Grant: Partnership Workshops Grants - Colleges

Five Canadian colleges and a number of industry partners involved in commercial activities and appliedresearch in the renewable energy sector, speci?cally focused on solar technologies, will be conducting atwo-day meeting to discuss areas of similar interest and the potential for new collaborative efforts. The collegeinvolved include Medicine Hat College, St. Lawrence College, Red River College, Camosun College, andNova Scotia Community College. The workshop will be held in September 2013 at MHC in Medicine Hat,Alberta. Participating Canadian companies include Terralta, Quick-Way, Sky?re Energy, and ConservalEngineering with more companies involved in solar energy engineering, design, installation, and performanceveri?cation to be added. As part of our meeting, a summary of each company's and institution's involvement insolar energy and applied research will be presented. Current trends and best practices in design, installation,and operation of solar systems will be reported by both the industry and PSIs. The establishment of a ""Made inCanada"" certi?cation strategy for solar installers that is industry-driven and corresponds to currentapprenticeship models will be a central element of the workshop. Curriculum and research needs fordevelopment of solar HQPs and ways to move solar thermal and photovoltaic technologies forward in Canadawill be identi?ed. The opportunities for new applied research collaboration among the participating industryand PSIs will be explored. Attendees will also tour MHC's solar photovoltaic and solar thermal installations. Itis expected that new partnerships involving companies and institutions in applied research and curriculumsharing will be initiated. One member from each participating PSI and solar organization will have asubsequent meeting to draft a proposal for new collaborative applied research into solar technologies.