November 1, 2025
Piyush Verma, Senior Fellow, ORF America, participated in a panel discussion titled, “Scaling Solar Skills for a Sustainable Energy Transition”, on Day 6 of COP30 in Belém, Brazil. The session was jointly organized by the International Solar Alliance, the Global Solar Council (GSC), and the Global Wind Organisation, and featured Sonia Dunlop, CEO, Global Solar Council; Rensie Xhira Bado Panda, International Affairs & CO, NEA, Papua New Guinea; Rodrigo Sauaia, CEO, ABSOLAR; Janice Cheong, Deputy Director of Asia Advocacy/Policy, GWEC; Robert Marinkovic, Adviser for Climate Change and Just Economy, IOE; and Kader Diop, Conseiller technique du Directeur Général chez Agence nationale pour les énergies renouvelables. His remarks highlighted that the core bottleneck in solar deployment is no longer infrastructure installation, but the capacity to maintain and operate these systems through a robust, well-trained workforce.
Key insights included:
A holistic skills ecosystem is essential. A strong solar workforce requires engineers, electricians, financiers, social scientists, project managers, and more — moving beyond fragmented, technician-focused training efforts.
Labor unions are crucial partners. By co-designing training standards, expanding apprenticeships, and supporting certification pathways, unions can help build a durable pipeline for green jobs.
The Global South has a demographic advantage. Countries such as India, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Kenya can become global hubs for solar talent, much as India has emerged as an IT skills powerhouse.
Workers need comprehensive transition support. Career guidance, reskilling programs, micro-credentials, childcare, and relocation assistance turn theoretical transition pathways into lived opportunities.
AI can accelerate skills development. Virtual labs, adaptive learning platforms, and remote troubleshooting tools can scale high-quality training and strengthen solar operations in remote or capacity-constrained regions.
The energy transition ultimately rises on workforce strength. A well-trained, well-supported solar workforce — particularly across the Global South — will determine whether countries can scale clean energy equitably and at the pace the world now demands.