Interconnection of Renewables to Electric Transmission: Insights from Industry Expert Tim Taylor Tim Taylor is a HeatSpring instructor who focuses on utility transmission and distribution systems, and the interconnection of renewables to those systems. We recently asked Tim a few questions about two new courses that he has been developing. Tim’s new… Continue reading “Interconnection of Renewables to Electric Transmission: Insights from Industry Expert Tim Taylor”
A Brief History of Transmission Legislation in the United States The electricity industry in the United States has undergone significant changes over the past few decades, largely driven by a series of legislative and regulatory initiatives aimed at promoting competition, efficiency, and the integration of renewable energy resources. In this… Continue reading “A Brief History of Transmission Legislation in the United States”
The Residential Clean Energy Tax Credit – Is it refundable? Essentially every single homeowner in U.S. who purchases a solar PV system for their home is going to be applying for the Residential Clean Energy Tax Credit (also often called the Investment Tax Credit or ITC), currently a 30% federal… Continue reading “The Residential Clean Energy Tax Credit – Is it refundable?”
Spanish Language Captions Now Available on HeatSpring Courses HeatSpring offers Spanish language captions on our online courses. This feature is designed to support learners who speak English as a second language, providing them with the option to read along in their native Spanish while engaging with the course… Continue reading “Spanish Language Captions Now Available on HeatSpring Courses”
New Bundle Announcement: 2023 Electrical & Fire Codes for Energy Storage Systems Ryan Mayfield and the Mayfield Renewables team are back on HeatSpring. We are excited to welcome Ryan – engineer, educator, and technical committee member – back to our platform with his latest course bundle – 2023 Electrical & Fire Codes… Continue reading “New Bundle Announcement: 2023 Electrical & Fire Codes for Energy Storage Systems”
What Are You Allowed to Have in a NABCEP Certification Exam? Feeling nervous to take a big exam is totally normal. Being well prepared can help to minimize the pre-exam jitters. In this blog post, we’re going to cover what you need to know about what you can have in your… Continue reading “What Are You Allowed to Have in a NABCEP Certification Exam?”
The Four Categories to Qualify for the Low Income Community Bonus Adder The Low Income Community Bonus Adder provision in the Inflation Reduction Act is different from all the other bonus adders and the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) itself, because it is an allocated credit. That means there is a limited number… Continue reading “The Four Categories to Qualify for the Low Income Community Bonus Adder”
What Are Demand Charges for Commercial Customers? It’s often a natural career progression within solar sales to begin in residential solar and then progress to working with more commercial customers. The reason being is the sales cycle for commercial clients tends to be much more complex than… Continue reading “What Are Demand Charges for Commercial Customers?”
What are the Types of Manufacturer Warranties? Product Warranties. Performance warranties. Labor and installation support warranties. There’s a lot to compare when evaluating solar components for your projects. When home or business owners choose to invest in a solar energy system, the warranties provided by the manufacturers… Continue reading “What are the Types of Manufacturer Warranties?”
New Free Course Announcement: What is RETScreen Expert? Benchmarking, Feasibility, Performance, & Portfolio We all know that we need a lot more clean energy on the grid to curb climate change; although, it’s typically not easy knowing what exactly to do or where to start when it comes to clean energy project development.… Continue reading “New Free Course Announcement: What is RETScreen Expert? Benchmarking, Feasibility, Performance, & Portfolio”
1 NABCEP CEU – Become a K2 Pro Certified Installer for Tile Roofs with New Free Course Any residential solar installer in the Southwest and the coastal South can tell you that installing on tile roofs requires finesse and extra care. If your team is looking to enhance their skills and knowledge around solar installation on tile… Continue reading “1 NABCEP CEU – Become a K2 Pro Certified Installer for Tile Roofs with New Free Course”
New Bundle Announcement: Solar Construction Management & Safety Essentials Bundle Solar construction job openings are growing faster than they are getting filled. In Deloitte’s 2024 Renewable Energy Industry Outlook, it is anticipated that there will be 22,972 annual solar construction jobs created over the next five years. At the same,… Continue reading “New Bundle Announcement: Solar Construction Management & Safety Essentials Bundle”
New Free Course Announcement: Domestic Content Bonus Adder The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has opened up tremendous new incentives for solar projects – including a potentially lucrative 10% tax credit adder for using domestically-made components and products, known as the Domestic Content Bonus Adder. Although, actually qualifying for… Continue reading “New Free Course Announcement: Domestic Content Bonus Adder”
Renewing Your NABCEP Certification? Here’s What You Need Maintaining an active NABCEP certification demonstrates your continued commitment to professional development and expertise in the solar industry. If your NABCEP Professional Certification is coming up for renewal, you may be wondering what’s required for the recertification process. This quick… Continue reading “Renewing Your NABCEP Certification? Here’s What You Need”
Learn the Basics of the Energy Community Bonus Adder Provision When we think about the term energy communities, as in the bonus adder provision included in the Inflation Reduction Act, we’re referring to legacy fossil fuel communities anchored in the extraction, processing, or generation of energy using coal, oil, and… Continue reading “Learn the Basics of the Energy Community Bonus Adder Provision “
What Are the Types of Solar Incentives? Solar incentives often make or break the motivation for a homeowner to get solar. Depending on the physical location, your client may be eligible for various types of incentives at the utility, state, and federal level. It’s important for solar… Continue reading “What Are the Types of Solar Incentives?”
What is Pendulum Distance and Why Does It Matter When Setting Up Fall Protection Equipment? Per OSHA standards (1926.501), solar construction staff installing systems who are exposed to fall distances of 6 or more feet must be protected from falls by using one of the following methods: personal fall arrest systems, guardrail systems, or safety… Continue reading “What is Pendulum Distance and Why Does It Matter When Setting Up Fall Protection Equipment?”
1 NABCEP CEU – New Free Course Announcement: Introduction to Architectural Solar With the ever increasing focus on sustainable, net-zero, and grid-efficient buildings, architectural solar has been and continues to evolve as a key tool within renewable energy integration. But what exactly is architectural solar, and how does it influence the design… Continue reading “1 NABCEP CEU – New Free Course Announcement: Introduction to Architectural Solar “
What’s the Difference Between a Product and Performance PV Module Warranty? Manufacturer warranties on solar PV modules instill confidence for homeowners as well as for the companies who install them. These warranties provide assurance regarding the durability and energy output of solar modules, offering protection against defects and performance degradation over… Continue reading “What’s the Difference Between a Product and Performance PV Module Warranty?”
New Course Announcement: Electric Transmission and Solar PV Interconnection Bundle U.S. utility-scale solar installations in 2023 totaled 22.5 GW, an increase of 77% compared to 2022, according to SEIA and Wood Mackenzie. The numbers are expected to continue to increase thanks to the tax incentives and long-term certainty from the… Continue reading “New Course Announcement: Electric Transmission and Solar PV Interconnection Bundle”