What are the best sources of information and training for solar PV professionals?

Hey, if you're keen on mastering the solar PV game, you've got to check out online courses and webinars. Solar Energy International is like the Netflix of solar training—tons of topics, and you can binge-learn at your own pace! Don't overlook LinkedIn; it's not just for job hunting. You'll find some real gems of courses and first-hand advice from industry pros there. Bonus: you can rack up those all-important continuing education credits. Being in the UK, you'll want to make sure your courses are in sync with our local rules and regs. Trust me, staying updated in this field is like keeping up with a gripping TV series—miss one episode, and you're out of the loop!

Military Pathway! In addition to online courses and webinars, Military veterans seeking solar PV training have tailored options. The Solar Ready Vets Network offers career training in solar energy, while the Solar Ready Vets Fellowship provides leadership training in the solar sector. SEI's Solar Professionals Certificate Program accepts Veterans Education Benefits and supports active military personnel. Additionally, the US Solar Institute partners with the DoD, focusing on transitioning service members to solar careers. These programs equip veterans with technical skills and aid their transition to civilian solar roles, fostering opportunities in this expanding industry.

You can always use some academic platforms such as UDEMY or COURSERA for online courses. For more specific topics, you need to look for short term trainings mainly offered by companies. Many companies offer such trainings in the form of online or in-person.

The courses and webinars provide convenient access to updated and specialized content, allowing professionals to stay current with the latest trends, technologies, and industry regulations. Additionally, these resources offer flexible scheduling, enabling professionals to learn at their own pace and balance studying with their professional and personal responsibilities.

Online sources like, SEI and NEBCEP are very expensive. The best and pocket friendly platform is Udemy, where you get industry level project practices, too.

Books and magazines are your go-to for in-depth knowledge and staying updated on the latest trends. "Photovoltaic Design and Installation For Dummies" is a great starting point for anyone new to the field. "Solar Power Your Home For Dummies" is a must-read for more advanced insights. Magazines like "Solar Today" and "Renewable Energy World" offer a mix of technical articles, market trends, and interviews with industry leaders. If you're in the UK, you might look for publications focusing on the European or UK solar market. Localised information is crucial for understanding the regulations and market dynamics unique to the UK. Remember, there are a lot of free resources out there!

EnerG, and Solar Builder are also good sources of info for new builds and construction techniques. With specialty topics on PV, Thermal and Wind each quarter.

To go for the books, I highly recommend to check in which area you want to be active. Then you can search for books. There are some technical magazines such as PV-Tech, PV Magazine, and Photovoltaic International, where you can find specific articles related to specific topics. Here you find more up to date information.

One reliable reference for every solar professional is the Code of Practice for Grid-connected Solar Photovoltaic Systems, 2nd Edition, especially for the UK Market, https://shop.theiet.org/code-of-practice-for-grid-connected-solar-photovoltaic-systems-2nd-edition

Professional magazines and especially books can provide a more in-depth knowledge and information about a specific topic, so they can also be a good source for deepening the knowledge and understanding of topics related to PV systems. Checking out the author(s) can assure that the information presented is coming from a reliable source and is based on good basis of expertise.

Workshops are your playground for hands-on solar PV experience. Renewable Energy Institute offers courses from basics to advanced systems. Solar Power Events are not just expos but learning hubs, offering workshops and networking opportunities. In the UK, aim for MCS-accredited workshops. They're tailored to UK standards and focus on local market dynamics. It's like getting a masterclass in UK-specific solar tech.

As mentioned above, the best technical workshops can be found by companies in different segments. Look for the events on the websites of the manufacturers. There are several scientific workshops offered by research institutes or universities that are more suitable for scientists or students. You can find these workshops on the websites of these institutes.

Certainly hands on experience is the best. Buy a small P.V. kit and play around with it. Dismantle those little solar lights and make them do something else. It's all kitchen table stuff, but should not be under estimated as a learning tool. The other big learning tool is; Proposing hypothesis and mind experiments. They can be simple or complex. How much energy does it take to move a cube-sat? How much solar energy is that? What are the system losses? OR: How much mass will an AA battery move? What is the weight difference between a fully charged battery and an 'empty' one? If a battery heats up when it is charging, does it cool down when discharging? And if it warms up again without charging - has it gained a charge? Just learning....

Online communities and forums are the go-to places for real-time advice, troubleshooting, and networking. Solar Panel Talk is a bustling hub where you can ask questions, share experiences, and get the latest industry updates. Reddit's r/solar is another goldmine; it's a bit more casual but packed with insights from professionals and enthusiasts. Energy Central is a bit more formal and focuses on broader energy topics, but it has a dedicated solar section worth checking out. In the UK, we've got our own set of challenges and opportunities regarding solar energy. Local forums like the UK Solar Power Portal are great for keeping up with policy changes, grants, and best practices specific to our region. Don't forget YouTube!

Online forums are very handy and helpful to connect to professionals who have experienced the same sort of problems or doubts as you. I'm listing below some important forums and their respective links: - Solar Panel Talk: https://www.solarpaneltalk.com/ - Power Forum https://powerforum.co.za/ - The Renewable Energy Hub Forum https://www.renewableenergyhub.co.uk/forum/solar-pv/ - BuildHub / PV https://forum.buildhub.org.uk/forum/121-photovoltaics-pv/ - DIY Solar Power Forum https://diysolarforum.com/ - Reddit r/solar https://www.reddit.com/r/solar/?rdt=52303 - HUAWEI Forum https://forum.huawei.com/enterprise/en/forums - Electricians Forum https://www.electriciansforums.net/#solar-panel-forums-solar-photovoltic-advice.72&gsc.tab=0

Online forums and other types of communities can serve as a great place for the excnahge of experience and opinions between the people interested and working in the field of photovoltaics coming different parts - from producers, distributors, installers, maintenance & safety specialists... They are also a good place to share and find latest news, events and other things related to the field. But since these are mostly unmoderated the things learned there should be treated with a pinch of salt and possibly verified somwhere else.

You've got your courses, books, workshops, and online communities in the bag. But there's more to consider! Industry conferences are your golden ticket for networking and staying ahead. You'll rub shoulders with experts and get the latest on tech trends. Government and regulatory websites are crucial; they're your roadmap for policy changes and grant opportunities. Renewable energy journals are your treasure chest for cutting-edge research and case studies. In the UK, you're in a prime spot for leading renewable energy events like All-Energy and Solar & Storage Live. Keep an eye on Ofgem for policy updates that directly impact your projects. In this ever-changing field, stagnation is your enemy. Keep learning and networking.

To be short, best practice is internship. You can also participate on technical conferences and seminars of PV such as PVSEC or IEEE PVSC. However, for more work-oriented training, you can participate in manufacturers workshops or PV trainings offered by universities or institutes.

Reach out to professionals within the industry and ask for tailored presentations for your team's professional development. As a structural engineer servicing the Commercial Solar Industry in Australia, we offer a range of technical webinars and presentations to help upskill solar installer teams to ensure they understand the different facets of solar installations. Although they are not responsible for the structural liability of the building, they need to have a comprehensive understanding of the structural limitations and red flags of their installations. We offer these webinars at no cost to ensure that the solar industry understand the importance of Structural Engineering withing their solar projects.

Apart from books, magazines, webinars and online comunities another valuable source of information should be scientific literature and researchers. With it being subjected to a thorough peer-review proces it should serve as a source with highest reliability. Some of the scientific journals are paywalled but more and more papers are published in open-source and thus available freely for anyone interested in the topics researched. Reaching out directly to the researchers in the field is another possibility for gaining valiable information since they are in great majority very keen and eager to share their findings.