Sunrun Chairman and co-founder Ed Fenster will present the keynote address about efforts to extend the federal ITC but also how to prepare for the various outcomes that could occur.
Events to Attend - AEE Solar Dealer Conference
Antonio Cintra | AEE Solar
Tell us a little bit about AEE Solar.
AEE Solar is one of the original solar distributors and is now part of the Sunrun family. We started out back in the 70's when everything was off-grid and PV modules where $30 to $40 dollars per Watt. Today, as one of the top specialized solar distributors, we continue to proudly serve the off-grid and energy storage markets but the residential and light commercial grid-tie applications that we've helped to pioneer have grown much faster.
What is the AEE Solar Dealer Conference and how often is it held?
We started putting on an annual Dealer Conference in 2008 as a venue for our key customers to not only receive training, but also to interact with our suppliers, the AEE Solar team and one another. It's evolved over the years to become one of the premier training and networking opportunities for PV installers and related businesses. One of the attendees at last year's conference summed it up in a really flattering way, "It's like a condensed version of SPI that's totally focused on installers who are in the trenches".
What is this year’s theme for the conference?
For 2016, we're really focusing on innovation and preparing for the dramatic market changes we see coming. Sunrun Chairman and co-founder Ed Fenster is delivering a keynote address that will provide an update on the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and what installers will need to do in case it isn't extended. Bill Brooks is delivering a session on what's new and coming soon with the National Electrical Code (NEC). We're also adding a lot of discussion about energy storage since we see that becoming much more important in light of the Hawaii PUC's recent decision as well as other battles around net metering as solar grid penetration increases.
What are some of the reasons an integrator would want to attend?
One of the biggest draws is that most of the courses will be approved for NABCEP continuing education credits -- This is one of the only events where NABCEP certified installers can get all of their CE's for the year in a couple of days. I think that also speaks to the quality of sessions offered even for attendees who don't need the credits. These aren't glorified sales pitches, but useful technical information and best practices from some real leaders in the field.
The networking opportunities are also a big draw. Our title sponsors, REC Group, OutBack Power and SnapNrack are joining us for a harbor cruise to kick off the conference and the included breakfasts, lunches and expo hall happy hours are a great opportunity to get to know other installers, manufacturers and the presenters.
What are some of the main courses that will be offered?
Sunrun Chairman and co-founder Ed Fenster will present the keynote address about efforts to extend the federal ITC but also how to prepare for the various outcomes that could occur.
Bill Brooks will be presenting both an intro-level session on NEC compliance as well as more advanced topics like rapid shutdown and what we're likely to see in 2017.
Sunrun's Market Intelligence Manager, Stefan Linder, will provide a broad overview of the residential PV market and what we can expect in 2016 and beyond.
Paul Dailey, AEE Solar’s Senior Manager of Product & Technical Sales, will be presenting a session on how residential energy storage and PV will increasingly depend on one another. AEE Solar's Brian Teitelbaum will follow that up with a step-by-step how-to session on battery systems and we’ll have leading battery manufacturers participating in a panel discussion on residential energy storage technology.
Sunrun's Public Policy Manager, Sara Wolfe, will present on the policy landscape at the regional and state levels and help installers understand how they can influence policy making in their local markets.
We'll also have the usual sessions on best practices for sales, marketing and construction for both residential and commercial systems and, of course, many of our suppliers will be offering product-specific technical training for modules, inverters, batteries and racking.
Which manufacturers will be in attendance?
REC Group, OutBack Power and SnapNrack are our headline sponsors who will be most visible, but most of our suppliers will be exhibiting and/or presenting training sessions.
How can one register to attend the conference?
All the information and links for registration can be found at:
http://www.aeesolar.com/2016-aee-solar-dealer-conference
Space is limited, so it's important to register and book your hotel rooms as soon as possible. Contact for questions: Hannah Harrison, hharrison@aeesolar.com
About AEE Solar
AEE Solar was founded in 1979 as Alternative Energy Engineering with the goal of bringing renewable, non-polluting power to homes and businesses in the northern California coastal redwood region. Thirty years later, AEE continues to deliver the products, training and support needed to succeed. We supply resellers, contractors, integrators, and installers the field-tested, reliable products they need to design, install and maintain renewable energy systems.
The content & opinions in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the views of AltEnergyMag
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