SCC Director of Clean Energy Technology chosen for international learning exchange program in Germany

Louise Petruzzella, (front row, third from left) and participants in an international learning exchange sponsored by the National Science Foundation Center for Renewable Energy Advanced Technological Education (CREATE). In Vaubun, Germany

Louise Petruzzella, Director of Clean Energy Technology at Shoreline Community College, traveled to Germany recently to take part in an international learning exchange sponsored by the National Science Foundation Center for Renewable Energy Advanced Technological Education (CREATE).

A committee of energy education experts nominated clean energy professionals from across the U.S. to take part in the exchange, with only ten participants selected. Petruzzella and her cohort spent 12 days examining lessons learned by their German counterparts in renewable energy and energy storage technology best practices.

“It was such an honor to be chosen to engage in this exchange,” said Petruzzella. “It speaks to the fantastic work we’re doing here at Shoreline in training workers for Washington State’s growing clean energy workforce that we were selected to share knowledge with and learn from Germany’s industry experts, who are really leading the charge on sustainability internationally.”

The exchange homed in on advances in energy storage, which is a rising star in the Clean Energy Technology field. According to some reports, employment in the sector is up over 200%.

“Having taken part in this exchange puts Shoreline ahead of the curve on learning how to train students for jobs in the quickly evolving and exciting segment of energy storage,” said Petruzzella.

Shoreline currently offers a capstone course in battery-based photovoltaic design that focuses on both grid-tied and off-grid configurations. Based on her learnings through the exchange, Petruzzella returned to Shoreline ready to take the curriculum a step further.

“Clean-energy vehicles are dominating the automotive field,” said Petruzzella. “Based on my experiences with this learning exchange I’m looking into developing a battery fundamentals course at Shoreline that can enroll students interested in either the Clean Energy Technology program path or the electric vehicle/hybrid Automotive path.”

Over the 12-day exchange, Petruzzella and the delegation met with officials from the German Embassy and the Heinrich Boell Foundation, studied exemplary renewable energy programs in different German states, attended meetings with industry leaders, and explored energy technology and policy innovations with leaders from Freiburg, Germany, widely considered one of the world’s most sustainable cities.

The goal of the exchange was to advance the American renewable energy workforce and increase the technical competence of the U.S. in the energy storage sector. National Science Foundation Program Officers nominated Petruzzella to participate “based on her valuable contributions and expertise developing and implementing exemplary energy education efforts” at Shoreline.

Learn more about Shoreline’s Clean Energy Technology program.