV Installation: Pricing and Process Overview
• Solar PV Installation: Pricing and Process Overview
• Solar PV Design: Introduction & Overview
• The Economics of Solar: Federal, State and Local Rebate & Incentive Programs
• Cost Estimation: Exercises and Calculations (Hands-On & Online Quoting Tools)
• Cost Parameters: Permits, Incentives, Rebates, Equipment, Roof Materials, String Sizing Constraints, Time & Labor