Positioning Paper on Solar Training Launched

In early 2024, GWO and the Global Solar Council (GSC) announced their intention to collaborate on a new initiative that will introduce training standards for the world’s solar PV technician workforce. Solar power will deliver the majority of the clean energy gigawatts needed to drive the global energy transition. It is therefore crucial to ensure the availability of a skilled workforce trained according to  a trusted certification system.

Early assessments from GWO and GSC stakeholders indicate that reduced transaction costs, safety assurance and improved productivity will be a key driver for creation of training standards and will avoid mass duplication across the sector. As was the case when GWO standards were introduced for wind technicians in 2012, the lack of standardised training available to solar PV employers makes it difficult for asset owners and developers to recommend industry endorsed safety training for their EPC suppliers. The project looks to leverage the expertise, network and experience of the wind industry in this field and replicate it in solar PV.

This is an exciting new development with lots of potential value for our stakeholders. GWO’s scope has historically focused on skills and competence training for wind technicians, but our membership of OEMs and owner operators have significant interests in other renewable power generation technologies, especially solar PV. It makes good sense for GWO and GSC to build on one another’s core competencies, namely project development of training standards and governance of training delivery at GWO, and broad membership representation in the Solar EPC market by Global Solar Council.

Jakob Lau Holst, CEO of Global Wind Organisation

Launched today the Solar Training  Standards Initiative positioning paper describes the case for standards and the outlines the scope and assumptions behind this exciting collaborative project. At this stage, GWO would like to explore interest and availability of safety training for utility scale, solar photovoltaic (PV) installation technicians in training centres via an online Survey Monkey to certified training provider.  In due course GWO will be posting regular updates on the project and announcing further consultations.