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The European solar energy industry expects to need several hundred thousand additional skilled workers in the coming years. According to a report by the European umbrella organization Solar Power Europe (SPE), the sector in the EU had created 648,000 “full-time equivalents” last year, mainly in installation and assembly.

If the solar boom continues through 2027, that could already be 1.2 million in a ‘medium scenario’. The greatest need for skilled workers is therefore in Germany.

Especially looking for construction workers

What is needed are mainly construction professionals for installation, but also planning and electrical engineers. The solar industry is concerned that a lack of skilled workers could become an obstacle to its hoped-for rapid growth. “Not enough workers in renewable energy mean that not enough projects can be implemented,” says Sanda Bozic, HR manager at Baywa re, a major solar project developer with operations in 31 countries and based in Munich.

A full-time equivalent is a common figure in human resources management, converting all positions to full-time positions. The actual number of employees, on the other hand, is usually higher, because employees also work part-time.

Solar Power Europe is based in Brussels and is the European lobby association for 300 companies and national associations, chaired by Austrian manager Walburga Hemetsberger.

Last year, according to the PES report, Poland topped the list with almost 147,000 full-time equivalents, followed by Spain with more than 103,000 and Germany with almost 96,000. But according to the Solar Association, this will change quickly: the study authors expect that Germany will have more than 210,000 full-time equivalents by 2027. That would be more than a doubling, and Germany would rise to the top, ahead of Spain and Poland.

High demand for sustainable energy

“The ambitious installation targets in almost all European countries mean that demand for workers in the renewable energy sector – and in particular the solar sector – is increasing faster than elsewhere,” said Bozic, head of human resources for Europe at Baywa. Middle East and Africa. When it comes to technical professions, the solar energy sector competes with energy suppliers, the automotive industry and even large IT companies.

Both the association and the company therefore call for more political commitment to make training and studying in technical professions more popular. (sda/awp/dpa)