On 2 October, RESkill4NetZero Project Coordinators InnoEnergy Skills Institute and SolarPower Europe co-hosted their first-ever Solar Jobs & Skills Day in Brussels.
The event brought together European policymakers, solar industry leaders, training providers, and skills partners to discuss how to overcome workforce challenges and unlock opportunities for millions of European workers in the solar sector.
The day began with an opening keynote speech by Martin Le Vrang from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL). He spoke about the issue of skills gaps in Europe, the need to focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions and the European Commission’s Union of Skills strategy, aimed at building a comprehensive European workforce. At the end of his speech, Mr Le Vrang stated: “We are looking forward to a future that is marked by rapid technological change and environmental responsibility.”
Following the keynote speech, co-hosts SolarPower Europe and InnoEnergy Skills Institute provided opening remarks on the topic of solar jobs growth. CEO of SolarPower Europe Walburga Hemetsberger praised the continued expansion in the solar jobs sector despite setbacks, commenting: “The trajectory is clear: solar will be the biggest electricity source in Europe soon.” InnoEnergy’s Skills Institute Director Oana Penu spoke of the intersection of the energy and digital transition, and the necessity to build the skills infrastructure required to power it, stating: “We need to think of skills and talent infrastructure as a muscle for Europe.” She also touched on the human element of the solar jobs sector, commenting: “When we talk about 865,000 jobs, that’s 865,000 people.”
The official launch of SolarPower Europe’s EU Solar Jobs Report 2025 was one of the main highlights of the day. Christoph Lits, Market Analyst at SolarPower Europe, talked participants through the report’s key findings: “When an industry growth is multiplied by 20 in 10 years, you need a lot of people [to accompany this growth] to produce, install and maintain those solar PV panels.” The report found that solar PV employment grew by 5% in 2024, employing 865,000 people. However, for the first time in nearly a decade, solar jobs are decreasing, with the solar workforce anticipated to drop by 5%, to around 825,000 jobs in 2025.
The session that followed featured a fireside chat between Walburga Hemetsberger and Daniela Santopolo, Policy Officer at the Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL). Santopolo shared further insights into the Union of Skills, highlighting the urgency of tackling the shortage of STEM professionals across Europe.
The subsequent two sessions highlighted the progress achieved by various Academies. Oana Penu from InnoEnergy Skills Institute presented the latest developments from the NetZero Industry Academies, underscoring the unique opportunity to position solar energy as the cornerstone of Europe’s energy mix. The following panel session featured contributions from Jacqui Wigg (InnoEnergy Skills Institute), Jacob Piccagli (SolarPower Europe), Oier Bolibar (ESA Advisory Council), Minh-Huy Lai (Generation), and Arun Ramakrishnan (RCT Solutions).
In the afternoon, Jacob Piccagli, Project & Policy Officer at SolarPower Europe, led a session focused on solar training schemes, joined by Stanislas Pesic from Kolverr and Arun Ramakrishnan from RCT Solutions. The day concluded with a panel moderated by Kris Ignaciuk from the InnoEnergy Skills Institute, where Elias Paul (InnoEnergy Skills Institute), Elise Bruhat (Holosolis), and Kristi Ghosh (Trio Advisory) explored the future of solar jobs and workforce development.
Finally, the day wrapped up with a networking event, offering participants a chance to reflect on the discussions and exchange perspectives.
Overall, the first Solar Jobs & Skills Day was a success, demonstrating that even with a slight dip in the market, the solar industry continues to rely on skilled professionals to drive its growth.
The discussions made one thing clear: Europe’s solar ambition is high, but achieving it will depend on building a strong skills and talent base.
Header Image: © Alun Foster