![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/solar-1.jpg\" "\\"solar-1\\"")
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With a curriculum already developed and equipment in place, The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) is prepared to go full-force with its solar training program which will meet the needs of an emerging clean energy industry and help to train a skilled workforce.<\/p>\n
Initially, the one-year program was offered during the 2009-2010 academic year, focusing mainly on theory with minimal practicum. Now that practical component to augment the theory is expected to come on stream in 2014. Three pieces of solar equipment have been purchased and Mechanical Engineer from Hampden Engineering Corporation in Massachusetts, Bryan Methe, was recently in The Bahamas to train BTVI instructors who will be conducting the program.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/solar2-250x187.jpg\" "\\"solar2\\"")
\u201cGreen energy is growing and it teaches us to be more environmentally responsible.\u00a0 This training is invaluable. It\u2019s about cleaner energy,\u201d said Mr. Methe who has also conducted training in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Australia and throughout the United States (U.S).<\/p>\n
The equipment arrived at the BTVI campus unwired, and purposely so that students could learn and practice the wiring, operation and layout.\u00a0 They will become knowledgeable on where to place solar panels, the amount of sunlight needed to power them and differentiate between using them as stand-along energy sources and tying them to an electrical grid.<\/p>\n
BTVI\u2019s Dean of Construction Trades, Alexander Darville noted the benefits of solar energy; hence, the importance of the program: \u201cWith the cost of fuel, what the fuel is doing to the environment and the availability of sun, solar is the way to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr. Darville, however noted that hampering the industry is the lack of legislation for net metering.\u00a0 \u201cConsumers should get incentives for installing solar systems,\u201d he suggested. This is the case in the U.S where the government offers\u00a0\u00a0 financial incentives to encourage businesses to invest in renewable energy.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, solar energy instructor, Wellington Bain acknowledged that although the equipment is expensive, home owners should consider investing in solar equipment.\u00a0 \u201cThe world is becoming solarized.\u00a0 It is growing towards more energy efficiency.\u00a0 We have to run with it,\u201d he emphasized.<\/p>\n
The Bahamas Technical & Vocational Institute<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Cations: SOLAR PANEL – Mechanical Engineer from Hampden Engineering Corporation in Massachusetts, Bryan Methe (r), discussing the solar panel with BTVI instructor and head of Technical Services, Wellington Bain (l).<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n TRAINING THE TRAINERS \u2013 BTVI is preparing to revive its solar program with the added emphasis of the practical component.\u00a0 Hampden Engineering Corporation in Massachusetts was responsible for the technical training of BTVI\u2019s Photovoltaic Installation Trainer equipment.\u00a0 Shown here from left to right are: Electrical instructor, Gregory Curry; Hampden\u2019s Mechanical Engineer, Bryan Methe; solar instructor and Head of Technical Services, Wellington Bain along with Dean of Construction Trades and solar instructor, Alexander Darville.<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" With a curriculum already developed and equipment in place, The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) is prepared to go full-force with its solar training program…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_10223285771444175_51037792744":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[491],"tags":[1782,21],"class_list":["post-41597","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-education","tag-careers","tag-educational"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41597","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41597"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41597\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41597"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41597"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bahamasb2b.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41597"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}