What is a Solar Fabrication Technician?

Solar Fabrication Technicians are essentially construction workers. While Photovoltaic (PV) Fabrication Technicians assemble solar cells together into solar panels, Solar Fabrication Technicians assemble the solar panels together into solar collector arrays.

The career outlook for a solar fabrication technician is good. They make on average $9 to $15/hour.

This is more of an industrial construction job, not residential. Solar Fabrication Technicians build multiple large, freestanding metal solar arrays for power companies to produce a lot of electricity. They do not install solar panels in the roofs of residential homes, that's a different job altogether.

The main difference is that residential solar panel installers are also responsible for all the electrical wiring between the solar panels, the batteries, and the home's electrical grid. Solar Fabrication Technicians build the solar arrays, but leave all the batteries and wiring to the electricians.

What Are the Qualifications for a Solar Fabrication Technician?

A Solar Fabrication Technician is one of the few jobs that doesn't require a college degree to qualify for, just construction training and work experience. Of course, having an Associate's or Bachelor's in engineering or material science will certainly help in landing one of these jobs.

Of course, there are sill job skills and work experience you must have in order to qualify for the position. Many; even most Solar Fabrication Technicians are experienced construction trade workers who have completed a vocational school training or on an on-the-job trade apprenticeship program. Even without a certificate of completion from such a program, several years of experience in the trade may be enough to qualify.

A Solar Fabrication Technician will be working mostly with metal steel and copper sheet metal, tubing, and pipefitting. You will be bending, cutting, filing, soldering, baking, drilling, riveting, and painting metal using, machine shop tools and equipment. Anyone apply for this job should be able to operate the following equipment:

*Jigsaw and Bandsaw
*Drill press
*Power brake
*Pneumatic drill
*Rivet gun
*Soldering gun
*Caulk gun
*Paint gun

What Type of Person Is Good for This Position?

As this is mostly a construction job, someone who enjoys manual labor and construction, takes pride in their work, and doesn't mind some outdoor work would be a good fit for this position. The ability to take direction and work well as part of a construction team is also important. Intermediate math skills, patience, and precision are other desirable qualities.

Solar Fabrication Technician Resources

* Solar Power Your Home For Dummies (For Dummies (Home & Garden))
* Photovoltaics: Design and Installation Manual
* Got Sun? Go Solar: Get Free Renewable Energy to Power Your Grid-Tied Home
* The Renewable Energy Handbook: A Guide to Rural Energy Independence, Off-Grid and Sustainable Living

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