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”
I Can’t Be the Only Former Solar Installer Who Feels This Way, Right? I’ll be honest. A lot of times, I miss working in the field. Working in the field made me feel connected to the natural rhythms of the day in a way that office work could not. Each day, we would… Continue reading “I Can’t Be the Only Former Solar Installer Who Feels This Way, Right?”
Solar & Storage Conferences Happening in 2025 Behind every development in clean energy is a conversation that first sparked it. While virtual meetings and LinkedIn connections absolutely have their place, nothing beats walking the exhibition floor, seeing new technology up close, and having spontaneous conversations over breakfast.… Continue reading “Solar & Storage Conferences Happening in 2025”
1 NABCEP CEU – New Free Course: Navigating Transmission Interconnection Queues The renewable energy and utility sectors are transforming rapidly, with unprecedented amounts of new generation seeking to interconnect to the grid. However, interconnection queues have become one of the most significant bottlenecks in renewable project development. To help industry professionals… Continue reading “1 NABCEP CEU – New Free Course: Navigating Transmission Interconnection Queues”
Be More Than a Solar Company Your electric utility is about to do something really unfair in an attempt to make more money. How do I know? Because they always do. So what can solar companies do to prepare for economic shocks like this? This was… Continue reading “Be More Than a Solar Company”
Breaking Down Berkeley Lab’s Annual Utility-Scale Solar Report – Part 1 Berkeley Lab’s annual Utility-Scale Solar Report has become one of the industry’s go-to resources for tracking the evolution of large-scale solar (and storage) deployment across the United States. The 2024 Edition analyzes ground-mounted PV projects above 5 MW ac, offering… Continue reading “Breaking Down Berkeley Lab’s Annual Utility-Scale Solar Report – Part 1”
Inside AC Block Architecture: A Technical Walkthrough of Utility-Scale BESS Design The rapid deployment of utility-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS) demands a comprehensive understanding of system architecture, electrical engineering principles, and operational considerations. In this excerpt from the Foundations of BESS course, industry expert Drew Lebowitz examines the critical design… Continue reading “Inside AC Block Architecture: A Technical Walkthrough of Utility-Scale BESS Design”
The Science Behind Battery Fires: Thermal Runaway Explained What happens when a battery cell reaches its ignition temperature and triggers an unstoppable chain reaction? In this segment from the Foundations of Battery Energy Storage Systems course, instructor Drew Lebowitz explains the phenomenon of thermal runaway in battery systems… Continue reading “The Science Behind Battery Fires: Thermal Runaway Explained”
Grid Operators Get Strategic: How Some Utilities Are Tackling Interconnection Queue Bottlenecks As the U.S. power grid faces mounting pressure to integrate new generation resources, transmission operators are getting creative with solutions to streamline their overwhelmed interconnection queues. Two major grid operators—California ISO (CAISO) and PJM —are leading the charge with innovative… Continue reading “Grid Operators Get Strategic: How Some Utilities Are Tackling Interconnection Queue Bottlenecks”
New Course Announcement: Foundations of Battery Energy Storage Systems The clean energy transition is accelerating, and battery energy storage systems (BESS) are becoming more and more central to this transformation. That’s why we’re excited to announce our new course: Foundations of Battery Energy Storage Systems. Read on to learn… Continue reading “New Course Announcement: Foundations of Battery Energy Storage Systems”
NABCEP Launches New “Board Eligible Status” Program for Solar Professionals We’re excited to share some significant news from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) that makes the path to becoming a certified PV Installation Professional (PVIP) more flexible than ever before. What’s Changing? NABCEP has introduced a… Continue reading “NABCEP Launches New “Board Eligible Status” Program for Solar Professionals”
How Does a Utility-Scale Solar Project Move from Concept to Fully Operational? The development cycle of a utility-scale solar project demands precise orchestration across multiple phases and stakeholders. From initial site acquisition through interconnection studies, Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) negotiations, and ultimately construction, each stage builds upon the last in a carefully… Continue reading “How Does a Utility-Scale Solar Project Move from Concept to Fully Operational?”
The Complete Guide to Getting Your Remote Pilot Certificate for Commercial Drones Your first step to flying drones professionally is earning the FAA Remote Pilot Certificate under Part 107 regulations. This essential credential verifies your understanding of drone safety, airspace rules, and operational procedures, giving you the legal authority to conduct commercial… Continue reading “The Complete Guide to Getting Your Remote Pilot Certificate for Commercial Drones”
Types of Transmission Line Structures and Their Components The United States power grid is made up of more than half a million miles of transmission lines, delivering power to more than 160 million customers, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Understanding the basics of transmission systems is… Continue reading “Types of Transmission Line Structures and Their Components”
What if everybody on your team mastered construction drawings? Construction drawings are the language we use to build and power the world. Engineers and architects get lots of training, but everybody else learns on the fly. Have you been trained in how to read or create construction drawings? If… Continue reading “What if everybody on your team mastered construction drawings?”
Now Offering the NABCEP Solar PV Associate Prep Course in Spanish HeatSpring and Sean White are excited to announce the launch of our NABCEP PV Associate Prep course in Spanish. With over 559 million Spanish speakers worldwide and 13% of the U.S. population speaking Spanish at home, this update allows us… Continue reading “Now Offering the NABCEP Solar PV Associate Prep Course in Spanish”
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 is the Architectural Solar Continuum? The Architectural Solar Continuum is a framework for understanding and implementing solar energy in architectural design. This approach categorizes projects across 6 levels of solar integration, each impacting coordination requirements, costs, and energy density. The continuum provides architects, designers, and… Continue reading “What is the Architectural Solar Continuum?”