Announcing Comprehensive Utility-Scale Solar Engineering Training The utility-scale solar sector is booming – solar now represents 64% of all new electricity-generating capacity in the US, with the utility-scale segment installing a record 6.6 GWdc in Q3 2024 alone, up 44% from the previous year (Source: SEIA… Continue reading “Announcing Comprehensive Utility-Scale Solar Engineering Training”
Utility-Scale Solar CapEx Trends – Berkeley Lab Report Analysis Part 2 As utility-scale solar reshapes the energy landscape, understanding its evolving costs remains crucial for industry decision-makers. HeatSpring instructor Tim Taylor examines Berkeley Lab’s latest “Utility-Scale Solar, 2024 Edition” report, uncovering notable trends in installed CapEx – including some findings that… Continue reading “Utility-Scale Solar CapEx Trends – Berkeley Lab Report Analysis Part 2”
Why Join Us for PV Associate Training at the 2025 NABCEP CE Conference The booming solar energy industry offers tons opportunities for professionals at every level. Whether you’re just starting your renewable energy career or looking to advance in the field, the NABCEP Associate is a great first step into professional solar credentialing.… Continue reading “Why Join Us for PV Associate Training at the 2025 NABCEP CE Conference”
We Need More Utility-Scale Solar PV Designers Engineers…we need you. You can spend your whole career working in solar energy and never get bored. Climate change is the biggest problem you could tackle and you’ll never have trouble finding interesting work to do. Let’s zoom out and… Continue reading “We Need More Utility-Scale Solar PV Designers”
Working Safely on Energized Equipment – Understanding Restricted Approach, Limited Approach, and Arc Flash Boundaries When it comes to electrical safety, understanding arc flash hazards and how to mitigate their risk is crucial, but all too often misunderstood. Many workers believe that staying outside the arc flash boundary guarantees safety, but this is a dangerous… Continue reading “Working Safely on Energized Equipment – Understanding Restricted Approach, Limited Approach, and Arc Flash Boundaries”
A Look at NFPA 855: Locations for Energy Storage in One- or Two-Family Dwellings The US energy storage market saw a dramatic 84% surge in installed capacity during Q1 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, as reported in the June 2024 US Energy Storage Monitor from Wood Mackenzie and American Clean Power.… Continue reading “A Look at NFPA 855: Locations for Energy Storage in One- or Two-Family Dwellings”
How Does Electricity Flow Through a Utility-Scale Solar Site? The utility-scale solar segment installed 7.6 GWdc in Q2 2024 – a whopping 59% jump from last year, according to SEIA’s latest Solar Market Insight Report. If you’re one of the newer folks joining in the industry to help get… Continue reading “How Does Electricity Flow Through a Utility-Scale Solar Site?”
What’s the Difference Between the NABCEP PV Installation Professional and Installer Specialist Certifications? Navigating the world of NABCEP certifications can be daunting for solar professionals, especially when faced with seemingly similar options. Many in our community have expressed confusion about the various certifications available, with the comparison between the NABCEP PV Installation Professional… Continue reading “What’s the Difference Between the NABCEP PV Installation Professional and Installer Specialist Certifications?”
New Course Announcement: Interconnection of Utility-Scale Solar PV to Transmission It seems like every time news outlets report on new utility-scale solar projects coming online, the megawatt (MW) capacity keeps getting bigger. With an increasing number of high-capacity solar projects in development, many industry professionals are finding themselves in need… Continue reading “New Course Announcement: Interconnection of Utility-Scale Solar PV to Transmission”
The Ultimate Guide to Getting Your NABCEP PV Design Specialist Certification The NABCEP PV Design Specialist Certification recognizes experienced solar professionals with a track record of designing successfully installed solar PV projects. Prime candidates for the PVDS demonstrate expertise in both electrical and mechanical aspects, creating accurate and safe PV designs.… Continue reading “The Ultimate Guide to Getting Your NABCEP PV Design Specialist Certification”
New Bundle Announcement: Utility-Scale Solar Essentials The solar energy industry continues to grow, and utility-scale solar projects are at the leading edge. In their Market Insight Report, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) notes that the utility-scale segment continues to have record-breaking quarterly installations, with 9.8… Continue reading “New Bundle Announcement: Utility-Scale Solar Essentials”
New Course Announcement: 6-Hour NFPA 70E Electrical Safety Training As the electrification of everything continues to proliferate faster everyday, the risk of electrical hazards is also ever increasing. Whether you’re installing solar panels, integrating energy storage systems, upgrading building electrical systems, or installing heat pumps, a solid foundation in… Continue reading “New Course Announcement: 6-Hour NFPA 70E Electrical Safety Training”
Utility-Scale Solar PV Fundamentals course is now free for HeatSpring members We need more leadership talent on utility-scale solar PV projects so starting today, for a limited time, Utility-Scale Solar PV Fundamentals is free for HeatSpring members. Membership is super cheap and it’s a great way to develop a learning habit.… Continue reading “Utility-Scale Solar PV Fundamentals course is now free for HeatSpring members”
NEW COURSE BUNDLE ANNOUNCEMENT: NEC 2020 and 2023 Requirements for PV Systems from Mayfield Every year, Ryan Mayfield of Mayfield Renewables teaches his NEC 2020 and 2023 Requirements for PV Systems training as an all-day crash course on the National Electrical Code at the NABCEP Continuing Education Conference. Back in March, over 250 conference… Continue reading “NEW COURSE BUNDLE ANNOUNCEMENT: NEC 2020 and 2023 Requirements for PV Systems from Mayfield”
What is a Culture of Safety and Why Does It Matter? Creating a culture of safety is crucial for any construction team, but what does it really mean to have a “safety culture”? It’s a question that goes beyond PPE and bare minimum safety standards – it strikes at the heart… Continue reading “What is a Culture of Safety and Why Does It Matter?”
What Makes Someone a Qualified Person? Here at HeatSpring, we get a lot of questions that are along the lines of… “what course can I take to make me qualified?” To that we answer, there’s no quick fix or single course that can make you qualified… Continue reading “What Makes Someone a Qualified Person?”
Understanding the 2023 NEC Requirements for Disconnecting Means on Energy Storage Understanding where to place disconnects on solar and storage projects can feel complicated if you’re unfamiliar with the National Electrical Code (NEC). In fact, some inspectors (like Pete Jackson, Chief Electrical Inspector for the City of Bakersfield, mentioned in IREC’s… Continue reading “Understanding the 2023 NEC Requirements for Disconnecting Means on Energy Storage “
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 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”