Solar energy technology programs prepare people to help engineers and others who design and build solar-powered systems. Students learn how energy is stored and transferred. They also learn to inspect and maintain solar energy systems.
Both sunshine and rain fall on us from above. Rivers and underground aquifers collect the rain, so it is available in bulk for us to use. But the energy of the sun, although immense, is scattered too widely. If we want to use the heat of sunshine in winter or convert the energy of sunlight into electricity, we need to use a lot of ingenuity. Engineering teams are working on such solutions at universities and at government research labs.
As a technician, you can be an important member of such a team. A lot of research is being done on photovoltaics - getting electricity from sunlight. Creating a solar cell often is a complex process of depositing a layer of material only a few molecules thick. Your job may be to test various ways to construct a vacuum chamber where the operation can take place. You may collect data to determine the effect of different temperatures on the outcome. You may use a computer-aided drafting program to represent a design concept. You may write a report on the results of an experiment.
Other research is being done on solar heating. As a technician, you may collect data on the heat-absorbent properties of various coatings. You may run tests on the efficiency of a certain pump for circulating hot water. You may translate an engineer's design for a home heating system into specifications that a builder can follow. You may estimate the costs of the materials.
This technology is not just a curiosity of the lab, however. It is being used in homes and commercial settings - and technicians are needed to install and maintain it. You may work with a heating contractor to retrofit a solar system to an existing hot-air system. You may work for an electrical contractor to install a photovoltaic system at a forest ranger's remote cabin.
At present there are only a handful of colleges in North America that offer a major in this field, but you can learn the concepts and skills by combining various learning opportunities. It is useful to have a good background in science and math. This is especially true if you intend to work in research and development. A program in one of the engineering fields or technologies, such as electrical or chemical, is a good place to start. At some colleges you can take a course in solar power as part of such a program. If no such course is offered, you may be able to find one at another college, or as a workshop offered by an alternative-energy organization. Some of the institutes doing solar-power research offer internships that allow you to learn as you work as a research assistant.
If you want to install and maintain solar heating systems, a good start is a two-year degree or certificate in heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration technology. This teaches you the principles of conventional heating systems. You learn how to size a system based on the client's needs. You learn about the duct and hot water systems that distribute heat. You learn how the system's electrical components work. Then, you can attend workshops at an alternative-energy organization to learn about solar collectors, or you can learn on the job from a heating contractor who specializes in solar.