Starting and Growing a Solar Business

Thursdays April 22 and April 29
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

For Membership Information Click Here

Room (April 22 & 29): Century East Campus Room 2301E

Century College and the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society have co-developed, this two-evening introductory course for people interested in learning the basics of starting and growing a solar energy business.  Solar thermal or photovoltaic installation businesses are just one choice for starting a solar energy business; while these business options will be reviewed, there are many other creative possibilities for a solar entrepreneur, such as solar energy product manufacturing and any related business along the supply chain. The solar photovoltaic (PV) industry alone has the potential to create significant positive global economic and environmental impact.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) says that the solar photovoltaic industry has been growing by 35% or more per year since 2000. This sustained growth exceeds that of the semiconductor industry. According to the U.S. PV Industry Roadmap, solar electricity will continue this trend and become competitive by some time in 2010 for most U.S. domestic markets. By 2020, solar could provide 15% of the U.S. electric generation capacity, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). SEIA estimates that by 2020 more than 880,000 new solar jobs would be created in the U.S. while reducing total energy emissions by 10%.

To explore some of these business opportunities in the solar energy industry, the course will present, business planning tools, such as pre-organizational planning for business entity choices, business environmental analysis, strategic business planning, and finance, operations, and marketing plans. Skills you will learn in the course will include planning for a sustainable competitive advantage, writing a preliminary business plan, and the course will also include management and leadership theory.  Resources provided in the course will include handouts of business, finance, and marketing plan outlines and examples, reference lists and sources of additional information for starting a solar business.

Instructor: The course instructor is Jan Hubbard. Jan has over 30 years of experience working in the electronic communications manufacturing industry where he filled various business development, marketing, sales management, operations, and cross-functional leadership roles. He has an MBA from St. Cloud State University, a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Minnesota, an electronics diploma from Anoka Technical College, and a graduate certificate in Public Relations from the University of St. Thomas. Jan is a founding Board member and the Treasurer for the Minnesota Solar Energy Industry Association (MnSEIA). Jan has also been a Board member for the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES) since 2008. He has completed MRES/MREA training in solar thermal, solar PV, and wind energy technologies. He believes that renewable energy is important for environmental sustainability and that solar energy is important to develop further, because it has the potential to be less expensive than coal, and solar energy is cleaner and one of the most sustainable and abundant renewable energy sources. You may contact the instructor with questions at: JanH@mnRenewables.org

Co-instructor: Ralph Jacobson will be the co-instructor in the course. Ralph is the founder and CEO of Innovative Power Systems. He is a certified solar installer and energy auditor with over 25 years experience as a solar installation contractor. Ralph is North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) certified and has a B.S. in Materials Engineering from the University of Minnesota. Ralph is an MRES Board member and the President and a Board member for the Minnesota Solar Energy Industry Association (MnSEIA).

Course ID: 002535

You will receive 0.72 CEU's for attending.

Register for this class by calling Century College CECT: Phone: (651) 779-3341. To get the MRES discount, you will need to register by telephone.

You may also register online on the Continuing Education and Customized Training (CECT) website, by clicking here.