European Net-Zero Academies should accelerate training and address urgent skills shortages. The Renewable Energy Skills partnership has issued a statement of 10 recommendations to the European Commission, on the establishment of Net-Zero Industry Academies, as proposed by the Commission in the Net-Zero Industry Act.
Soon, the partnership will launch a set of training programmes for renewables across the EU.
Arthur Daemers, Policy Advisor at SolarPower Europe (he/him); “The challenge is twofold: we must ensure high-quality skills, while recruiting more solar workers. Stakeholders like the Renewable Energy Skills Partnership must be involved every step of the way, so that we can build up the skilled workforce needed to secure a carbon neutral Europe.”
The Renewable Energy Skills Partnership is urgently calling on the European Commission to take decisive action. European Net-Zero Academies should:
1. Accelerate training programmes across the EU.
2. Address urgent skills shortages.
3. Build on existing sectoral, initiatives.
4. Prioritise net-zero sectors with critical skills shortages.
5. Foster a comprehensive framework, mapping all net-zero skills initiatives.
6. Strengthen synergies across net-zero technologies.
7. Identify emerging topics for trainings.
8. Provide the necessary funding.
9. Strive for cross-border recognition of qualifications, and the harmonisation of certifications.
10. Industry and relevant stakeholders, such as the Renewable Energy Skills Partnership, should be an integral part of the European Net-Zero Academies framework’s governance mechanism.
This statement comes as SolarPower Europe has just published their latest EU Solar Jobs Report 2023, revealing that the solar sector will need 1 million workers in Europe as soon as 2025.
The Renewable Energy Skills Partnership brings together stakeholders from the entire spectrum of the Renewable Energy value chain.
It gathers organisations involved in the identification and analysis of skills needs and solutions in the renewable energy sector; and in the development, implementation, promotion or financing of educational and training programmes, frameworks, and institutions.
SolarPower Europe is the award-winning link between policymakers and the solar PV value chain. Our mission is to ensure solar becomes Europe’s leading energy source by 2030. As the member-led association for the European solar PV sector, SolarPower Europe represents over 300 organisations across the entire solar sector.
With solar sitting on the horizon of unprecedented expansion, we work together with our members to create the necessary regulatory and business environment to take solar to the next level.