First Intro to Photovoltaics course completed at Hawaiʻi Community College

Office of Continuing Education and Training pleased with success

Hawaiʻi Community College
Contact:
Sandra L. Alapai, (808) 933-2342
Office Assistant, Community Liaison & Recruitment Office
Posted: Aug 16, 2011

Students learning about solar at Hawaii Community College Introduction to Photovoltaics course
Students learning about solar at Hawaii Community College Introduction to Photovoltaics course
 
The first Introduction to Photovoltaics (Intro to PV) course through the Hawaiʻi Community College, Office of Continuing Education and Training came to a close on August 6. Designed for individuals wanting to enter the solar field, the students attended a rigorous 40-hour course for five Saturdays from July 9 though August 6 at Kealakehe High School.
 
After successful course completion students are eligible to test for the nationally recognized North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) Entry Level Certification. This certification is a way for candidates to demonstrate that they have achieved a basic knowledge of the fundamental principles of the application, design, installation and operation of PV systems. This course offering will be ongoing and the next Intro to PV course is tentatively scheduled to begin on October 8 at the Hawai‘i CC Manono campus.
  
The Office of Continuing Education and Training (OCET) is grateful for the efforts and cooperation of many programs and individuals that made the Intro to PV course possible:
  • The Pacific Center for Advanced Technology Training (PCATT) at Honolulu Community College provided instructor training and equipment for the course.
  • Wilton Watanabe from Apprenticeship and Rex Ribao from the Construction Academy along with their students built photovoltaic mock-up structures at Kealakehe High School and the Hawai‘i CC Manono campus.
  • Principal Wilfred Murakami allowed a PV mock-up structure to be located at Kealakehe High School.
  • Electrical Installation & Maintenance Instructor Renee Dela Cruz built a mounting platform for the PV panels.
  • UH Center, West Hawai‘i will allow OCET to conduct the NABCEP Exam at their facility to serve the students from West Hawai‘i.
  • The State Energy Sector Partnership grant funded tuition for many students through the Department of Labor, Workforce Development Division and Hawai‘i CC.
For information regarding this or other green course offerings contact: Tony Kent, Office of Continuing Education and Training, Rural Development Project, (808) 974-7531 or Akent47@hawaii.edu.