Presentation to SJSU Green Wave

Program
California’s
Green Innovations Challenge Grant
and the SolarTech SWIC Response
SolarTech’s, NOVA’s and Foothill-DeAnza CCD’s Partnership:

SolarTech Workforce Innovations Collaborative

 Who Are We?
SolarTech Workforce Innovations Collaborative:
Program/Team Structure & Key Elements

SolarTech:
•Industry Association
•100+ Members
•Representing some of
the largest solar
players world wide.
 SWIC’s Bottom-Line Goal
• Find the right renewable energy jobs in the
right timeframe,
• with enough granular skill requirement
details,
• such that training providers can develop the
right programs,
• enabling talent coaches working with
displaced
•
workers to fill these positions.
Successfully placing 172 individuals
• Sooner than later.
• Experiment and figure out the best
model.
 SolarTech Standards and Best practices.
Long term goal: Local Pilot shared throughout
State and Nationally Through IREC and DOE
 SolarTech Workforce Innovations
Collaborative, Placement Goals:
• Grant Targets
– 245 participants that will receive training
– 172 participants that will complete
training and enter unsubsidized
employment in the targeted industry
• We industry help, ideas and guidance.
• We need to leverage multiple business and
partner channels?
Target Demographic and Student Profiles
Displaced Workers/Student Profiles:
•All senior level professionals recently excessed from multiple
different high tech industries.
•Most have previous high tech experience in product support,
business development, project management, and/or have run
their own business.
•Most have multiple undergraduate and graduate degrees,
and a few are Ph.D. level.
•All are enrolled in Nova and can be researched in the Linked-
in group established for this purpose:
“SWIC Placement Group”
 SolarTech’s Role

Investigation Dissemination & Outreach

• Engage Industry through a variety of
techniques
• Not dependent on any one technique
• Analysis: Connecting the dots and
continuous validation
• Engage Industry through a variety of
techniques
• Not dependent on any one
communication technique
• Creating a shared ownership and
engagement

Often the same or similar process

 Multi-Level Data Gathering & Analysis

SolarTech, NOVA: Blogs

Defining Needs

Forums Visits
… Publish
Interviews
1 2

Forums, Employer visits and

Symposiums to define requirements Forums
WIBs Phase 1 Symposiums
Maintenance &
Operations
Manufacturers,
Firms
Installers
Utilities’ & Other
Summits
Technology
Providers
Surveys

Other 3rd Party Research and Collaboration

Implementation & Results
Released
Recently
An in-depth local labor
market examination
based on both primary
and secondary
research.
Leading to Initial Training Offerings
Class Profiles and Opportunities
• FootHill Engineering 600: Broad overview of both Energy and
Renewable Energy industry; comprehensive and in-depth.
• Solar Technical Sales and Proposal Development:
Comprehensive study of the solar PV industry from a sales
prospective and elements of a well prepared proposal.
• The above prepares a candidate (with other previous high
tech industry experience) for residential solar sales, channel
support, back-end support (rebate, permitting and
operations), and other business 2 business relationships.
• Investigate next school deployment opportunities
Implementation & Results
 SolarTech’s Outreach Role
SolarTech, NOVA
& Partners: Out-Reach
Program
Awareness & Results
Utilities’ & Other
Technology
Marketing
WIBs
Providers
IREC
NABCEP

Phase 3
Manufacturers, Contractors /
Installers Construction
Employment
Maintenance &
Operations
Candidate Availability
Firms Marketing
 Program Awareness and Results Marketing
SolarTech, NOVA
& Partners: Out-Reach
Blogs
Utilities’ & Other
Technology WIBs Forums
Providers
IREC
NABCEP
Articles
Phase 3
Manufacturers,
Symposiums
Contractors /
Installers Construction
Maintenance & Summits
Operations
Firms
Surveys

Other 3rd Party Research and Collaboration

 Employment Candidate and Availability
Marketing
SolarTech, NOVA
& Partners: Out-Reach
SolarTech’s Industry linkage
and relationship role places
Utilities’ & Other
Technology
it in a position to engage
WIBs
IREC
Providers industry and define effective
NABCEP placement strategies to
successfully place trained
Phase 3 students into relevant
Manufacturers,
Installers
Contractors / renewable energy positions.
Construction
Maintenance &
Operations Building/Leveraging
Firms
Channels to Employment
Nova Workforce Board Role
• Case management
• Screening and coaching
• Tactical/individual placement assistance versus
SolarTech broader strategic outreach role.
• Establish tools enabling individual HR engagement:
Linked-in group for example.
 Not a Single-Cycle Event
SolarTech, NOVA: Foothill-DeAnza SolarTech, NOVA
Defining Needs & Partners: & Partners: Out-Reach
Training Development

Phase 2
Phase 1 Phase 3

Engage Industry  Commitments and Reports

 Training Definition Deployment
 Re-engage Industry  Promote

Re-engage/Continuous Improvement
• Re Engage Industry
• Continuous Analysis and Information updates to
Education and WIB community
• Continuous Analysis and asking the tough questions
of industry leaders
Successes to Date
• Interviews: 20 + employers
• Reports: First major work released Dec 15th
• Forums: 2 forums covering Sales, manufacturing and
advanced engineering
• Symposiums: Upcoming in partnership with PG&E
focused on IDSM and Convergence.
• Training Programs Deployed (FHDA):
– 12 week overview of the energy and renewable energy industry
– Solar PV Technical Sales and Proposal Development

• Training Programs under Development

– Working with Ohlone and Cabrillo to broaden deployment of above
– Advanced Solar PV Engineering
– Solar and renewable energy financial analysis
 Multiple Layers, Multiple Channels, Frequent

Workfo
r ce
Co
mm
tee it Analysis s
Multiple Blo
g
Data Survey
s Multiple
Source Communication
Channels Blogs Reports Channels
Tapping To
Into y Re ports Sem
I ndus
tr ina Industry
Industry r s
And Members
W
And Members eb
in
r ums Distilling of ar
s
Fo Recommendations
 Higher Education Connection:
SWIC: Supports the Complete Value Chain
 University Connection:
Sustainability and Growing the Economic Pie
 Next Steps: 2011 into 2012
Work with
DOE
regions,
Sola

colleges
and WIBs
rTec
h

Expand
throughout
Calif. with
other
colleges
and WIBs

Silicon
Valley
Pilot
SolarTech Workforce Innovations Collaborative:

An R&D Project in Process

Some Energy Sector Background
• Courtesy of PG&E
 The Big Driver - RPS Policies

www.dsireusa.org / January 2011

VT: (1) RE meets any increase ME: 30% x 2000
WA: 15% x 2020* New RE: 10% x 2017
MN: 25% x 2025 in retail sales x 2012;
MT: 15% x 2015 (Xcel: 30% x 2020) (2) 20% RE & CHP x 2017 NH: 23.8% x 2025
OR: 25% x 2025 (large utilities)* ND: 10% x 2015 MI: 10% + 1,100 MW x MA: 22.1% x 2020 New
5% - 10% x 2025 (smaller utilities) 2015* RE: 15% x 2020
(+1% annually thereafter)
SD: 10% x 2015 WI: Varies by utility;
NY: 29% x 2015 RI: 16% x 2020
10% x 2015 statewide
NV: 25% x 2025* CT: 23% x 2020
IA: 105 MW OH: 25% x 2025†
CO: 30% by 2020 (IOUs) PA: ~18% x 2021†
10% by 2020 (co-ops & large munis)*
IL: 25% x 2025 WV: 25% x 2025*† NJ: 22.5% x 2021
CA: 33% x 2020 UT: 20% by 2025* KS: 20% x 2020 VA: 15% x 2025* MD: 20% x 2022
MO: 15% x 2021 DE: 25% x 2026*
AZ: 15% x 2025
OK: 15% x 2015 NC: 12.5% x 2021 DC
(IOUs) DC: 20% x 2020
10% x 2018 (co-ops & munis)
NM: 20% x 2020 (IOUs)
10% x 2020 (co-ops)

PR: 20% x 2035

TX: 5,880 MW x 2015

HI: 40% x 2030

29 states +
Renewable portfolio standard Minimum solar or customer-sited requirement DC and PR have
an RPS
Renewable portfolio goal
Solar water heating eligible *† Extra credit for solar or customer-sited renewables
Includes non-renewable alternative resources
(7
(7 states
states have
have goals)
goals)
 Electric Generation Portfolio Mix - Energy
Tomorrow
Today
Bioenergy 4% Small Hydro
Geothermal 4% <1%
Wind 3%
Small Hydro 3%
Other Unspecified Solar <1%
1% Geothermal
(market purchases)
Coal 18%
1% 15% Solar Thermal
26%
Eligible
Renewables Large Hydro
13%

Wind
29%
Natural Gas Solar PV
35% Nuclear 20%
20%

7%
Bioenergy

2009 Actual Deliveries 8,796 MW of Renewable Contracts

(mix by % energy as of 11/23/10)
 Green Jobs by Education Level
(Red=Entry Level)

Solar Maintenance and Transmission

Foreman Service Planning
Technician-Wind Engineer
Lead Solar
Installer Mechanical Meteorologist
Foreman- Commissioning
Solar Technician-Wind Biologist
Wind Turbine
Technician $35- Land Agent
45k/yr ($73- Wind Turbine
Solar Sales Assembly Construction
86k/yr w/
$60k/yr Engineer-Wind
experience) Technical
Trainer - Wind
Solar Electrician Solar
Installer Solar Engineer
$45-75k/yr
$25-45/yr Reliability $60-75k/yr
Technician
Solar Residential
Field Meteorologist
Estimator Solar Sales Solar
Technician
Engineer/ Consultant
Solar Project $45-85k/yr
Engineering Wind Turbine Developer Project Biologist
Technician Maintenance Manager -
Solar Sales
Wind
Energy
Installation Design Lab Asst. Bio-Gas Wind Turbine Researcher
Specialist Drafting Solar Startup Project Power System
$30k+/yr $20/hr Engineer Engineer

High
Certificate AS/AA BS/BA MS/MA PhD
School
Results of our Research
Scope of SWIC Research Activities
SWIC Job Board Studies
Renewable Energy Labor Market Studies
Upcoming: Solar Workforce Staffing Survey
Scope of SWIC Research Activities
Agenda
Scope of SWIC Research Activities

SWIC Job Board Studies

Renewable Energy Labor Market Studies

Upcoming: Solar Workforce Staffing Survey

SWIC Job Board Studies
• SolarTech analyzes job posting statistics on a monthly basis
across multiple sectors;
• Postings are compiled from job board aggregator
www.simplyhired.com;
• Sample over 300 data points from ≈ 3,500 jobs (10%)
– October & November: Solar (PV & CSP)
– December: Energy Efficiency
– January: Demand Response & Utility
• Working to automate collection and streamline analysis
Setting the Stage
National Solar Job Census 2010, Solar Foundation
• Domestic solar economy 2010 = 93,000 jobs
• 2011 = 117,000 projected jobs across all sectors
• 2010-2011 job growth = 26% vs. 2% U.S. economy
Solar Employment at a Glance

64% of the employers are

companies involved in
system deployment

1)Developer / Installer
2)Manufacturers w/ system
development business
3)EPC
4)Utility / IPP

31% of the companies are

involved in manufacturing :

1)Components (modules &

balance of system)
2)Equipment
3)Materials
Top Solar Jobs - System Level

Postings are classified

according to 16 functions

64% of the jobs pertain to

PV system deployment

Top Jobs :
29% - System Project
Management
24% - System Sales
21% - System Engineering
11% - Installation
Top Solar Jobs – Manufacturing level

Postings are classified

according to 16 functions

31% of the jobs pertain to

component, equipment or
material manufacturing

Top Jobs with Manufacturers:

31% - Engineering
15% - Product Development
8% - Sales
8% - Technicians
7% - Other Manufacturing
(i.e. Process
development, QA, assembly)
Candidate Requirements - Experience

Experience
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% • Most jobs require about 5
23%
yrs. professional
2-5 years experience
23%
5-7 years
• High number of unspecified
20% amount of experience (NA)
NA

10-15 years
11% • 10% require less than 2 yrs.
9%
7-10 years • Manufacturers have a
9%
greater number of jobs
0-2 years requiring more experience
2% (33% > 7 yrs)
15+ years

% of Total % Manufacturing % System

Candidate Requirements - Education

Education
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% • Majority of jobs require a
Bachelor's Degree 57% Bachelor’s Degree
NA 26%
4%
• 4% of jobs are available to
Master's Degree
candidates with Associate’s
High School 3%
Degree or “Some College”
Some College 3%

Trade (Electrician or … 3% • Limited opportunities exists

Professional 2% for candidates with high
Associate's Degree 1% school (3%)
Doctorate 1%
• High number of unspecified
Apprenticeship 1%
education could be lower
0%
Some High School requirements (26%)
% of Total % Manufacturing % System
Seniority & Source of Posting

• 50% are mid-level jobs • More than 50% of job

• Moderate percentage of postings listed on
entry-level jobs (22% ) employers’ websites

Seniority Source of Posting

0% 20% 40% 60% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Mid-Level Independent 50% 54%

Contributor Employer
22%
Entry- Level Associate 25%
Job Board
14%
Manager
19%
8% Staffing Agency
Director
1%
4% Other
Executive (VP & C-Level)

% of Total % of Mfg % at System Level % Total % Manufacturing % at System Level

Energy Efficiency

Energy Efficiency Jobs Top Jobs:

% of Job Postings 37% - Energy Efficiency Engineer
13% - Project Manager
EE Engineer 37%
12% - Sales
Project Manager 13%
Sales 12%
Consultant 8% Sector Specific Jobs:
Program Manager 7% • Energy Efficiency Engineer
Specialist 6% • Energy Analyst
Energy Analyst 5% • Funding Facilitator
Funding Facilitator 4% • Energy Auditor
Researcher 2%
Marketing 2%
Energy Auditor 1%
Logistics 1%
Product Manager 1%
Technician 1%
Requirements for EE jobs

More than half (58%) require Most positions (64%) require

≤ 5 years experience a Bachelor’s degree (BS)

Experience Education
% of Job Postings % of Job Postings

3-5 years 45% Bachelor's 64%

6-10 years 32%

Master's 19%
0-2 years 13%
Doctorate 10%
11-15 years 5%

+15 years 5% High School 6%

Integrated Demand Side Management

Industry Segment
0% 50% 100% CA only jobs / 2 search terms:
•“Energy Efficiency” (EE)
30%
Investor Owned Utility
80% •Integrated Demand Side
Employer Not Listed
23% Management” (DSM)
13%
Engineering & 20%
Environmental Services 1)80% DSM jobs w/ IOUs vs. 30% of
Consulting Firm (Other)
13% all EE jobs
Not for profit & Trade
2)Engineering & Environmental
5%
Organization 7% services rank 2nd for EE total
5%
Research Institute % Total % DSM
Note: 100 EE job postings yielded 50 unique
3% postings (50% duplicate); Total = EE & DSM
Public Power

2%
End User
EE & DSM Employment at a Glance
Job Function Postings are classified according to
15 functions
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

Energy Effiency Engineer 17%

16%
Combined EE & DSM:
Project Management
11%
•Energy Efficiency Engineer (17%)
Analyst 33%
Engineer 9% - All engineers = 26%
20%
Product Management 9%
33%
•Project Management (17%)
Policy/Regulatory 6%
7% •Analyst (13%)
Sales 6%

Consultant 5%

Program Management 5%
Top DSM Jobs:
Energy Management 3% •Analyst (33%)
Funding Facilitator 3% •Product Management (33%)
Marketing 3%
7% •Engineer (20%) or “Program
Specialist 3%
2%
Engineer”
Energy Analyst
Researcher 2%

% Total % DSM
Required Credentials
Education & Years of Experience
Greatest number of jobs
Over 75% of the positions require 5-7 yrs & 7-10yrs
require a Bachelor’s degree
EE NA: 10% entry-level jobs
DSM NA: all mid-level jobs

Education Experience
0% 20% 40% 60%
0% 50% 100%
5-7 years 28%
Bachelor's Degree 77% 40%
80%
NA 14% 7-10 years 28%
13% 20%
Master's Degree 9% 25%
7% NA
High School 33%
2-5 years 16%
Associate's… 7%
Doctorate 10-15 … 3%
Professional % Total % DSM % Total % DSM
0-2 years
Trade …
Apprenticeship 15+ years
Employment at a Glance
Level of Seniority & Source of Posting
• ≈50% postings linked to job
Most jobs are mid-level w/out
boards
staff management responsibilities
• ≈ 35% employers’ website
• Top agency: Sequence Staffing

Seniority Source of Posting

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Mid-Level Independent 75%

Contributor 100% 38%
Employer
33%
9%
Manager

9% 13%
Entry- Level Associate Staffing Agency
13%
5%
Director
50%
2% Job Board
Executive (VP & C-Level) 40%

% Total % DSM % Total % DSM

Agenda
Scope of SWIC Research Activities

SWIC Job Board Studies

Renewable Energy Labor Market Studies

Upcoming: Solar Workforce Staffing Survey

SolarTech Report
Renewable Energy Labor Market Study
• 1st SolarTech Renewable Energy
Labor Market Analysis
• Output from last SolarTech
Renewable Energy Workforce
Forum, October 2010
• Special emphasis on solar PV
sales professionals
• Presents industry analysis of job
growth & hiring trends for solar
integrators
• Includes national & regional data
• Download: www.solartech.org
Renewable Energy Labor Market Study #1
PV System Sales

Key Finding:
• 10% - 20% of
workforce pure-
play installation
companies are
sales

Source: (2) Solar Foundation, National Job Census 2010, P. 63; (3) P. 14
Renewable Energy Labor Market Study #2

• Output from December 2010

Renewable Energy Workforce
Forum,
• Special emphasis on Solar
Manufacturing
• Presents industry analysis of job
growth & hiring trends of
manufacturing companies
• Includes global, national & regional
data
• Download: www.solartech.org
Solar Manufacturing Jobs in CA
PV & CSP
Key Finding:
CA manufacturers
are driven out to
other U.S. states
and oversees.
≈ 10,000 employed
w/ CA start-up
manufacturers:
• R&D
• Engineering
• Product
development
• Supply chain
• Business
development
Source: (1) Solar Foundation, National Job Census 2010, P. 63; (2) California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing
Authority.
Agenda
Scope of SWIC Research Activities

SWIC Job Board Studies

Renewable Energy Labor Market Studies

Upcoming: Solar Workforce Staffing Survey

Solar Workforce Staffing Survey

• SolarTech partnership with SJSU’s School of

Business to perform quantitative research
• Conduct targeted needs analysis of renewable
energy employers
• Focus of next survey: Demand and hiring practices
for Solar PV Sales professionals
• Results available at upcoming SolarTech Solar
Summit March 29-30
Contact

Justin Bradley, Bradley Consulting

Justin.bradley@bradley-group.net
408/838-4749