The United States is on the cusp of a solar energy transformation. Growth in the US solar industry has skyrocketed over the past 10 years, and recent federal legislation and sustainability initiatives have catapulted industry demand to new heights. Technological advances have also benefited the industry: the cost of manufacturing, installing and maintaining solar modules has been reduced, making it an attractive alternative for both commercial and residential customers.
The expansion of the industry shows no sign of abating and is expected to quadruple in the next decade. Still, there are challenges ahead. Despite recent gains and an influx of investment, solar companies face adversity in finding the skilled tradespeople needed to install and maintain systems on a growing number of projects. To advance the industry and meet growing demand, more focus needs to be placed on how to attract and train new talent in the solar energy sector.
Legislation and innovation are fueling solar demand
In 2021, President Biden signed the bipartisan infrastructure bill, part of which allocated $73 billion to overhaul the nation’s electricity infrastructure. Less than a year later, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was also signed into law, focusing in part on energy security and climate change and dedicating $783 billion to those issues. The two bills together provide the foundation to address America’s reliance on fossil fuels, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create new jobs.
Since the laws were signed, money has poured into the renewable energy sector and the solar industry has seen tremendous growth.
Mortenson craftsman working on the Hildreth Solar project
mortenson
By 2023, the US solar industry grew by 51% over the previous year; it was the peak year for solar installations in the country. Recovering from supply chain constraints that had suppressed growth in 2022, the utility-scale sector (i.e. power plants) drove much of the expansion, while installations lations in the residential sector also experienced healthy growth. Overall, new solar-generated electricity capacity accounted for 53% of the US electric grid by 2023.
Solar installation is expected to remain robust over the next four years, with average annual industry growth projected at 7% between 2024 and 2028. In a broader perspective, the Industry Association of Solar Energy® (SEIA) reports that by 2033, US solar capacity will grow enough to power every home east of the Mississippi River.
The labor shortage creates challenges for the growth of the sector
With increasing investment and favorable growth projections, the future looks bright for the solar energy sector.
However, underlying this positive outlook is the undeniable recognition that there are not enough skilled professionals available to build, install and maintain solar infrastructure. With the rapid pace of growth in the industry, the availability of skilled talent has not increased to meet the demand. The workforce is in short supply and companies are struggling to hire the talent they need: 44% of employers in the solar industry said it was “very difficult” to find qualified applicants.
If labor shortages and skills gap issues continue on current trends, they represent a significant risk to meeting the renewable energy targets that have been set. The SEIA says that for solar to reach 30% of household electricity generation by 2030, the workforce needs to grow to “more than a million workers”.
Implementation of solar training solutions
To overcome the challenges caused by today’s labor shortage, solar and electrical training programs will need to be developed, invested in and utilized.
One solution for solar training comes from the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). NCCER’s Solar PV System Installer Curriculum has been recently updated and modernized with insights from industry subject matter experts (SMEs). Revised content includes expanded coverage of commercial and industrial applications for solar PV technology and enhanced residential content such as heat pumps and whole-home efficiency strategies.
Anticipation for one has been building for organizations ranging from smaller schools to large national contractors. Workforce development options in the solar sector have been limited, often forcing programs to combine content from different trades or sources to meet their needs.
Derek Sams, Apprenticeship Program Manager at Mortenson Construction, has been among those in the industry eager for the updated NCCER curriculum.
“I would say five or six years ago we knew we had to start doing more training, better training for these workers,” Sams said.
While solar technology had already been on an upward trend in the industry, Sams said the introduction of recent infrastructure legislation had “fuelled” demand.
Sams also noted that solar installer is not yet a federal apprentice occupation that can be registered with the Department of Labor, which brings additional challenges to creating a sufficient program. Texas-based Mortenson’s apprenticeship program hopes to incorporate modules from NCCER’s new solar PV installer curriculum into its existing construction worker and electrician apprenticeship pathways, helping to qualify workers for upcoming projects
Jose “Joe” Roman, a crafts instructor at the United Education Institute (UEI) in Chula Vista, CA., has been teaching solar installations at various institutions for several decades. Having seen firsthand the evolution of the solar industry and modern training demands, Roman lent his experience as an SME to NCCER’s solar PV curriculum. He believes the updated curriculum will deliver the quality, relevance and flexibility that training programs desperately need.
“The full facility program will open many more doors,” Roman said. “It opens many more doors for people. I think we’re going to see a lot more progress and development with more programs looking to add these kinds of things.”
The path to a sustainable solar workforce
The US Department of Energy puts it this way: “Deploying safe and reliable solar energy systems requires a skilled workforce that is properly trained to design and install these technologies. In addition, maintaining these systems for decades of expected operation requires experienced technicians who can identify and address any safety or performance issues.”
And that’s the conundrum facing the solar industry right now: The current number and quality of solar education programs don’t seem to be enough to meet the growing demand across the country.
Training and learning programs need to be designed and developed so that the solar sector can thrive and meet its needs and goals. Highly trained craft professionals with the right skills and knowledge are vital to executing America’s energy transformation through construction and maintenance. A high degree of technical expertise and understanding is essential in the field of solar energy, and the only way to create a skilled workforce is through recruitment and training.
With increasing demand for energy worldwide, an aging power grid requiring substantial infrastructure upgrades, and green initiatives calling for net zero emissions by 2050, the energy sector is at a critical pivot point. Just as we are investing time, money and resources in major infrastructure projects, we must also invest in the people who will carry them out.
Want to learn more about NCCER’s solar training and learning solutions? Click here
