Welcome to the Midwest Solar Training Network

Midwest Solar Training Network (MSTN) is a group of technical and community colleges, non-profit organizations, universities, and industry partners who are working together to build solar training capacity in the Midwest. We are a U.S. Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) funded five-year effort working in a seven state region that includes: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Our goal is to accelerate market adoption of solar technologies by ensuring that high-quality installations are standard and to create sustainable jobs within the solar installation industry. The Midwest Solar Training Network offers solar instructor training and other professional development opportunities. It is one of nine in the Solar Instructor Training Network.

The MSTN Provides the Following Resources:

• Instructor Resources

• Training Opportunities

• Credentialling Opportunities for Instructors and Programs

• Workforce Resources

• Professional Development and Networking Opportunities

Featured Training:

PVO 701.01 Photovoltaic Technology Instructor Institute
Tuesdays, May 21-June 11: online portion
June 17-20: onsite activities, Wisconsin Rapids, WI

This online/hands-on hybrid course is designed for instructors who will be offering photovoltaic technical training at their organization. Participants will advance through lecture, hands-on installation, and design work. This is a 40-hour course consisting of eight hours of online lecture materials in advance of four days of hands-on activities working on PV systems in Central Wisconsin.

PVO 701.01 covers the following course content:
 
Basic Photovoltaics: Participants will learn how photovoltaic (PV) systems work, diagram the four PV system types, describe and identify components, understand the best application and limitations of each system type, define the solar window, make energy efficiency recommendations, estimate system loads, and understand the basics of PV site assessment.

Intermediate Photovoltaics: Participants will learn system sizing, system layout, battery connections, safety, and basic installation techniques. Participants will size, connect, and test a small stand-alone system and a utility interactive system.

PV Design and Installation Lab: Participants will learn how to correctly design, size, and select PV system components and identify and interpret National Electric Code (NEC) articles that pertain to the installations. While working on a training roof, participants will learn safety procedures, system design and layout, component selection and specification, electrical and mechanical integration techniques, and troubleshooting.

For more information or to register, please visit the training page.

Midwest Provider of Solar Instructor Training:

	The DOE SunShot Initiative is a collaborative national effort to make solar energy cost-cometivie with other forms of electricity by the end of the decade. Please visit the SunShot website for more information.
	The Midwest Solar Training Network is led by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA). The MREA, with more than twenty years of experience in the solar training field, will work with partners throughout the region to share our models, materials, and expertise. For more information about the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, visit www.midwestrenew.org
	The U.S. Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) Solar Instructor Training Network was created to improve the quality and accessibility of solar installation training and expand the nation’s trained solar workforce. U.S. DOE funded a National Administrator and nine Regional Training Providers to train instructors, develop curricula and standardize local training efforts. For more information, visit the DOE Solar Instructor Training Network.

Find a Midwest Solar Training Network Partnering Institution in Your State

Red Markers - Current Partnering Institutions

Blue Markers - Past Partnering Institutions

 
View MSTN Partnering Institutions Map in a larger map