The European Commission has launched the European Solar Academy, the first in a series of EU Academies to be set up under the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA) develop the necessary workfoce and skills along the net zero technologies value chains.
The role of NZIA academies is to develop learning content and programmes alongside industry.
It is estimated the PV manufacturing sector will need 66,000 skilled workers by 2030 for the EU to meets its renewable energy targets while ensuring industrial competitiveness. The Solar Academy aims to train 100,000 workers in the solar sector over the next three years to address the current labour and skills gap.
Following the successful model of the European Battery Academy, launched in 2022 for the battery value-chain, the Solar Academy will design learning content, together with the industry and relevant parties in the solar PV value chain.
It will also develop learning credentials, which will certify the skills that people have acquired in its training courses, thus also boosting the mobility of the workforce across the Single Market.
The deployment of the programmes is done via local partners. These can be Vocational and Educational Training (VET) providers, businesses, universities or other education and training providers with whom the Academy signs a contract to deliver its programmes.
The Commission is supporting the launch of the European Solar Academy with €9m from the Single Market Programme. The project will be implemented by the European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT) via its Knowledge and Innovation Community, EIT Innoenergy.
This Academy is the latest Commission initiative supporting the EU’s efforts to reach its ambitious targets under the European Green Deal and the REPowerEU Plan while ensuring that the industry is resilient and competitive on the global stage.
“Boosting solar PV manufacturing in Europe is vital for our energy security, competitiveness and resilience,” said Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton.
“Today’s Solar Academy launch proves the Commission is committed to reducing emissions while creating quality jobs in the EU.
“The launch of the Academy even before the entry into force of the Net Zero Industry Act will help address the urgent skills gap in Europe’s solar PV sector – some 66,000 workers for manufacturing alone – and train a new generation of workers for our solar industry, in line with our objective to manufacture by 2030 at least 40% of our net-zero technology needs.”
Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson added: “Solar power is at the heart of our energy transition in Europe, with the potential to create thousands of jobs across our continent, at all stages of the industrial supply chain, from design through to manufacturing, installation and maintenance.
“The Net Zero Academy created by the Commission will help our European workers to embrace this exciting opportunity, and offer further support to meet our ambitious REPowerEU goals.”