gateways to solar careers -...

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Saving Energy Together

Gateways To Solar Careers

The future of energy is now - choose a promising career that makes a positive

impact on the world!

ImagineSolarCall: (512) 443-5725

Send questions to [email protected]

www.imaginesolar.com








Today’s Agenda

• About ImagineSolar

• Solar Industry Update

• Mapping Solar Careers

• Leveraging Your College Degree or Work Experience

• Building the Foundation: The NABCEP Entry Level Exam and their new Associate Program

• NABCEP Professional Certifications

• Current Job Listings from Our Network

• Q&A follows our 30 minute presentation

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Our Mission

• Founded in 2002, ImagineSolar’s continuing mission is to accelerate the transformation of the energy industry to a solar and smart grid future

• We offer training for entrepreneurs, engineers, architects, electricians, and anyone else who wants to participate in the solar industry

• We offer engineering and advisory services for solar project developers

• We also design and install select projects


ImagineSolar Classroom TrainingPhoto from SolarEdge 1-Day Event

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Photo from our 5-Day Workshop Entitled:Advanced Solar PV Project Experience


Solar Field Lab – “Indoor Sunshine”

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Gateway: OpportunityHow much has the solar industry been growing?

1st Solar Project - 1975


Historical View:U.S. Grid-Connected Solar PV Capacity Installed Each Year

Chart Source:

IREC U.S. Solar Market

Trends 2012,

Published July 2013

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Updated View: U.S. Grid-Connected Solar PV Capacity Installed Each YearSource: IREC U.S. Solar Market Trends 2013, Published July 2014

The capacity of 2013 PV installations increased by 34 percent to 4.6 GW DC compared with 2012.

The compound annual growth rate for the last 10 years is an astounding 55 percent.

Utility: 48% single year capacity growthDistributed: 17% single year capacity growth

The residential portion of distributed capacity increased by 68 percent in 2013.


Updated View: Number of U.S. Grid-ConnectedPV Installations Each Year

Source: U.S. Solar Market Trends 2013, IREC

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Summary – Solar Industry Growth

• PV installations increased 30% in 2014 over 2013; prices fell by 10 percent

• The solar industry added jobs more than 20 times faster than the rest of the economy

• PV installations are forecasted to increase 25% in 2015 over 2014

• U.S. now generates 20 times as much solar power as we did in 2008

• www.mission-innovation.net announced 11-30-15 at COP21 in Paris

• Breakthrough Energy Coalition to invest billions (also announced 11-30-15)


Solar Industry Update

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Solar Tax Credit Extension and Phase Out

YEAR TAX CREDIT

2017 30%

2018 30%

2019 30%

2020 26%

2021 22%

2022 onward

10%

2022 and beyond: 10 percent (non-residential and third-party-owned residential) or 0 percent (host-owned residential)

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Market Effects of the Extension

Source: GTM Research


Impacts

• The impact of this deal should not be underestimated. Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) calculated that the impact will be simply massive:

• “The extension will add an extra 20 gigawatts of solar power—more than every panel ever installed in the U.S. prior to 2015, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF). The U.S. was already one of the world's biggest clean-energy investors. This deal is like adding another America of solar power into the mix.”

• This is an extra 20 gigawatts of solar energy that would not have been built without the tax credits. Therefore, is in addition to all the solar that would be built without it, which is still a large number.

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Impacts

• “The ITC extension currently written into the omnibus spending bill will result in a 20-gigawatt annual solar market in the U.S. by 2020.” - GTM Research

• There will be no drop-off in residential and commercial installation in 2017, rather, it will grow significantly over 2016

• Long-term solar job growth will continue, in line with the current pace of ~25,000 jobs per year.

• Cost reduction will continue


Gateway: Careers

What are the types of careers in the solar industry ?

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Mapping Solar Careers

http://www.thesolarfoundation.org/solar-jobs-census/

http://irecsolarcareermap.org/

The Solar Foundation

IREC Solar Career Map


Leveraging Your College Degree or Work Experience

Job Description from SunPower Corp.

Solar Advisor:

Minimum Requirements: : • High school diploma or equivalent required• Associates degree and 2+ years related experience• OR equivalent combination of education and years of related experience

Preferred Requirements: • Bachelor's degree• 0+ years exp required with strong work ethic, good business acumen, and above

average customer service orientation• Ability to work 8am to 9pm M-F, Sat 8am to 7pm, various shifts w/in these

timeframes• Inside sales experience gained within a sales quota environment preferred.• Strong project management and communication skills, with the ability to manage

multiple program and meet tight deadlines• Experience with Salesforce.com• Knowledge of solar or leased services• Ability to work independently with moderate direction in a fast-paced environment• Strong computer skills, including strength in MS Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.• Exceptional communication skills, in particular telephone and written

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Job Description from SunPower Corp.

Technical Program Manager Field Technology & Process;

Minimum Requirements:• BS in Electrical Engineering• 5+ years technical experience in Technology Company (e.g, solar technology,

semiconductor development, equipment development, etc.)• Hands on experience in designing, and supporting complex product solutions

requiring work with cross functional teams• Excellent technical problem solving abilities• Working knowledge of National Electrical Code (NEC)• Understanding of change management processes, document control processPreferred Requirements: • MS in Electrical Engineering• Knowledge of Agile development process• Experience with applying lean techniques• Understanding of PV system performance modeling and PV system economics• Hands on experience in designing and building PV systems• Detailed knowledge of relevant codes, NEC, ASCE• Detailed knowledge of PV standards, UL, IEC, Cal Fire• Understanding of PV system performance modeling and PV system economics



Job Description from SunPower Corp. http://us.sunpower.com/company/careers/

Sr. Manager, Marketing; Customer First Program

Minimum Requirements: BA or BS Proven success with Experience Design and execution Inspired presenter – you will be the voice of this program! 10+ years of experience with service delivery companies 5+ years of experience in program or product management Outstanding project management skills A demonstrable passion for customers and building partnerships Insatiably curious – always looking to understand the why Advanced Excel skills Excellent Business Analytics skills

Preferred Requirements: Previous Customer Experience role a plus Understanding and experience with quality programs, Six Sigma, etc. Understanding of solar a plus Strong usage of Salesforce MBA

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Summary: all kinds of jobs for all kinds of people

• High school diploma

• College degrees

• New to the work force

• Years of experience

• Construction, project management, marketing/sales, proposals, customer service, site assessment, system design, procurement, cost estimation, quality, accounting, finance, engineering, etc.

• Entrepreneurs, engineers, electricians, and everybody else!


Gateway: North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners

1. The NABCEP Associate Program2. NABCEP Certifications

How do you get industry-recognized credentials?

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Building the Foundation: The NABCEP Associate Program

The NABCEP Entry Level Program is being rebranded the “NABCEP Associate Program.”

The approved changes include:

• An experience-based pathway for eligibility, where an individual with at least 6 months of experience working in the PV industry will be eligible to sit for the exam.

• Those without experience can still qualify to sit for an Associate Exam by completing training through one of NABCEP’s Exam Providers.(like ImagineSolar – check out our Foundations course: Solar PV System Design and Installation).

• NABCEP Associates will be provided with a logo and wordmark that they can use to recognize their accomplishment.

• NABCEP will maintain an online directory for NABCEP Associates where employers or other interested parties can verify the credentials.


NABCEP Professional CertificationsNorth American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners

Michael KuhnCert #TS-100414-005798

Served on the PV Installer Job Task Analysis team and the NABCEP PV Technical Committee

PV InstallationProfessional

Doug SoesterCert #031310-206

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Current Job Listings from Our Network

Alba Energy:Site Assessor, Installer 1, Installer 2, Lead Installer

Revolve Solar:Solar Installer/Apprentice Electrician

Lighthouse Solar:Solar Installer

Able Electric:Solar Installer

Meridian Solar:Project Manager

Solar companies are also looking forSolar Advocates and Technical Sales People.


Gateway: Training for the Solar Industry

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ImagineSolar Course Roadmap


Why are we dedicating our lives to solar?Here’s what is at stake

• Energy security – our grids are vulnerable, need distributed generation and distributed storage; hydroelectric power is threatened by drought and higher temperatures

• Non-carbon emitting – we are beyond 400 ppm of CO2

• People have the right to generate their own electricity – energy independence

• Solar is in alignment with our desire to make a positive difference

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Next Steps

• Review the IREC career map

• Decide if you want to take solar courses

• Call us for further information about training and careers at (512) 443-5725

• Or email us at [email protected]


Q&A with our NABCEP-Certified Professionals

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