Powering a Bright Future for Clean Energy Professionals
The clean energy transition is charging forward, and we need a skilled green workforce to install solar, EV charging stations, battery storage and generally electrify our lives. Sphere is lighting the way for people of all backgrounds to get trained up in the fundamentals from the sun to the grid. This year our high-voltage interns learned to identify the parts of a solar energy system and describe their functions. After gaining an understanding of how clean energy works, they quickly put their knowledge to action at community events, performing live demonstrations with solar panels. As they improved their professional communication skills, a couple of the interns applied for jobs – polishing their resumes, writing cover letters, prepping for interviews – and landed positions as solar apprentices.
Hands-On Electricity Fundamentals
With several aspiring electricians in the group, we dove into volts, watts, and other electricity concepts. The interns read circuit diagrams, wired up working models and used voltmeters to test the circuits, troubleshooting when something didn’t work right. This kind of problem-solving is exactly what electricians and clean energy technicians do on the job — whether they’re installing EV chargers, solar panels, power outlets, or rewiring a home. The interns also got hands-on experience with basic wiring techniques using electrical tools. Mateo Arbelaez Arizala, a former intern turned excellent instructor, showed the group how to cut and strip wires. Using both solid core and stranded wire, they practiced soldering, crimping, and twisting wires together with wire nuts to make connections.
Solar in the Real World
A unique aspect of the program is the ability to see actual clean energy systems firsthand – generating electricity directly from the sun. Taking their knowledge of electrical concepts from a classroom lab setting, the interns toured a number of project sites including the largest solar array on a brewery in Washington state. Built by Sphere in 2018, the system has paid for itself in electricity savings. Cheers to the Hellbent Brewing Company for making beer powered by the sun!
The largest commercial site the group visited was at South Seattle College, a 117 KW ballasted, string inverter system that produces enough electricity to power over 10 homes every year. Before visiting, the interns learned how to interpret an electrical single-line diagram (SLD) – the blueprint for solar energy systems. Once onsite, they were able to get up close and compare the diagram with the actual system, enhancing their understanding of how the panels, inverters, combiner box, disconnect, energy meter and other components are integrated to produce emission-free electricity.
Jobsite Safety
What is the number one cause of death of construction workers? Falling, followed by electrocution. Solar professionals spend a lot of time on a roof near wires so the interns learned about potential hazards on the jobsite and how to work safely using personal protective equipment (PPE) and fall protection such as a harness. They also discovered that this career path is better suited to people who aren’t afraid of heights.
Professional Networking
Another notable aspect of the internship is the opportunity to put the clean energy concepts learned into practice. Sphere interns attended and presented at job fairs, discovering access points to careers they hadn’t known were a possibility for them. They also gained confidence through conversations with industry professionals from the City of Seattle, Puget Sound Energy, skilled trades unions among other employers – receiving insider tips and professional guidance.
Intrigued by how electricians shape conduit to fit along walls and corners, the interns particularly enjoyed a hands-on lesson on how to use a conduit bender during a tour of the Puget Sound Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee School (PSE JATC).
Building the Sunshine Circuit
How do you actually install a solar panel? After learning about the components and what they do, Mateo guided the interns through the process of assembling a solar attachment, using caulk to secure the flashing to the roof shingles. It was great to see them naturally collaborate as a team, helping each other and maintaining a supportive work environment.
They also participated in the construction of a solar/battery aquaponics system at Motherland Farms in collaboration with our partner Adam Powers, a solar microgrid specialist. Now the sun powers a pump that delivers fish poop, a potent fertilizer, to the crops – a sustainable and resilient approach to farming.
Watt’s Next
As we continue the transition to a more sustainable future, education and workforce development will play a crucial role. We are very grateful to the City of Seattle and Puget Sound Energy for their commitment to building access to clean energy careers for all. Equitable clean energy training ensures that we have the talent needed to meet our climate goals while opening doors for individuals seeking meaningful careers in this fast-growing industry. We’re glad to train people ready to plug into it.