What Solar Energy International does

Solar Energy International (SEI), founded in 1991 and headquartered in Paonia, Colorado, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization that delivers technical training for solar and renewable energy careers. The organization is regulated by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, Division of Private Occupational Schools, and is an approved NABCEP training provider. Over 31 years, SEI has trained more than 100,000 people across 100+ countries, with industry estimates attributing roughly 10% of the global solar workforce to SEI alumni and 31,000+ solar installations to graduates of its programs.

SEI's core product is the SEI Solar Professionals Certificate Program, comprising five tracks: Residential & Commercial Photovoltaic Systems, Battery-Based Photovoltaic Systems, Solar Business & Technical Sales, Developing World Applications, and Solar Professionals Trainer. Training is delivered through multiple formats—online self-paced courses, on-demand modules, hands-on lab training at the Paonia campus and the SEI-CFIA Training Center in Costa Rica, classroom learning, and live webinars—and is supported by published textbooks including the Solar Electric Handbook (English) and Fotovoltaica: Manual de diseño e instalación (Spanish). The organization also offers NABCEP certification prep, a Career Pre-Apprenticeship Plus Pathway, and free introductory RE100 content.

Revenue is generated through five streams: training course fees (individual and group), publications and materials sales (textbooks, ebooks), contract training for EPCs, manufacturers, and government agencies, curriculum licensing to other institutions, and sponsorship (instructor training, media, scholarships, facility naming, product integration). Customers include individuals seeking solar careers, enterprise workforce programs (named logos include Duke Energy, SMA, Generac, Unisource), and international learners, particularly in Latin America. The organization distributes through its own online campus, physical training facilities, contract sales, and a curriculum licensing channel, and maintains a 65+ partner ecosystem including Fluke, Trina Solar, SolarEdge, Enphase, First Solar, and Schneider Electric.

Name

Solar Energy International

Legal name

Solar Energy International

Website

https://solarenergy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Solar Energy International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991 that delivers technical solar and renewable energy training to individuals and enterprise workforces across 100+ countries through online, in-person, and licensed curriculum channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Renewable Energy Education and Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar Workforce, Training & Safety Services (Installer Training, Certification, EHS) (EUAMABAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Renewable Energy Electrical (Solar PV, Wind, Storage) (EDAOABAI), Solar Quality, Testing, Certification & Standards (Lab Testing, Inspections, Compliance) (EUAMABAN)

Keywords

• Solar energy training
• Renewable energy education
• Photovoltaic certification
• NABCEP exam preparation
• Curriculum licensing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Paonia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Training Course Fees: Revenue from online courses, hands-on lab training, classroom learning, and on-demand training programs. Course fees vary by format and duration, with group discounts available for organizations.
2. Publications and Materials Sales: Sale of textbooks, ebooks, and educational materials including the Solar Electric Handbook ($129 physical, $60 ebook), Spanish Fotovoltaica manual ($45), and course materials.
3. Contract Training for Businesses: Custom instructor-led sessions and hands-on workshops tailored to organizational goals for EPCs, manufacturers, and government agencies. Revenue from group-discounted training programs.
4. Curriculum Licensing: Licensing of SEI's curriculum to other schools and organizations to deliver solar training programs. Enables expansion of SEI's educational reach globally.
5. Sponsorship and Program Support: Sponsorship revenue through Instructor Training Sponsorship, Sponsored Media, Scholarship Sponsorship, Facility Naming Rights, and Product Integration in training labs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Solar Energy International (SEI) delivers technical training and professional certification in solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, and micro hydro systems. Its core offerings include the SEI Solar Professionals Certificate Program (with five specialized tracks), NABCEP certification preparation, online and on-demand courses, hands-on lab training at physical campuses, classroom learning, live webinars, and free introductory courses. SEI also provides contract training for businesses and EPCs plus curriculum licensing to schools and organizations.

Product overview

Solar Energy International (SEI) offers a comprehensive portfolio of solar energy training products and services built around a multi-format learning approach. The core offering centers on the SEI Certificate Program with five specialized tracks: Residential & Commercial Photovoltaic Systems, Battery-Based Photovoltaic Systems, Solar Business & Technical Sales, Developing World Applications, and Solar Professionals Trainer. These are delivered through multiple formats—Online Courses (on-demand), Hands-on Lab Training (at facilities in Colorado, Costa Rica, and Middle East), Classroom Learning, and Live Webinars. Supporting products include NABCEP Certification exam prep, the Career Pre-Apprenticeship Plus Pathway, and free RE100 introductory courses. SEI also provides B2B services through Contract Training (custom group training) and Curriculum Licensing programs. The Johnny Weiss Solar Energy For All Initiative represents a scholarship and outreach program. Published textbooks (Solar Electric Handbook in English/Spanish) complement the training offerings. The company operates from headquarters in Paonia, Colorado with international training centers in Costa Rica and the Middle East.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SEI Solar Professionals Certificate Program Comprehensive certificate program for individuals pursuing solar careers, with five specialized tracks covering residential and commercial PV system design and installation, battery-based systems, solar business and technical sales, developing world applications, and trainer certification.
• Online Solar Training Courses Self-paced online courses covering PV fundamentals, system design, installation, and operations & maintenance, delivered through the SEI Online Campus platform for individual learners globally.
• Hands-on Lab Training In-person practical training on real-world solar PV installations at SEI training facilities, including the Paonia Colorado campus and the Costa Rica Training Center, covering system installation, commissioning, and maintenance.
• Classroom Learning In-person classroom-format solar training courses delivered at SEI training campuses covering PV system design, installation, and related technical subjects.
• On-Demand Training On-demand asynchronous training modules for working solar professionals, including NABCEP Continuing Education Training courses.
• NABCEP Certification Preparation Training programs including the PV Associate Exam Prep Package and continuing education courses designed to prepare candidates for NABCEP certification exams.
• Career Pre-Apprenticeship Plus Pathway Career pathway program that helps individuals without prior solar experience enter the solar installation workforce through structured pre-apprenticeship training.
• Contract Training for Organizations Custom instructor-led training programs, hands-on workshops, and group-discounted online courses delivered to organizations including EPCs, manufacturers, and government agencies at SEI facilities or customer locations.
• Curriculum Licensing Program Licensing of SEI's solar training curriculum to schools, training organizations, and institutions worldwide so they can deliver SEI-aligned solar training programs.
• Introduction to O&M for Large-Scale PV Systems Online course introducing entry-level technicians and employers to operations and maintenance for large-scale photovoltaic systems, addressing workforce demand in aging solar infrastructure.
• Free Learning / RE100 Course Free introductory online courses in renewable energy including the RE100 course for beginners exploring the solar industry.
• Solar Electric Handbook Comprehensive SEI textbook covering photovoltaic fundamentals and applications, sold in physical ($129) and eBook ($60) editions.
• Fotovoltaica: Manual de diseño e instalación (Photovoltaics: Design and Installation Manual) Spanish-language SEI textbook for photovoltaic system design and installation, sold in print ($45) and eBook ($25) editions.
• Live Webinars Live, instructor-led webinar sessions covering solar energy topics offered as one of SEI's training delivery formats.
• Solar Safety Training Package Bundled package of safety-focused solar training courses sold through the SEI online shop.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100,000+ people trained in 100+ countries since 1991
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• NextpowerflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2025Nextpower has partnered with Solar Energy International to support building the solar workforce. This partnership focuses on workforce development initiatives to train technicians and professionals for the solar industry.
• CIEMI (College of Engineers and Electricians, Mechanics and Industrialists of Costa Rica)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEI offers technical face-to-face solar energy trainings in Costa Rica with help from CIEMI. Partnership enables delivery of hands-on training programs at the SEI-CFIA Training Center location in Costa Rica.
• CFIA (Federated College of Engineers and Architects of Costa Rica)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEI-CFIA Training Center operates in partnership with CFIA, providing training spaces, student facilities, and regional support for solar training in Costa Rica.
• NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEI provides NABCEP certification training and exam preparation. SEI is an approved NABCEP training provider offering continuing education and PV Associate Exam Prep Packages.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Skillsoft: Skillsoft is a large-scale corporate digital learning platform offering professional development across many verticals. While not solar-specific, it represents the broader incumbent workforce training ecosystem that SEI's professional training competes against for B2B training budgets.
• Coursera: Coursera is a leading online education platform offering courses and credentials from universities and companies, including renewable energy content. It competes for the same self-paced online learner and B2B upskilling budgets as SEI, albeit across a much broader catalog.

Regional players

• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): GIZ runs renewable energy workforce development programs internationally, including in developing markets where SEI also operates (Latin America, Africa, Middle East). Its training and capacity-building programs overlap with SEI's Developing World Applications curriculum and international training centers.
• Solar Energy UK: Solar Energy UK is the trade association for the UK solar industry and runs workforce training and certification programs for British installers. It is comparable to SEI in mission and training focus but operates regionally in the United Kingdom rather than competing in SEI's primary geographies.

Others

• Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC): IREC works on clean energy workforce development, credentialing frameworks, and regulatory standards for training programs. It shapes the policy and quality infrastructure for solar training providers like SEI and is a natural ecosystem peer.
• NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners): NABCEP sets the industry's leading professional certification standard for solar and renewable energy practitioners. While NABCEP is the certifying body rather than a training provider, it is a critical ecosystem participant that defines the credential pipeline SEI's curriculum is aligned to.

Direct peers

• Everblue Training Institute: Everblue provides workforce training and certification prep for solar, energy efficiency, and green building careers. Its curriculum, NABCEP-aligned offerings, and contractor-focused delivery make it a close direct competitor in the same customer segments as SEI.
• CleanEdison: CleanEdison offers training and certification in solar, building performance, energy auditing, and weatherization. Its B2B and B2C delivery model, NABCEP-aligned curriculum, and focus on workforce credentials mirror SEI's value proposition.
• Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA): MREA is a nonprofit that promotes renewable energy through education, including solar PV and small wind training. It operates its own installer courses and workshops, overlapping with SEI's hands-on lab and classroom model for residential and small commercial solar.
• HeatSpring (formerly HeatSpring Learning): HeatSpring is an online learning platform focused on solar, heat pump, building performance, and renewable energy training for professionals. It directly overlaps with SEI in online solar PV course delivery, NABCEP prep, and continuing education for installers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/solarenergyintl
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/solarenergyvideo
• Facebookfacebook.com/70295547361
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/solar-energy-international-sei-

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Solar Energy International