Trades and Careers in Solar Energy

 

  • San Juan's Photovoltaic Education Trailer

    San Juan's Photovoltaic Education Trailer

    San Juan College: Farmington, NM

    Description: 1 year Certificate program in "Photovoltaic System Design and Installation" as well as 2 year Associate of Applied Science Degrees. This program emphasizes a strong foundation in electrical theory, touches upon a wide range of current renewable energy technologies, including: wind power, fuel cells, and solar thermal. This program is primarily focused on photovoltaic design, with numerous hands-on projects for the students.
    Contact: San Juan College Renewable Energy Program
    Math, Science and Health Careers Division, San Juan College, 4601 College Boulevard, Farmington, NM 87402; Tel (505) 566-3003

  • Appalachian State University: Boone, NC

    Description: Bachelor of Science and Masters degrees in Industrial Technology with a concentration in Appropriate Technology. "Basically the Industrial Technology program is set up with many different facets for different industries. (Furniture = wood working, Construction, Electronics, Computer Networking, Metals -Welding- Machining, Webpage Design, Plastics, Ceramics and the list goes on.) Basically the Appropriate Technology program is a combination of many of the before mentioned skills. You learn metals, construction, residential mechanical systems, Computer Aided Drafting, and many more. All of these skills are needed to be an Appropriate Technologist (AT). The person trained with these skills can go anywhere in the world and work in almost any conditions and build practical, reliable, renewable energy systems. The magic of this program is that it is almost all hands on. The Technology Department is very much a hands-on learning experience because physical skills are taught, much of the classes is involved with hands-on projects (cool stuff that you are required to build). I built solar water heaters, solar box ovens, solar concentrators, photovoltaic systems. micro-hydro systems, windpower systems, solar food dehydrators, electric vehicles, solar air heaters, and the list goes on and on." (e-mailed from a former ASU student)
    Contact: www.appstate.edu/www_docs/catalogs/undergrad/TEC_DEPT.html
    Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina 28608; Tel (828)-262-2000

  • Humboldt State University: Arcata, CA

    Description: Offers a minor in Appropriate Technology, within the Environmental Resources Engineering degree, covering a range of topics including; photovoltaics, wind, solar thermal, greenhouses, composting privys, graywater, organic gardening. Also, the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology (CCAT) is a live-in demonstration house which hosts weekly workshops on sustainable living skills.
    Contact: www.humboldt.edu/~ere_dept/
    Dept. Chair: C Mike Anderson, Environmental Resources Engineering Department
    HS 18, 1 Harpst Street, Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA 95521
    Tel (707) 826-3619 (office); Fax (707) 826-3616
    ere_dept@axe.humboldt.ed

  • Solar Energy International: Carbondale, CO

    Description: 1 to 2 week long courses in Photovoltaics, Micro-Hydro, Wind, Renewable Energy for the Developing World, Solar Home Design & Natural House Building, Biodiesel Fuel, Successful Solar Businesses, Women's Photovoltaic Design & Installation, and a variety of other subjects. Hands on learning with classroom and on-site installations, draws from international students, electrical engineers, policy makers, handymen/women to tinkerers.
    Contact: www.solarenergy.org
    P.O. Box 715, Carbondale, CO 81623-0715, Tel (970) 963-8855, Fax (970) 963-8866

  • University of New South Wales: Sydney, Australia

    Description: The first 4 year Bachelors Degree program in "Photovoltaics and Solar Energy" in the world. Offered through the Key Center for Photovoltaic Engineering. This bachelors degree program had its first class of students in 2000, and has grown out of the strength of the "Photovoltaics Special Research Centre," which along with setting world record solar cell efficiencies, is a world leader in thin-film P.V. cell development and technology. I consider this to be my dream Renewable Energy education source.
    Contact: www.pv.unsw.edu.au
    Electrical Engineering Building, The University of New South Wales, UNSW SYDNEY NSW 2052
    AUSTRALIA, Phone: +61 2 9385 4018 - Fax: +61 2 9662 4240, Email pv.labs@unsw.edu.au

Other Institutions offering short term courses:

Sandia Labs Listing:

  • Real Goods Living Center: RE Workshops (Photovoltaics, Natural Living, Alternative Fuels, Green Building, and others).
    http://www.solarliving.org/index.cfm
    To register for a workshop, call 1-707-744-2017 or write:
    Institute for Solar Living, PO Box 836, Hopland, CA 95449.
    or email isl@rgisl.org
  • Midwest Renewable Energy Fair: http://www.the-mrea.org/
    PV, Wind, Hot Water, etc... March - November workshops.