Hydro Aluminum Provides Solar Array Frames for Unique College Training Program

Hydro Extrusion Americas (Linthicum, MD) is donating aluminum solar support structures and curriculum development for the Desert Region Renewable Energy Training Program at the Desert Energy Enterprise Center in Palm Springs, CA. The center is operated by College of the Desert (COD), part of California?s community college system. The extruded aluminum frames are used to train adult workers for jobs in the growing renewable energy sector.

The solar support frames are extruded at Hydro?s manufacturing plant in Phoenix. The company then performs the second-stage machining needed to make the parts ready to assemble before shipping them to the school.

?Hydro is happy to be contributing to this unique program because it ultimately will help us grow our industry-leading solar business, and because it?s in line with Hydro?s corporate philosophy to give back to communities where it does business,? said Allan Bennett, vice president of business development for Hydro?s solar unit. ?With commercial solar projects totaling more than 300 megawatts in our portfolio, we have the experience and knowledge that will help these individuals, and we?re happy to share it.?

College of the Desert is the only college in California doing this kind of solar workforce training. COD teaches theory and assembly for photovoltaic (PV) and utility-scale concentrating solar power (CSP), including parabolic trough frame construction. The course offers students the entry level certificate from North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP).

?The grant was obtained through the College?s Advanced Transportation Technology & Energy (ATTE) Center. ATTE centers were created by the community college system as a means for keeping California competitive as a national leader in advanced transportation and energy technologies and to transform the workforce in the rapidly developing, technology-driven transportation and energy industries, while improving the environment and stimulating the economy.?

The initial program currently has 17 students in a two-month course. COD hopes to have 20 students per class in subsequent sessions.

In addition to Hydro?s donation, Duncan Bolt provided hardware and Guardian Industries provided reflectors. Gossamer Space Frames designed the frame system and provided initial instruction on design and assembly.

Located in Palm Desert and Palm Springs over multiple campuses, COD anticipates partnering with other colleges in the California community college system. The program is targeted to workforce development for adult workers. It is funded by the California Energy Commission and the Employment Development Department to look at the needs for large-scale renewable energy plants.

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