NEW MEXICO – Santa Fe
Santa Fe Community College
6401 Richards Ave.
Santa Fe, NM 87508
Contact Director of Workforce Development: Lou Schreiber
e-mail: lschreiber@sfccnm.edu
Tele. (505) 428-1617

Santa Fe Community College also offers a 23 credit hour Solar Energy Certificate Series, the outline of which is given below. The completion of ENVR 221 allows a student to take the NABCEP Entry Level Certificate of Knowledge Exam
This certificate provides students with the skills required to design, plan, install and troubleshoot photovoltaic solar electric energy systems. The certificate will also include a foundation in AC and DC electricity, grid tie applications, and an introduction to solar thermal systems. Students will acquire skills needed to seek entry- and mid-level positions within the solar industry or apply solar energy skills and knowledge to the green building sector.

Core Requirements (23 credit hours)
ENVR 112 Introduction to Sustainable Energy Technologies
ENVR 113 Instrumentation and Controls Lab
ENVR 122 Energy Efficiency and Management
ENVR 114L Electrical and Mechanical Fundamentals
ENVR 221 Design and Installation of Photovoltaic SystemsI NABCEP Entry Level Certificate of Knowledge Exam offered after completion of this course
ENVR 222 Design and Installation of Photovoltaic Systems II
ENVR 225 Design and Installation of Solar Hot Water Systems
ENVR 227 National Electrical Code

Non-credit Solar Theory and Installation Series: (4-day series – NABCEP approved)
* Introduction to Renewable Electrical Energy Systems: Topics include: renewable energy systems; solar/PV; wind and water systems; existing technologies; history; cost per watt-hr vs. conventional power; application; electrical energy production; wind farms; solar electrical power plants; work possibilities in the field.
Date: May 2, 2009

* Theory and Application of Solar/Wind Technology: Topics include: electrical theory; AC/DC; volts; amps; amp-hours; types and design of PV systems; stand-alone systems; grid-tie systems with batteries; components; solar panels; wind generators; water generators; racks; tracking devices; charge controllers; inverters; net metering. Date: May 9, 2009

* System Installation and Troubleshooting: Topics include: demand and load calculations; system sizing and layout; choosing components by size and brand; National Electrical Code (NEC); local and state code; cable and conductor types and identification; wire sizing formulas; assembly of a simple generic PV system from a solar panel to charge controller to battery bank and inverter with appropriate disconnects; system failure troubleshooting; and a tour of the 800-watt grid-tied PV system at SFCC. Date: May 16, 2009

System Demonstration and Analysis
Date: May 23, 2009
Field Trip to several different types of Photovoltaic installations for demonstration and analysis of different systems.