Solar Skills - SolarPower Europe

SolarPower Europe is actively working on addressing the solar skills gap. Solar power is set to become Europe’s main source of energy before the end of the decade. Solar is one of the most job-creating energy technologies; our latest EU Solar Jobs Report 2023, reveals that the solar sector will need 1 million workers in Europe as soon as 2025. Solar could create 4 million jobs across Europe by 2050. To meet this enormous job potential, it is urgent to mobilise the workforce with the right skills to facilitate the energy transition.

To address the solar skills challenge, SolarPower Europe has developed the #SolarWorks Platform, the first online recruitment tool dedicated to solar, the #SolarWorks Platform is a one-stop-shop for future solar workers and recruiters, matching applicants to relevant roles or training programmes.

SolarPower Europe Reports

EU Solar Jobs Report 2023

SolarPower Europe’s latest EU Solar Jobs Report 2023 reveals that the solar workforce grew by 39% to 648,000 by the end of 2022, from 466,000 workers in 2021. With the number of solar workers growing rapidly, high quality skills must go together with large-volume recruitment. The third annual EU Solar Jobs Report brings forward earlier projections and predicts more than 1 million solar workers in the EU as soon as 2025. These workers will need to be capably trained to deliver well-functioning and safe solar equipment and installations.

By 2025,Europe will need

1 million

workers

Solar workforce grew by

39%

by the end of 2022, compared to 2021

EU Solar Jobs Report 2023

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Our ‘Solar Jobs’ guide presents a comprehensive list of roles in the industry and the skills required to fill them. The publication is an invaluable tool to those interested in joining the solar industry and the fight against climate change. The guide is the culmination of a year of work by over 30 professionals active from across the solar value chain, many of whom are in hiring manager positions.

SolarPower Europe’s Jobs Guide

Overview of jobs available throughout the solar value chain. Outlining soft skills required across all of these roles.

Download the guide

Partnerships

Image: © European Commission

The Renewable Energy Skills Partnership, comprised of renewable energy associations and clean technology installers, was launched in March 2023, to identify the skills measures needed to deliver our climate and energy security goals.

This skills partnership is a concrete implementation of the Pact for Skills, the flagship initiative under the European Skills Agenda. Soon, the partnership will launch a set of training programmes for renewables across the EU.

Renewable Energy Skills Partnership Joint Statement on Net-Zero Industry Academies

Accelerate training programmes. Address urgent skills shortages. Build on existing sectoral, initiatives.

Download the joint statement

Image: © Iberdrola

In June 2023, the Electrification Alliance released a new report highlighting job creation opportunities associated with a switch to clean and renewable electrification.

Since 2017, the Electrification Alliance gathers Avere (electro-mobility), Eurelectric, the European Climate Foundation, the European Copper Institute, the European Heat Pump Association, EuropeOn (electrical contractors), smartEn, SolarPower Europe and WindEurope, who collectively call for electricity to be recognised as the key energy carrier, for an efficient and decarbonised European future.