A few days ago, we released an exciting post about the explosive growth in the solar PV industry.  GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association recently issued a report that highlighted some of the record-breaking trends happening in solar.

2012 was the single strongest year for the industry in its nearly 60-year history. 

And not just “strong.”  We’re talking 76% growth in the number of solar PV installations – a jump that leaves most industries in the dust during this period of painful economic recovery.

So I’m not surprised that more and more solar PV installation training schools out there are starting to expand their offerings.  This only makes sense.  Growth begets more growth as businesses rush in to meet unmet demand.

Case in point – According to a recent press release, one of the better-known solar PV training programs on the market, is expanding its offerings in response to the recent solar market report.

The press release was fairly standard and normally wouldn’t have caught my attention.  But I noticed at the very bottom a funny little snippet that gave me pause:

“….. is a 501(c)(3) Equal Opportunity Institution and Employer, and is not affiliated with any dealer, manufacturer, distributor, or any other renewable energy commercial enterprise.”

On the surface, this disclaimer has a lot of marketing appeal.  Objectivity and lack of affiliation can go a long way in garnering business.  But then I began asking myself,

“How can any business in this closely knit industry survive without tapping into the larger network?”

You see, solar energy is one of the fastest evolving markets in the US (the recent PV report illustrates this pretty clearly).  The needs of homeowners, installers, dealers, suppliers, and manufacturers are in constant flux as:

  • New technologies emerge
  • Incentives evolve or expire
  • Utility rates change
  • Building codes and zoning laws mature

In order to offer the most relevant training possible, you HAVE TO communicate with “dealer[s], manufacturer[s], distributor[s], [and] other renewable energy commercial enterprise[s].”  Or else, your entire curriculum is based on an outdated snapshot of what these solar PV stakeholders needed and wanted at some distant time in the past.

In addition to these relationships, you must also have qualified in-house talent – professionals who straddle the world of training AND field experience.  This means having licensed and degree-holding engineers, electricians, and installers who understand the demands of the job and can convey this knowledge in a classroom setting.

Far too few programs emphasize this point.  And I can’t imagine where USSolar Institute would be if we had built our curriculum in relative isolation.

It is only through close ties with the “field” that we remain on the cutting edge of “real-world” training.

Now perhaps this training is biased.  After all, because we take our cues from what people in the field actually need and want, many of our modules are slanted towards certain methodologies and equipment.

USSolar’s curriculum is decidedly NOT objective.  But isn’t this a good thing?

Our close relationships with solar PV stakeholders throughout the supply chain ensure that we update our curriculum based on their needs in the here and now.  These ties also ensure that we scale up our offerings in anticipation of rather than in reaction to what annual solar reports eventually reveal.

USSolar Institute is a globally diversified solar energy corporation with headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and offices, dealers, and partners around the world.  USSolar remains dedicated to comprehensive solar education and consulting services by providing global construction management, engineering, and financing solutions for virtually any sized project or system need.