Skill development a must for proper solar energy usage

NEW DELHI: I’ve written about the Green Skills Council of the Ministry of Skill Development before, and I usually don’t write about similar issues a second time, except to say something new. That is exactly what I have to say this time.

It all began with a few conversations about how solar has transformed from 15 years agothe panels are more sophisticated, the efficiencies are greater and rooftop solar is becoming more popular. But a repeated concern I heard was quality of technical staff the companies who get hired. Do they train them and refresh their training?

Just as we sometimes find our bijli-wallas are sometimes not trained enough, there isn’t a way for us to ascertain our solar-wallas’ skills, it seems.

Enter the Green Skill Council. Not only should it actually train- as it does-it must offer refresher training every two years, so every solar company can show its clients a training certificate for every solar worker they send on assignment. And the workers can move to a better job because of a valid certificate.

Why is this relevant? 2017 is projected as a record one for the Indian solar energy market, with 130% increase in year-onyear demand. Agreed, rooftop and individual clientele is small- just 10% as of now. But the government wants to increase it to about 40% by 2022. Without outstanding skilling and re-skilling and upgrading, this won’t happen.

Any conversation on turning green and renewables for climate change must pull in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship at the very start.