First, understand the underlying technology. Learn all you can from the internet about solar panels, inverters (especially grid-tied inverters), and mounting systems. If you hit a page where they’re trying to sell you an e-book or other information, close the window and look elsewhere. The good information is free. There is much you can learn at the NAWS forum, for example: http://www.wind-sun.com/ForumVB/index.php
If you haven’t already done so, it would be good to get a bid for a solar install on your house (or a friend’s house, if you have none), to see how it’s done. Observe carefully.
Then, I’d suggest interning with an established solar company. It might be for no pay, but you will learn the business. See if you can go along on the energy audits, and presentations. Later, you can work as a salesperson, either at that same company, or some other place. It may be at zero salary, or commission-only, but you’ll learn even more.
Concurrently with that, you may or may not want to work towards getting an electrical contractor’s license (courses at a community college / technical institute). If you have that, you can be a one-person company, which is how the small installers seem to start out. If you don’t take that route, you’ll have to team up with an electrician.
You will likely have to get insurance, and post a bond with your state.
As your business expands, you can start hiring others to do the heavy lifting and dangerous work on the roof.
EDIT: ok, the book SolarBerg recommends below is good. That’s a well-known reference.
Start here, if its something you like and are interested in, then you can take online and in-person classes to get your knowledge base up and then start a business.
there are probably a lot of solar power manufacturing companies
looking for distributors. you could do a little research and find some good ones. if you become a rep for one depending on the company they
will provide you with support and help getting started. you need to pick
a system from someone anyway to use as your not going to build one
from scratch yourself. i don’t think that would be cost effective.
First, understand the underlying technology. Learn all you can from the internet about solar panels, inverters (especially grid-tied inverters), and mounting systems. If you hit a page where they’re trying to sell you an e-book or other information, close the window and look elsewhere. The good information is free. There is much you can learn at the NAWS forum, for example: http://www.wind-sun.com/ForumVB/index.php
If you haven’t already done so, it would be good to get a bid for a solar install on your house (or a friend’s house, if you have none), to see how it’s done. Observe carefully.
Then, I’d suggest interning with an established solar company. It might be for no pay, but you will learn the business. See if you can go along on the energy audits, and presentations. Later, you can work as a salesperson, either at that same company, or some other place. It may be at zero salary, or commission-only, but you’ll learn even more.
Concurrently with that, you may or may not want to work towards getting an electrical contractor’s license (courses at a community college / technical institute). If you have that, you can be a one-person company, which is how the small installers seem to start out. If you don’t take that route, you’ll have to team up with an electrician.
You will likely have to get insurance, and post a bond with your state.
As your business expands, you can start hiring others to do the heavy lifting and dangerous work on the roof.
EDIT: ok, the book SolarBerg recommends below is good. That’s a well-known reference.
I really like this book:
http://www.spheralsolar.com/photovoltaicsdesignandinstallationmanual.aspx
Start here, if its something you like and are interested in, then you can take online and in-person classes to get your knowledge base up and then start a business.
there are probably a lot of solar power manufacturing companies
looking for distributors. you could do a little research and find some good ones. if you become a rep for one depending on the company they
will provide you with support and help getting started. you need to pick
a system from someone anyway to use as your not going to build one
from scratch yourself. i don’t think that would be cost effective.