New solar report from TESP analyses skills challenges ahead

Following the announcement of ambitious solar power targets set by government earlier this year, and publication of a broader Clean Energy Jobs Plan last month, TESP has issued a report which responds to the skills challenges these present and examines the practicalities in scaling up the workforce.

The new Solar Roadmap, launched by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, commits to delivering 45-47 gigawatts (GW) of solar power capacity by 2030. Recognising the importance of a skilled workforce in delivering this target, the roadmap also lists various skills challenges that must be addressed, including areas such as mapping and expanding training provision, supporting upskilling and apprenticeships and expanding the installer base.

In its report Powering the UK’s Future, TESP looks at each key skills theme raised in the roadmap and details where the electrical contracting industry can support delivery, exploring areas where we already have relevant initiatives or technical capacity in place that can be scaled, supported or leveraged by DESNZ and Skills England to provide greater impact and accelerate the alignment between government, industry and education.

With mapping routes to competence listed as a key priority, the electrical contracting industry is well placed to work with government on this, having through TESP already mapped qualifications to standards and technical competencies at all levels.

In Part 2 of the report, TESP draws on detailed analysis carried out by Pye Tait Consulting in 2023 and 2025, to forecast workforce requirements and examine what must be done to train, retain and upskill electricians to meet these solar targets.

The research suggests that the solar sector alone would require at least an additional 1,300 electricians by 2030, or an extra 325 electricians per year concentrating solely on solar. While modest in isolation, this demand competes with parallel pressures from new housing, EV infrastructure, heat pump rollouts, smart grid expansions and wider electrification of the economy, all reliant on the same skill base, and which are all in addition to the increasing demand for electricians due to retirement of the current workforce.

Ruth Devine MBE, TESP Chair, said:

“As identified via our ‘Electrician Plus’ model, having sufficient skilled and qualified electricians is crucial to meet the 2030 solar targets.

TESP welcomes the Solar Roadmap and the recent recognition of electricians as a leading priority occupation within the Clean Energy Jobs Plan. It’s vitally important government works directly with genuine sector representatives to design policy and implement action to meet the predicted workforce requirements – we look forward to contributing to this work along with our industry partners.”

the-esp.org.uk