Trade Show Emporium is proud to be a distributor for Eco Systems Sustainable Exhibits. Eco-Systems is the first green-built portable-modular exhibit system in the nation, developed with environmentally and socially responsible materials benchmarked to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System of the U.S. Green Building Council. Eco-Systems offers many exhibit options including eco-friendly banner stands, pop-ups, 10x10’s, 10x20’s, 20x20’s, as well as unique customizing capabilities. Eco-Systems incorporates the use of materials such as bamboo, recycled plastics, and even graphics made from recycled soda bottles.
EcoTuesday was started to bring these sustainable business leaders together to potentially create products and services that will make a positive impact on the planet.
Grid-Tied Solar (PV) System Design & Installation
Solar Industry Overview
Economic, Financial & Regulatory Landscapes
Solar Business Models & Careers
NABCEP Entry Level PV Exam
Hands-on Lab: roof mounting of panels
Hands-on Lab: connection of components and go-live
Our 7-day Solar Boot Camp is listed by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) as a NABCEP- approved solar course covering solar-electric (PV) system design and installation, solar industry economics, business, & sales. It also includes the exam for NABCEP's Entry Level Certificate of Knowledge of PV Systems, which is the industry-standard general-knowledge certificate for people entering the field.
Boot Camps include instruction, materials, text book, exam, labs and daily lunch. For non-local students attending our main campus in the San Francisco Bay Area, we offer a travel package with free shuttle transportation (no need for a taxi or rental car) and a hotel suite for each night before class for the same price as our out-of-state tuition. Please call for details.
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COURSE CONTENTS:
The Basics
Assessment and characterization of the solar resource
Basics of solar radiation
Energy/power concepts
Basics of sun/earth/sky geometry
Site evaluation techniques and tools (Solar PathFinder, SolMetric SunEye)
* LAB: hands on evaluation tools
Solar Resource Analysis
Sun-path charts
Geographical irradiation databases and their meanings / interpretations
Fixed-orientation and 1- or 2-axis tracking systems
Insolation (concept of “peak-sun hours”)
Characterizing a solar resource including effects of weather and climate)
Load analysis (peak vs. average demands, typical appliances, residential / commercial systems)
* LAB: energy/power measurement tools
Preview of BOS (“balance-of-system”) components
Comparison for off-grid (“stand-alone”) vs. grid-tied systems
Utility-scale solar farms
Basics on electrical systems
* LAB: safety
PV System Characteristics
I-V curves
Variations with temperature, irradiance, light level
Efficiencies
* LAB: measuring PV response to sunlight; variations with orientation angle and sun's position
Mounting systems for PV arrays
Roofing concepts/practices
* LAB: wiring series/parallel connections
* LAB: installing roof stand-offs with flashing
Inverters; are new micro-inverters major game-changers?
Software for system sizing & design calculations
Inverters & System Integration
Charge controllers and batteries (off-grid systems)
Inverters (installation, operation, matching to PV arrays)
Putting it all together: commissioning, troubleshooting, performance issues
Differences in Commercial & Residential Systems
Monitoring systems for performance analysis
Brief preview of PV economics
* LAB: Full Project Design & permit application
Intensive review for NABCEP exam
Delivery of NABCEP exam
* LAB: utility interconnection
Ground and pole-mount system installations and testing
Sun-tracking systems
Solar Industry Overview, Sales & Business
This part of the course provides a comprehensive orientation to the solar technology industry. With a focus on grid-tied photovoltaics, students will learn about the scope and size of the U.S. solar market, types of solar businesses and their secrets to success, and how to track the policy and regulatory decisions that are making solar a mainstream energy option. On the last day students will learn how to use financial analysis tools, employ sales techniques, build partnerships, and develop an initial business plan for their own entry into the field.
Students will learn about the many factors that shape where and how solar technology is being deployed, and how they can expand their current business, start a new business, or get a job in the solar industry.
Through slide show lecture, video, group exercises, study labs, and spot exams students learn what the solar industry is, how and why its growing, and where their own background and expertise fits in.
Solar-thermal, thin film, BIPV, metering, and storage
Market issues and technical barriers to breakthrough
Solar Industry: business value chain; market customer sectors; equipment suppliers; service providers; government program and policy support; types of innovation; status and impact of silicon supply.
Policy & Regulatory Review: The students will learn about U.S. global warming programs, California-specific policies, renewable energy certificates, net metering, interconnection, solar access laws, and time variable tariffs.
Utility environment: how utilities are regulated and operate; energy efficiency funding and implementation; consulting industry role; utility business models; utility careers relating to solar. Smart Grid and RPS requirements and programs.
LAB: employing the technical knowledge learned in the previous 5 days and in today's presentation, students explore cutting edge technologies and brainstorm new technologies or services to address market or technical barriers.
Economics: retail and wholesale cost of solar; breakdown of solar project costs into equipment, labor, and administration; common methods and tools for analyzing and communicating project ‘payback’ ‘ROI’ and ‘IRR.’; module manufacturing costs; industry growth and margins; investor statistics and trends; incentive programs and tax programs; power purchase agreements; lease models.
Entrepreneur Lab: After reviewing current solar business models, and then students apply their previous professional knowledge and place themselves in the entrepreneurial role by working in project teams to create a cutting-edge proposal for starting a solar company. Students will understand the major industry organizations, businesses, and infrastructure.
Implementing Knowledge: review research websites, organizations, events, periodicals; review career development strategies; career pay-scales and training requirements; strategies for networking and further research.
Sustainable
