How Does Energy Bidding Work for Battery Systems in Power Markets? Understanding how battery systems participate in power markets can seem complex at first, but the fundamentals are surprisingly straightforward. The basics of energy bidding are essential knowledge for anyone working in the utility-scale energy storage space – from entrepreneurs and… Continue reading “How Does Energy Bidding Work for Battery Systems in Power Markets?”
A Look at Two Types of Battery Installations: Front of the Meter and Behind the Meter Where you install a battery system – and which side of the electricity meter it sits on – fundamentally changes how it operates and who benefits from it. There are two primary configurations for battery installations: front of the meter… Continue reading “A Look at Two Types of Battery Installations: Front of the Meter and Behind the Meter”
How the NEC is Revised – A Look at the Public Input Process Ever wondered how the National Electrical Code gets updated every three years? The NEC revision process is open to everyone – electricians, solar installers, engineers, industry associations, and even individuals with ideas for improving electrical safety can all participate in… Continue reading “How the NEC is Revised – A Look at the Public Input Process”
New Course Announcement: Avoiding Main Panel Upgrades Home electrification is accelerating rapidly, but there’s a bottleneck that’s been frustrating homeowners and professionals alike: the dreaded main panel upgrade. If you’ve worked on the residential side, you know the story all too well. A homeowner wants to install… Continue reading “New Course Announcement: Avoiding Main Panel Upgrades”
New Free Course Announcement: Introduction to Software for Battery Systems While utility-scale solar and battery systems are transforming our energy infrastructure, finding comprehensive, accessible education on the software that powers these systems can be challenging. Most available training focuses on hardware components or high-level energy concepts, but there are limited… Continue reading “New Free Course Announcement: Introduction to Software for Battery Systems”
Level Up Your Energy Storage Knowledge with the Energy Storage PRO Badge The U.S. energy storage market set a new record in 2024 with 12.3 gigawatts of installations across all segments – a massive 33% increase year-over-year. This record-breaking year is just the beginning. Industry projections show 15 GW of storage expected… Continue reading “Level Up Your Energy Storage Knowledge with the Energy Storage PRO Badge”
New Course Alert: 2026 National Electrical Code (NEC®) Changes: PV, ESS, EVs, PCS, and More, The electrical landscape is evolving as clean energy adoption and electrification accelerate – and the 2026 National Electrical Code is adapting right alongside it. Every three years, the National Electrical Code undergoes comprehensive revisions to align with industry practices and… Continue reading “New Course Alert: 2026 National Electrical Code (NEC®) Changes: PV, ESS, EVs, PCS, and More,”
Announcing HeatSpring PRO: Career Insurance for Solar Professionals To HeatSpring’s community of 100,000+ solar professionals, this is for you. The solar industry just changed. We created HeatSpring PRO so you can start offering energy storage, solar service contracts, energy audits, heat pumps, and consultative sales on more creative… Continue reading “Announcing HeatSpring PRO: Career Insurance for Solar Professionals”
New Course Announcement: Solar PV Ground-Fault Troubleshooting: Theory, Tools, and Field Application Ground faults are one of the most challenging issues solar technicians face. They’re difficult to locate, potentially dangerous, and can bring PV systems to a grinding halt. Yet despite being one of the most common and costly issues in solar… Continue reading “New Course Announcement: Solar PV Ground-Fault Troubleshooting: Theory, Tools, and Field Application”
Understanding NFPA 70B Equipment Condition Categories: The Foundation of Effective Maintenance One of the most critical aspects of implementing NFPA 70B is properly assessing and categorizing your electrical equipment. The standard requires a comprehensive evaluation that examines multiple factors to determine maintenance frequency and protect both safety and system reliability. The… Continue reading “Understanding NFPA 70B Equipment Condition Categories: The Foundation of Effective Maintenance”
How Will ANSI/SEIA 301-2025 Standard Be Implemented and What’s the Best Case Scenario in 10 Years? The approval of ANSI/SEIA 301-2025, the Solar and Energy Storage Operations and Maintenance Technician Training American National Standard, marks a big moment for the solar and storage industry. This new standard establishes more than training guidelines – it creates the… Continue reading “How Will ANSI/SEIA 301-2025 Standard Be Implemented and What’s the Best Case Scenario in 10 Years?”
The Market is Changing. Entrepreneurial Action Will Win. Solar companies in the US are (rightfully) concerned right now about looming policy changes. I’ve been calling my senators to urge them not to roll back the IRA and eliminate tax credits because businesses will be hurt and jobs eliminated. … Continue reading “The Market is Changing. Entrepreneurial Action Will Win.”
How to Operationalize Solar O&M Training Solar PV Operations and Maintenance (O&M) providers are often pressed for time. When we’re working on residential, commercial, or even small utility scale systems, technicians usually have a set amount of time in which to get their work done, and… Continue reading “How to Operationalize Solar O&M Training”
Bridging Theory and Practice: Guided Field Practices Included in PV and BESS O&M Tech 1 Training The Solar PV and BESS Operations & Maintenance Tech 1 Training includes Guided Field Practices (GFPs) – a practical addition that helps bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world field work. Here’s Amanda Bybee of the Amicus O&M Cooperative… Continue reading “Bridging Theory and Practice: Guided Field Practices Included in PV and BESS O&M Tech 1 Training”
Setting the Standard: Transforming O&M into a Professional Career Path The new SEIA 301 Standard: Solar and Energy Storage Operations and Maintenance Standard – Technician Training represents a significant milestone in creating clear career pathways for both aspiring and established technicians. This consensus-built training framework not only enhances the reliability… Continue reading “Setting the Standard: Transforming O&M into a Professional Career Path”
The Ultimate Guide to Getting Your HAZWOPER Training Working with hazardous materials requires specialized knowledge and skills to ensure safety on the job and for the surrounding environment. If you work on jobsites where hazardous materials may be present, HAZWOPER training is likely required for your position. Let’s… Continue reading “The Ultimate Guide to Getting Your HAZWOPER Training”
The Story Behind Creating the New PV + BESS Operations & Maintenance Technician Training Standard In any rapidly growing industry, standardization is crucial to reliability, consistency, and long-term success. For years, operations and maintenance (O&M) practices in the solar and storage industries lacked uniformity, but solar + storage O&M has reached a critical inflection point. … Continue reading “The Story Behind Creating the New PV + BESS Operations & Maintenance Technician Training Standard”
How To Navigate the NFPA 70B | Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance Have you ever flipped through an unfamiliar technical standard and felt a bit lost in all the details? Many of us have been there. These comprehensive standards are absolutely essential for electrical safety and equipment reliability, but let’s be honest… Continue reading “How To Navigate the NFPA 70B | Standard for Electrical Equipment Maintenance”
New Course: Solar PV and BESS Operations & Maintenance Tech 1 Training The solar industry has taken a big step forward with the introduction of its first standardized training program for Operations and Maintenance (O&M) technicians. Until now, O&M training has been all over the map – companies were doing their own… Continue reading “New Course: Solar PV and BESS Operations & Maintenance Tech 1 Training”
What’s the Difference Between an Inverter That’s Grid-Following Versus Grid- Forming? It feels like a day doesn’t go by without energy storage in the headlines. These systems are experiencing unprecedented adoption across residential, commercial, and utility-scale applications. As storage continues to become increasingly critical to the clean energy transition, design professionals… Continue reading “What’s the Difference Between an Inverter That’s Grid-Following Versus Grid- Forming?”