Education in solar energy is essential for technicians, architects, and engineers. Solar energy is a significant source of renewable energy, used for heating buildings and generating electricity. Colleges and technical schools offer solar energy courses, and universities have specialized programs. Job opportunities include solar energy technician, engineer, and project manager, requiring different levels of education and experience.
Getting an education in solar energy is good for a number of different jobs. Many technicians, such as plumbers, carpenters and sheet metal workers need this type of training to install and repair solar energy systems. Architects and engineers who design solar-powered buildings and machinery also need special education in this area.
Solar energy accounts for a large percentage of all renewable energy on Earth. This resource is exploited directly by the light and heat emanating from the sun. Although people have used it for thousands of years in agriculture, its potential as a fuel source has only been explored in modern times.
Buildings can use solar energy for heating. Homes, greenhouses and swimming pools can all be heated through a properly installed solar energy system. This energy can also be converted into electricity in solar power plants, which use the heat to power generators.
An education in solar energy can be obtained in many colleges and technical schools. Community colleges that offer such classes in an associate degree can provide the proper training in two years. Courses typically include classes in math, science, solar architecture, and thermal systems.
Courses in engineering or earth sciences, such as geology or oceanography, can also be used to further one’s solar energy education. Today, an increasing number of universities have renewable energy departments with highly specialized solar energy programs. Apprenticeship programs, both at the university and within trade associations, often allow students to gain hands-on experience in this field.
As the demand for this type of renewable energy increases, so do the job opportunities for people with an education in solar energy. Workers with only a high school education who want to work in the industry sometimes start out as field fitters. This job includes electrical installation, wiring, and building solar power systems.
A solar energy education can pave the way for work as a solar energy technician, engineer, or project manager. These positions often require a college degree, but a field installer can work their way up to becoming a technician after gaining the appropriate experience. An installer often advances to the position of solar energy technician, which requires him to inspect and repair solar energy systems.
While some positions may be obtained through work experience, an engineering degree is usually required to become a solar energy engineer. This type of engineer works on the design and development of various solar energy projects. Another job in this field that requires university studies is that of project manager. This position requires the manager to have experience in all aspects of solar energy operations so that he can oversee operations.
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