Professional education and training for photovoltaics: Reaching all the sectors

Conference · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1999

OSTI ID:20050758

Larsen, C; Fitzpatrick, S; Shirley, L

This paper considers a critical component of the PV infrastructure--the many non-installation related professionals--and how the PV industry and advocates can reach out to educate and train these groups. These professionals include inspectors, builders, developers, architects, utility engineers, lenders, appraisers, and realtors. Each one of these professionals plays a different role through the life of a PV project, and although some professionals are more critical than others, each needs PV-related education. This paper addresses each of these professional groups and their relevance to expanding PV markets. Recommendations are then made for bringing these professional groups to a reasonable stage of familiarity with PV. The focus here is on the development of an infrastructure for PV, but many of the ideas and recommendations apply equally well to other solar and renewable technologies. This paper does not address the training needs for PV installers because several other organizations are now giving attention to this audience since the authors conducted their original study in mid-1998. Many of the recommendations developed in this paper are based on a survey of individuals in the solar field. A survey of over 400 professionals involved in solar energy was conducted by the NC Solar Center in August 1998. Questions addressed both public and professional education needs for the expansion of markets for PV.

• Research Organization: North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC (US)
• OSTI ID: 20050758
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
ARCHITECTS
BUILDERS
BUILDING CODES
CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL
EDUCATION
ENGINEERS
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES
RECOMMENDATIONS
TRAINING