Professional Solar Training & Certification

ISEA is working to provide multi-day workshops that will provide hands on training and NABCEP entry level certification.  In the interim, here are some other training  workshops offered by non-profit organizations that are ISPQ certified.

Policy

Stay informed about state and federal policy related to renewable energy, learn who your legislators are and how to get involved.

Solar FAQ

Frequently asked question regarding solar installation and investment.

Fact Sheets

ISEA has developed informative fact sheets for Renewable Energy Basics, Solar PV, and Solar Thermal Hot Water and Heat.

Links

Website links for renewable energy related organizations

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ISEA Education

Please visit our Events page to learn when classes will be taking place.  Our seminars are typically three hours long and provide time for Q&A and instructor interaction.

Coming in 2010 - Solar PV and Solar Thermal multi-day workshops

• Solar and Wind 101
  A comprehensive introduction to solar and small wind energy systems, economics and available incentives designed for the consumer audience.
  

Solar 110 and Wind 110
A comprehensive introduction to solar and small wind energy systems, economics and available incentives designed for the professional audience.

Advanced Thermal 201 and PV 202
Builds on Solar 110 to explore thermal or PV systems in more detail.   Provides pros and cons of types of panels as well as equipment and materials necessary for installation.  Note:  This is not an installation and design course.

Solar Architecture 203
Offers architects and developers tools to transform new construction and rehab projects into high-performance solar energy machines.  Focuses on passive solar design.

Entrepreneurship 204
A class for those looking to start a renewable energy business.  This class will equip you with market data, incentives and local resources to get you started quickly on the path to success. Hosted by a panel of entrepreneurs.  Ample time will be provided for Q&A and networking.

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RECAP: Renewable Energy Certificate Aggregation Program

The Illinois Solar Energy Association, in partnership with Community Energy Inc (CEI), is pleased to announce a request for 2009 generated renewable energy certificates from photovoltaic systems (PV RECs)

The ISEA will aggregate these small-scale PV RECs and market them to CEI. The solar REC's will then be attributed to the City of Naperville's Renewable Energy Program, to fulfill the photovoltaic portion of the program.

The ISEA is requesting PV RECs from PV system owners, who have clear title, for  production during calendar year 2009. The ISEA will accept a minimum of 35 megawatt-hours, and may accept more during calendar year 2009. It is proposed to pay $0.065 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) or $65.00 per megawatt-hour (Mwh).

Delivery during 2009 will be accepted in whole megawatt-hours or 1,000 kilowatt-hour units only. For example, if your photovoltaic system generated 6,350 kWh during 2009, the ISEA will purchase only 6,000 kWh, or 6 Mwh. This request is for photovoltaic systems only and must be located in the State of Illinois as a grid-connected installation. System owners must be members of the ISEA, either as individual or family for a residential account, or as business members for a commercial account. While any system size is eligible, the ISEA is giving priority to system sizes of 10 kilowatts alternating capacity (KW AC) or smaller.

The ISEA requests the following information be emailed to ChristopherPell@mac.com and copied to contactisea@illinoissolar.org:

• Contact Name
• Contact Organization (if any)
• Address, City, Zip Code
• Location of PV system (if different from address)
• Email
• Phone number(s) landline, cell, fax
• Size of system (KW AC)
• Estimated output for Calendar
• Year 2009 in kWh
• Electric utility

Solicitations will be accepted on a first come, first served basis and will be cut off when the cap is met. Applicants will be notified toward the end of 2009 or the beginning of 2010 how much, if any, and at what price the PV REC's will be purchased with a formal application process. This solicitation is only a proposal and no guarantee of purchase in any form is implied at this time. For further information, please email ChristopherPell@mac.com.