The Australian Solar Energy Society (AuSES) has launched phase one of the Solar PV best practice program, which is designed to bring a new level of professional training and standards to the fast-growing national solar rooftop industry.
The program is the result of feedback from solar installers, trainers and others in the industry who have recognised a need for an ongoing dialogue and platform to raise and maintain the quality standards being applied.
It is hosted online and designed for installers to complete the material in their own time.
“We launched the program in the middle of 2011and it is still being developed,” Solar PV best practice program development manager Glen Morris says.
“The intention is to provide industry training for solar PV installers, solar PV designers and also the people who sell systems as they often miss out on training.”
For installers, the program covers topics such as the earthing of PV modules, correct wiring of polarised DC circuit breakers and understanding how to calculate the performance yield of a PV system.
Once you have achieved 100% on the multiple answer test online, you will be issued with a unique identity card, including your company logo and your photo, as well as a licence to use the Solar PV Best Practice Quality Assurance Tick to promote your business. A serious compliance program accompanies this scheme, where work is inspected on a random basis from time to time.
AuSES has also started to run professional development days around the country, including Canberra, Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth. The events so far have seen a turnout of over 400 people and work on an introductory level, providing information on current issues that are prevalent in the industry.
