Sharing knowledge. Creating future

Sharing knowledge. Creating future. BE A SOLAR EXPERT Dear Solar Power Enthusiast, The future belongs to renewable energy! It is only a matter of ...
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Sharing knowledge. Creating future.

BE A SOLAR EXPERT

Dear Solar Power Enthusiast, The future belongs to renewable energy! It is only a matter of time until they assume an even greater percentage of our energy supply. For you as a solar specialist, systems integrator, solar technology retailer, system planner, or architect, that means new sales opportunities. Advanced training gives you the best qualifications for long-term success in this dynamic industry. At the SMA Solar Academy we want to share our knowledge with you in order to continue to advance photovoltaics together. Whether it is planning a plant, choosing from the range of SMA inverters, or deciding upon communication solutions, our seminars will teach you everything you need to know. But we also would like to learn from you; it is the only way we can make our products even more user-friendly and efficient. But the SMA Solar Academy gives you more than just expertise and new insights; we bring solar energy to life. We do this through our instructors, with whom you can discuss subjects even beyond the framework of the seminar, and also through our service and sales offices world-wide. In Germany, our seminars will be held at our new training centre, the heart of the SMA Solar Academy, scheduled to open in September 2010. Here you will be able to experience how self-sustaining energy supply really works with renewable energy and SMA technology based on a model project. It is guaranteed to be a truly fascinating experience. In this brochure, we would like to introduce the SMA Solar Academy to you prior to your first seminar with us. In-depth information about our courses as well as registration details can be found at www.SMA.de/ solaracademy. Take the time to further your education. Solar expertise is the greatest investment you will ever make. Now and in the future. We look forward to meeting you! Sincerely, Marc Clinckaert Director of the SMA Solar Academy SMA Solar Academy 03

PRACTICAL Jürgen Honold from the Ingenieurbüro Honold in Pulheim, Germany, near Munich: “The majority of the information that I learned here today during my first seminar day about the Sunny Central is information I can use directly in my day-to-day work. It’s fascinating how new aspects continually come up through practical input. And when that brings about group discussion, you can really see the benefit. And if the speaker is not able to provide an answer to a question, then it is provided as soon as possible afterwards.” Jörg Zibuschka, an instructor at the SMA Solar Academy, is happy to hear such feedback. Having proximity to seminar participants, imparting knowledge, providing practical tips for daily work and having the right answers to even the most complicated questions ready not only sums up – Jörg Zibuschka’s job but the entire SMA Solar Academy philosophy. If only ever written in seminar documents, theory in itself may remain abstract. Such information only becomes useful through practical application. But integrating acquired knowledge into your daily work processes on a one-to-one basis is not always easy – especially when you are on your own with your newly acquired knowledge. That is why the majority of SMA Solar Academy seminars include a practical component. For example, taking part in a seminar training on plant design also means you will be configuring the plant using SMA Sunny Design planning software. And if you decide to register for a compact seminar on emergency power supply with Sunny Backup, you will be able to put a Sunny Backup system into operation under professional supervision right on site.

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It is the only way to get the most out of the seminars. We hope Jürgen Honold will be leaving with a wealth of information – as well as everyone else who decides to take part in a seminar at the SMA Solar Academy.

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TREND SETTING Change is a daily occurrence in the dynamic photovoltaic industry. Product innovations, new technology, and legal reforms means you cannot afford to be anything less than up to date. And failing to keep up means falling behind. Simon Seibert, from ConSolaris GmbH Energietechnik GmbH in Edertal, Germany, has already taken part in seminars on SMA communication products: “To me, one of the best aspects of the seminar is the fact that the information provided is extremely up-to-date. But the instructors provide more than just the up-to-date information. In the seminar, I also gained practice-oriented experience with the latest communication products. And being able to try out new devices before they are released to customers is obviously a tremendous advantage.” The SMA Solar Academy wants to promote the exchange of ideas and share knowledge with our seminar participants. That is why our speakers are always upto-date – and not only when it comes to SMA products and photovoltaics. This ensures you are always completely up to date when it comes to current industry topics. Smart grids or grid management – for many, those words are music to their ears and a sign of the future. And not just for us at the SMA Solar Academy. When developing new seminars, we discuss, evaluate and frequently integrate the latest developments into our courses. Ask yourself: why is it so important to be current? For one, there is the security of knowing your level of knowledge is always at the cutting edge. Or the comfortable feeling of knowing you will have the right answers ready when it really counts – like Simon Seibert.

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COMPETENT Being a photovoltaic specialist is a good start for SMA Solar Academy instructors – but certainly not the only qualification required. Beyond the PV world, our instructor team is made of up experts from the fields of electronic network engineering, energy management, thermal engineering and communications technology. They offer an immense amount of real-world experience, including substantial experience with renewable energy. Klaus Riedner from Winsol Energy in Ueckermünde, Germany is quick to explain the instructor’s role: “I’ve now taken part in several seminars here at the Academy and not one of the instructors has come across as a pure theoretician. They all possess a wealth of expertise gained from experience. Still, no one is ever afraid to invite external experts to explain a certain topic in greater detail or to enter into a more in-depth discussion with them. That makes a seminar even more beneficial. It also brings to mind a seminar where we discussed the subject of lightning protection,” explains the engineer.

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But how can we be sure that our knowledge is always up to date? We stay in close contact with our developers as well as experts outside the company who work with SMA products on a daily basis. That provides us knowledge of the latest trends and new developments early on in the process. The result is knowledge that seminar participants such as Klaus Riedner can take advantage of. And it means that no questions go unanswered.

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WELL-ROUNDED Thomas Scheib from Mastbau Gärtner GmbH in Berlin, Germany, is here for the third time. He will be participating in the Sunny Central introductory seminar over the next two days. “I’ve completed seminars on Sunny Family and SMA plant communication. Now it’s on to Sunny Central inverters. I always try to attend the seminars that I need for my work at the time and it’s a strategy that’s served me well here at the Academy,” the engineer explains. It is good to know that Thomas Scheib can draw on unlimited resources. SMA Solar Academy’s free seminars consist of more than 1,000 seminar days in 2010 alone. Worldwide. Whether it is specific technical training for SMA inverters, communication products, or island power solutions, a compact seminar about solar technology such as PV sales, plant planning and design; you are free to choose the workshop from a wide selection of courses that best suits you. Our promise: to offer the right seminar to fit any need. We regularly put our seminars to the test based on our expertise, current industry framework conditions and participant feedback. We also expand and update them where needed. It is part of everything we do in order to offer you a selection of seminars that leave no wish unfulfilled. So that participants such as Thomas Scheib can always find the workshop that is right for him.

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A LIGHTHOUSE PROJECT FOR INDEPENDENT ENERGY SUPPLY AND FOR THE USE OF RENEWABLE ENERGIES – THE NEW SMA SOLAR ACADEMY FACILITIES IN NIESTETAL, GERMANY

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CUSTOM FIT Knowledge that is a step ahead, better product expertise, increased commercial success, dialog with other industry experts – these are all expectations that everyone who completes a SMA Solar Academy seminar has. The challenge: various professional backgrounds, differing levels of knowledge and varying participant needs. These are all determining factors we have to take into consideration in our seminars. It is only when we do that, that you can acquire the knowledge you expect from our seminars. At the SMA Solar Academy we have made sure of it. Florian Wöls, CEO of Die Lichtschmiede in Lengenfeld, Germany, regularly takes part in our seminars and can confirm: “Seminar contents are well tailored to participants and are based on their expectations to a substantial degree. Instructors pass on their knowledge – whether it is about renewable energy or SMA technology – in a highly practice-oriented way. That allows us to provide our most important foundation, our customers, with the best service possible when it comes to PV.” Every SMA Solar Academy seminar is organized by subject and takes participants’ level of knowledge into consideration. We have designed our training sessions on SMA products as technical seminars which increase in difficulty for beginners (introductory seminars), advanced learners (intensive seminars) and experts (expert seminars). In addition, our compact seminars provide instruction on specialist subjects aimed to specific target groups.

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This allows us to offer the perfect training session for any target group: for solar specialists, electricians and sales staff as well as for system planners, architects, engineers and for everyone else interested in solar power. Because when it comes down to it, an electrician who has just secured a second source of income with photovoltaics has different needs than an architect interested in facade-integrated PV solutions or a system planner who wants to expand their expertise.

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TEAM PLAYERS Learning as part of a team means the highest rate of success through specialist dialog – and is simply more fun. That is why our seminars are based on an exchange of knowledge; whether with the other seminar participants, SMA engineers or with our instructors. “You always have so many opportunities to talk to each other, such as at lunch or after the seminar has ended. That’s when you can hold discussions with other participants in a more relaxed atmosphere. Many times, the topics being discussed are ones of great interest to me. In addition, I always learn something from hearing the other participants’ ideas,” says Jens Rohr from juwi Solar GmbH in Wörrstadt, Germany. We consider every training seminar held at the SMA Solar Academy to be a forum where industry experts come together for both questions and discussions. Whether it is during the seminars themselves, over lunch, while taking a tour of our inverter factory in Niestetal or during an evening program, every seminar visit is made up of the subjectrelated input from all parties involved. Why do we see things this way? Because nothing can replace the mutual exchange of practical experience. As a solar technology expert, you benefit just as much as we do at SMA; that is because the dialog we have together can only improve our products and services. It is something Jens Rohr is certainly pleased about.

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A WEALTH OF IDEAS From photovoltaic pioneer to global market leader in the inverter industry; with its innovations SMA Solar Technology AG sets trends for the entire solar market. The first string inverters, products with a degree of efficiency of over 98 percent, or Bluetooth® plant communication – our actions are powered by technological progress. In concrete terms, that means we introduce up to six new products to the market each year. Nearly 500 engineers work on those products to achieve our ambitious goal and thus continue to expand our technological lead. As the only manufacturer in the world, we offer solar inverters for all performance ranges and for every module type; for grid-connected systems and for island and backup operations. This wide range of products and experience is also reflected at the SMA Solar Academy. All seminars are based on the wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of PV inverters and solar technology we have amassed since the company was founded almost 30 years ago.

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We are proud that our customers can rely on this competence and expertise. Just like Matthias Honrath from Josef Winkelhaus GmbH in Legden, Germany: “As a small specialist company, it goes without saying that we want to focus on one company. The decision to go with SMA was an easy one. SMA is the market leader and has established a name for itself. And my customers know that they’re guaranteed support for SMA inverters, both now and in the future.” We simply could not ask for higher praise than that from Matthias Honrath.

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GLOBAL The Princess Elisabeth Station in Antarctica, the Olympic Park Boulevard in Sydney or Berlin Central Station, SMA products are in operation around the world. It is really no wonder that there is such a high level of demand for qualified training sessions about our inverters. Whether in Italy, the USA, France, or Spain we offer solar specialists and systems integrators the training sessions they need at all international SMA branch offices. Ralf Mueller-Polyzos, CEO of RSEnergy Hellas Solartechnik EPE in Volos, Greece, has been involved since it all began. “We’ve been taking part in Academy seminars ever since we started working with SMA products. In the beginning, we even flew all the way to Germany for the training sessions. In the meantime, the Academy has now also started offering in-house seminars that take place right here at our company. That means the training sessions are tailored to our needs to an even higher degree and are based on company-specific topics. Regardless of whether they are in Niestetal, in Athens, or here in Volos, the instructors always teach at an extremely high level. And really, you’d expect nothing less from a market leader,” explains the engineer. Interested in a seminar held in English or beyond Germany’s borders? You will find in-depth information and a listing of country-specific SMA Solar Academy seminars on individual branch office websites.

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SEMINARS HOW TO REGISTER Whether it is in house at your company or at our facilities, an open seminar or tailored to your company’s specific needs, or for beginners, intermediates, or experts – we can provide the perfect solution for every situation and level of knowledge. Get in touch with us! Interested in SMA Solar Academy seminars? Simply select the seminar you would like to attend from the respective SMA branch website and send in your registration. Either by telephone or e-mail. For specific training dates and in-depth information about seminars, please visit www.SMA.de/solaracademy. We look forward to meeting you!

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SUCCESSIVE TECHNOLOGY SEMINARS (All seminars last one day and can be reserved individually)

Introductory and intensive seminar: Inverters The seminars provide the latest subject-related knowledge about photovoltaics, inverter technology, plant planning, installation, protection, and lightning protection. Introductory seminar: Plant Communication How does communication via Bluetooth work? Plant communication professionals will explain the advantages of the latest SMA radio communication standards and direct computer-toinverter communication. Introductory seminar: Plant Monitoring This seminar introduces the Sunny Beam and Sunny WebBox products and shows how to use them. How do I create a communication connection? What do I need to know when configuring a WebBox? How do I read out data with a PC? Questions like these will be answered in practical terms through exercises performed in small groups using training devices. Intensive seminar: Plant Monitoring Advanced knowledge for those who have previously completed the Plant Monitoring introductory seminar. In addition to advanced configuration of the Sunny WebBox and Sunny Portal as well as the basics of grid technology, seminar participants will learn, for example, how to create complex Web sites in Sunny Portal for comprehensive plant monitoring using SMA communication devices. Introductory and intensive seminar: Large-Scale PV Plants with SUNNY CENTRAL High-tech for solar power plants: the seminars explain how Sunny Central inverters work. Further topics include: the installation of large-scale plants, medium-voltage guideline requirements, comparing central vs. decentralized plant concepts and plant communication. Introductory, intensive, and expert seminar: Isolated Grid Supply with SUNNY ISLAND Everything about the various Sunny Island inverters: installation; functionality; single-phase/ three-phase island grid; battery, load, and system management; and plant dimensioning. Introductory seminar: Small Wind Energy Plans with WINDY BOY From functionality to technology to the range of inverters found in SMA products, this seminar provides key specialist knowledge about small wind energy plants.

COMPACT SEMINARS ON PARTICULAR TOPICS OR PRODUCTS PV Plant Sales (two days) When should customers choose a Sunny Boy? When is a Sunny Mini Central right for them? The most important (sales) reasoning and information about the entire product range and product groups in a compact seminar. Plant Planning and Design (one day) Plant design made easy: this seminar explains how planners can achieve optimum plant configuration in no time at all with Sunny Design. PV Introductory Seminar (one day) Exchange of experiences between PV professionals and newcomers: plant operators and those who want to become operators will learn everything they need to know about solar power and SMA products. Emergency Power Supply with SUNNY BACKUP (one day) Solar power, even during a breakdown: this seminar will introduce the SMA backup systems. Further topics include integration of various additional energy sources (PV generators) and plant dimensioning.

www.SMA.de/solaracademy

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SMA Solar Academy Sonnenallee 1 34266 Niestetal Germany Tel.: +49 561 9522-4884 E-Mail: [email protected]