In the past, solar energy education was limited to scientists and engineers who could develop new technologies and conduct research. Later on, a need was recognized to educate those who design and construct buildings, because solar energy applications were well developed for such applications. At present, numerous solar energy applications have been developed. Solar energy is currently used for heating and cooling of buildings, production of electricity for stationary and mobile applications, solar lighting systems, crop drying, water treatment, and environmental cleanup. Given the expanding use of solar energy, there is a need to educate society about solar energy. Thus, solar energy education and training programs should be developed at different educational levels to fulfill this need. Such programs need to recognize the environmental value of solar energy and the life cycle advantages of solar energy systems. This manuscript provides an overview of the status of solar energy education and training in the United States. Though the focus of this chapter is on the solar energy education and training programs provided by the academic institutions in the USA, a short description of non-academic programs is also provided.
Solar Energy Education at Grand Valley State University