Building the Renewable Energy Workforce of the Future

The Solar Warrior Workforce Academy is an immersive Indigenous-led renewable energy workforce training program that prepares sponsored cohorts for solar careers through industry-recognized certifications, hands-on installation experience, and campus-based technical training.

Created by Red Cloud Renewable, the Academy was designed for tribes, workforce agencies, educational institutions, utilities, employers, and organizations seeking a structured, high-impact renewable energy workforce development experience for groups of participants.

Hosted at the Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center (RCREC) on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, the Academy combines online instruction, hands-on technical labs, and real-world solar installation experience within a residential learning environment focused on workforce readiness, technical confidence, and long-term career pathways.

Designed for Sponsored Cohorts

The Solar Warrior Workforce Academy is built specifically for organizations sponsoring private training cohorts made up of employees, apprentices, students, workforce participants, or community members.

Organizations may sponsor cohorts that include:

  • Tribal workforce participants

  • Employees and staff

  • Apprentices

  • Students and recent graduates

  • Tribal energy department staff

  • Community members

  • Workforce development participants

  • Emerging renewable energy crews

  • Youth and adult workforce cohorts

Each cohort follows a consistent workforce training model developed by Red Cloud Renewable to support repeatable outcomes, technical skill-building, and workforce readiness.

Workforce-Focused Training Model

The Solar Warrior Workforce Academy follows a hybrid training format that combines structured online coursework with immersive in-person technical instruction.

Participants complete approximately 72 hours of online training prior to arriving on campus. This preparation phase helps ensure participants arrive ready for hands-on field training and applied technical instruction.

Online coursework includes:

  • Solar Energy International (SEI) renewable energy coursework

  • PV 101 online solar training

  • OSHA 10 safety certification

  • CPR certification training

Following completion of the online coursework, participants attend a two-week residential training experience at the Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center.

Hands-On Solar Installation Training

The Academy emphasizes applied learning through hands-on technical instruction and real-world installation experience.

Participants train using multiple solar practice labs located throughout the Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center campus while also participating in live installation exercises designed to simulate real workforce environments and field conditions.

Training includes experience with:

  • Roof mount solar systems

  • Ground mount solar systems

  • String inverter systems

  • Solar wiring fundamentals

  • Electrical safety practices

  • Installation tools and techniques

  • Team-based installation exercises

  • Real-world solar installation workflows

  • Solar jobsite safety procedures

Participants gain practical experience working directly with renewable energy systems, tools, and installation processes in a collaborative learning environment designed to build workforce confidence and technical readiness.

Campus-Based Residential Learning Experience

Participants stay onsite at the Sacred Earth Lodge located at the Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center campus in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.

The residential training model creates an immersive learning environment where participants can fully focus on technical skill development, collaboration, and workforce preparation while living and learning alongside their cohort.

The Sacred Earth Lodge serves as the central hub for:

  • Lodging accommodations

  • Classroom instruction

  • Group collaboration and study

  • Daily meals during training days

  • Participant support services

  • Cohort-based learning and team development

Unlike traditional conference-style training programs, the Solar Warrior Workforce Academy provides a fully immersive campus-based workforce training experience rooted in hands-on learning and community-centered instruction.

Participant Outcomes

Participants leave the Academy with:

  • OSHA 10 certification

  • CPR certification

  • SEI renewable energy coursework completion

  • Hands-on solar installation experience

  • Experience working with roof and ground mount systems

  • Solar safety and technical training

  • Team-based field experience

  • Entry-level renewable energy workforce readiness

  • Exposure to real renewable energy systems and jobsite practices

The program is designed to help participants build practical skills, technical confidence, and foundational experience for careers in the renewable energy industry.

What’s Included

Program tuition includes:

  • Full workforce training curriculum

  • Hybrid online and in-person instruction

  • Solar Energy International coursework access

  • OSHA 10 certification training

  • CPR certification training

  • Hands-on technical labs

  • Live installation experience

  • Classroom instruction and materials

  • Access to training equipment and tools

  • Lodging accommodations at the Sacred Earth Lodge

  • Meals provided during training days

  • Airport transportation for participants traveling by air

Participants traveling by vehicle may drive directly to campus.

Cohort Structure

To support high-quality instruction and individualized hands-on participation, cohort sizes are intentionally limited.

Cohort Size:

  • Minimum: 10 participants

  • Maximum: 15 participants

The smaller cohort structure allows participants to receive direct instructor support while maximizing hands-on technical training opportunities.