About this course
This course was created and delivered by Kerim Baran, the founder of SolarAcademy. Kerim was co-founder at CivicSolar - a distribution business acquired by CED Greentech in 2019 - but he's built and sold a number of solar and technology businesses.
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Course outline
8 modules • 42 assignments • 9:23 hours of video lectures
Welcome • 5 assignments
Orientation Materials
- Meet Kerim Baran (07:40 minutes) Preview
- Kerim's Course Intro (03:30 minutes)
- Set up email notifications and your student profile
- What are you working on?
- Introduce yourself on the discussion board
Module 1 • 3 assignments
Fundamentals and Overview of Solar Energy Systems
- State of Solar in the US & the World (01:02:48 hours)
- History of Photovoltaic Solar (47:50 minutes)
- Current Trends in Solar Energy (Innovations & Economics) (58:36 minutes)
Module 2 • 6 assignments
Understanding and Communicating the Economics of Solar (for Residential and Commercial Solar Systems)
- IBIS World Report: Solar Panel Installation (February 2022) (.pdf)
- Optional Tool - National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Data
- Solar Math (10:22 minutes)
- Line-by-Line Walkthrough of a 10kw Solar PV Quote (23:18 minutes)
- Estimating the Solar Resource Using PVWatts (10:49 minutes)
- Estimating Basic Economic Feasibility of PV Projects (11:52 minutes)
Module 3 • 6 assignments
Key Functions of a Solar Installation Business: Marketing, Sales, Design, Financing
- Marketing Campaigns & Creative Content for Solar Companies (01:01:40 hours)
- Interactive tool for developing creative content (.pdf)
- 5 Minute Solar Design Tutorial from Helioscope (04:58 minutes)
- Project Economics & Milestones - Example (11:20 minutes)
- SPREADSHEET - Project Economics & Milestones
- Optional examples: 4 residential solar quotes in Michigan (.pdf)
Module 4 • 5 assignments
Key Functions of a Solar Installation Business: Permitting, Procurement, Installation, O&M
- Key Functions of a Solar Installation Business: Permitting, Procurement, Installation, O&M
- Where to Buy Solar Panels & Equipment (11:42 minutes)
- Permitting - with Patrick McCabe from GreenLancer (22:19 minutes)
- Operations & Maintenance - with Greg Sellers from Stable Solar (31:44 minutes)
- Kerim's Advice: Residential O&M is overlooked and underserved (02:10 minutes)
Module 5 • 7 assignments
Legal Templates & Startup Tools
- What's it (Really) Like to Work at a Startup? (12:03 minutes)
- Startup Law 101 (.pdf)
- Legal Basics for Solar Startups (04:36 minutes)
- Forming the Company (.docx)
- Sample Operating Agreement (.docx)
- Employee Ownership Toolkit (.pdf)
- Office hours recording: Palmetto's model for turning electricians into solar entrepreneurs (39:08 minutes)
Module 6 • 5 assignments
Stories from Solar Entrepreneurs
- Will Thompson, Nexamp (13:41 minutes)
- Three Solar Startups Everybody Should Know About (04:19 minutes)
- August 2022 Live Class Recording - Adam Gerza on the Inflation Reduction Act (39:51 minutes)
- Overview of Climate Tech Startups (39:40 minutes)
- Legends Solar - Conversation with the founders (27:39 minutes)
Conclusion • 5 assignments
Feedback and Additional Resources
- Inspiration: Tony Seba's "Clean Disruption" Talk
- 1 Year of Access to Course Materials
- Feedback: 2-minute Exit Survey
- Consider Joining as a HeatSpring Member
- Certificate of Completion: Request a Certificate
Instructor
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Kerim Baran
Founder, SolarAcademy & CivicSolarKerim Baran is the founder of SolarAcademy. Kerim is also a serial entrepreneur, investor, and company builder who has built and sold leading technology and solar businesses. Prior to founding SolarAcademy, Kerim co-founded, helped build and sell CivicSolar.com, a leading solar equipment distributor which helped thousands of solar companies get started in solar... Learn more