Solar Thermal Technician Program
2010 SEET
R. Decker, B. Hesher, W. Judycki,
K. Klein
Technology and Applications
• What Do Solar Thermal Energy Systems Do?
– They use the Sun to provide heat for
• Domestic Hot Water
• Swimming pools or other bulk water systems
• “Combi-Systems” that heat domestic water and
supplement or provide space heating
• Passive Systems (air, surface heating)
• Solar Cooling Systems “in development”
• Water heating most often mentioned
Not Necessarily a “New Idea”!
• Invention in US in late
19th Century
• Progress in 1930’s – 40’s
• Abandonment in 1960’s
• Resurgence in 1970’s
• Abandonment in 1980’s
• Resurgence NOW?
•
http://www.californiasolarcenter.org/histo
ry_solarthermal.html
Solar Thermal Applications (2)
• Solar water heating systems are gaining
popularity
– Lower cost of implementation than PV
– “Supplement” to existing domestic hot water
system
– An alternative to fossil fuel heating for swimming
pools
– Short payback periods relative to life expectancy
of equipment
Obstacles in the Marketplace
• Although solar thermal is a mature technology,
public awareness can be an issue
1. PV is heavily emphasized (and subsidized!)
in some states, but solar thermal may not
be
2. Public confusion on what the “solar
panels” are doing
3. Lack of understanding of savings/benefits
• Installer/contractor requirements differ
Licensing/Permitting
Programs to Increase Awareness
• DOE/EERE Energy Savers
http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/water_h
eating/index.cfm/mytopic=12860
• Florida Solar Energy Center
http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/consumer/solar_hot_w
ater/homes/q_and_a/
• New York Solar Energy Industries Association
http://nyseia.org/policy-initiatives/ny-solarthermal.php
Need/Job Market for Solar Thermal
Installation Technicians
• Currently, Solar Thermal Technician job classifications
do not exist or are not well-defined
– NYS Department of Labor classifies a solar thermal
technician in the same group as plumbers, pipefitters, and
steamfitters
• Good news: In NY, these occupations are in demand!
• Bad news: We can’t tell if they’re solar thermal or not!
• Misery loves company news: PV technicians are also not identified
and may be lumped in with solar thermal!
– Federal job classification systems have the title, but lump
these individuals in the same grouping
• New Classification Systems are coming!
– www.onetcenter.org
Clean Energy Jobs Classification
• “NY State’s Clean Energy Jobs Report (2009)
Labor Market and Workforce Intelligence
• http://www.labor.state.ny.us/workforcenypartner
s/PDFs/NYS%20Clean%20Energy%20Jobs%20Rep
ort%20FINAL%2006-09-09.pdf
– “Address full range of jobs in priority clean energy
sectors identified by the Renewable Energy Task Force
Report” (February, 2008)
• Includes Solar PV, Solar Thermal, Wind, Renewable Fuels,
and Energy Efficiency/Weatherization
– Noted training centers/programs inventory
California’s Solar Energy & Workforce
Study Key Findings (2008)
• http://www.coeccc.net/documents/Solar_KeyF
indings_CA.pdf
– Identified Solar Firms in Ca., geographic
concentration, size of firms and major sectors
– Identified key solar occupations that are most
relevant to community colleges
– Developed projections of future employment
growth and identify employer challenges in
recruiting, hiring, and retaining their workforce
– Defined skill sets and educational requirements
needed for the relevant solar occupations
CA Solar Thermal Study Findings
• Solar thermal occupations projected to grow
at 71% rate
• 70% of employers expect difficulty in hiring
workers
• 59% of employers prefer solar thermal
employees with more hands-on experience
• 36% of employers reported “Very Interested”
in certificate programs at Community
Colleges, with 34% responding as “interested”.
Skills/Competencies Analysis
• NABCEP Task Analysis (2005) Solar Water and Pool Heating
Systems Installation Contractor
– http://www.nabcep.org/wpcontent/uploads/2008/11/solarthermaltaskanalysisapr05.pdf
– Certified Installer Exam exists, but no entry-level exam/40 hour
class as for PV
– Eligibility Requirements for exam include installation experience
as well as relevant educational program completion or
journeyman status
• DACUM Research Chart for Solar Thermal Installation
Technician/Lead – Colorado Community College System
– http://www.dtae.org/teched/standards/Dacum%20Charts/Solar
%20Thermal%20Installation%20Technician.Lead.pdf
Skills/Competencies Analysis (2)
• Experience with PV 40 hour course indicated
some additional preparation may be required for
entry-level students
– PC Skills (application programs, browser, OS)
– Basic Electricity (Ohm’s Law, Use of Multimeter, etc.)
– Basic Math Skills (calculations, exponents, units)
• Other “soft skills” and business knowledge
– Proposal Preparation – Identify what is to be done
– Cost/Benefit Analysis – Customers want to know!
– Profit/Loss – Will my business be as sustainable as the
system I’m installing?
Existing Curriculum Models/Programs
• 2 Year AAS Degree Programs
– Encompass Solar Thermal and include additional
subject areas
• Red Rocks Community College (CO)
– Solar Thermal Specialty AAS
» Includes Energy Audit, Roofing, Framing, Piping, Science &
General Education
• Mid-State Technical College (WI)
– Renewable Thermal Energy Technician AAS
» Includes additional topics such as biomass and geothermal
» http://www.mstc.edu/renewablethermalenergytech/index.h
tm
Existing Curriculum Models/Programs
• Certificate Level Programs
– Arapahoe Community College (CO)
• http://www.arapahoe.edu/departments-and-programs/a-zprograms/energy-technology/active-solar-thermal-systems-technician
• Active Solar Thermal Systems Technician Certificate
– 19 Credit Hours – 1 Semester full-time
– Material correlates to NABCEP Task Analysis
– 2 Cr. Hr. Field Experience requires OSHA and Professional Liability Insurance
– Red Rocks Community College (CO)
• http://www.rrcc.edu/catalogs/sheets/RenewableEnergyTechnology.pd
f
– Solar Thermal Entry Level (18 Credit Hours)
– Solar Thermal Installer (26 Credit Hours)
– Solar Thermal Designer (30 Credit Hours)
• All of these Certificate programs share Intro to Renewable Energy,
Basic Electricity, Solar System Installation, and OSHA Safety courses.
Proposal for Solar Thermal Technician
Certificate Program
• Certificate program proposal addresses
– Basic Computer Skills
– Fundamental Math Skills
– Electricity/Control Systems Fundamentals
– Customer Service/Business Management Topics
– Overview of Solar Energy Systems
– NABCEP Solar Thermal Task Analysis
– Carpentry/Roofing Topics
Proposed Curriculum
Solar Thermal Certificate - 32 Credit Hours
•
First Semester
•
•
•
•
•
Basic PC Skills
Electricity Fundamentals
Industrial Safety
Technical Math 1
Alternative/Renewable Energy Technologies
•
Second Semester
•
•
•
•
Electrical Controls
Carpentry/Roof Structures
Solar Thermal Systems and Installation
Renewable Energy Business Concepts
2 Cr. Hr
3 Cr. Hr
3 Cr. Hr
4 Cr. Hr
3 Cr. Hr.
4 Cr. Hr
5 Cr. Hr
5 Cr. Hr
3 Cr. Hr
Note: Qualifications for eligibility to sit for the NABCEP Solar Thermal Installer Certification Examination require
experience installing solar hot water or solar pool heating systems that cannot be met through academic
instructional programs alone.
Multiple Entry-Point Strategy
Next Steps
• Further review of existing curriculum and
regional industry/workforce needs
– “Re-use and Recycle” existing courses from other
related Technology and Trades programs
– Consider modifications to some existing courses
for all programs
• Renewable Energy Business Concepts expanded for
other technology/trades programs
• Industrial Safety Course in place of current Physical
Education/Health and Wellness requirements
Additional Considerations
• Non-credit offerings through Corporate and
Community Education Programs
– Faster Implementation/Offering Opportunities
– Ability to gauge market and fine tune program
– Targeted Deployment
THE END