EU supports accredited solar training to accelerate clean energy transition
Daily FT: The European Union (EU), through the Accelerated Industries Climate Response Sri Lanka (AICRSL) Project implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), facilitated the handover of advanced Solar PV training and demonstration equipment to five Technical Colleges across Sri Lanka. The ceremonial event was held today at the Department of Technical Education and Training (DTET) in Colombo.
This timely intervention, carried out in response to a request by the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL), represents a significant step toward strengthening Sri Lanka’s renewable energy workforce. By equipping Technical Colleges in Gampaha, Matara, Badulla, Warakapola, and Jaffna with modern, hands-on training systems, the initiative directly contributes to national efforts to accelerate the adoption of clean energy while addressing critical skills gaps in the sector.
A key impact of this support lies in enabling Technical Colleges to meet formal accreditation requirements for delivering Solar PV training programs. With access to industry-standard equipment, including on-grid and off-grid demonstration systems, solar panel structures, and installation tools, institutions are now better positioned to offer certified, high-quality training that aligns with national standards. This not only enhances the credibility of these institutions but also ensures that graduates enter the workforce with practical, job-ready skills demanded by Sri Lanka’s rapidly growing renewable energy sector.
A senior representative of PUCSL noted, “This initiative comes at a crucial time as Sri Lanka scales up renewable energy deployment. As the sector regulator, it is essential to ensure the safety of electrical systems, and high-quality workmanship is critical to achieving proper installations. In this context, strengthening technical training capacity is vital to meeting national energy targets while ensuring the sustainability of the Solar PV industry in Sri Lanka.”
The PUCSL initiated efforts in 2023 to strengthen Solar PV training within the national technical education framework, recognising it as an effective pathway to establishing a sustainable education system for the solar PV sector. These training programs are designed to support the development of a skilled workforce capable of delivering safe, efficient, and standards-compliant Solar PV installations across the country.
With the addition of solar PV training facilities at these five centres supported by the EU, the total number of centres facilitated by PUCSL on Solar PV training will increase to eight, expanding access and ensuring more equitable training opportunities for students across Sri Lanka.
DTET Director General D. Wathsala Marambage emphasised the transformative impact of the equipment, stating, “Meeting accreditation requirements has been a major challenge due to limited access to modern training infrastructure. With this support, we can now deliver accredited Solar PV courses with improved quality, expand our training programs, and ensure our students gain hands-on experience that meets industry expectations.”
The EU’s support under the AICRSL Project underscores its continued commitment to promoting sustainable industrial development and climate action in Sri Lanka. By linking accreditation, skills development, and renewable energy adoption, this initiative will create a strong foundation for long-term impact, empowering institutions, enhancing workforce readiness, and advancing the country’s transition to a low-carbon future.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s focus on transitioning into clean energy amidst the ongoing economic expansion have created many business/investment opportunities in the country’s power industry, especially in the renewable energy generation sector. These emerging opportunities in the renewable energy generation sector are manifold covering sectors related to renewable energy generation that include the introduction of the latest technical and technological advancements. The increasing business potential in Sri Lanka’s renewable energy generation sector is evident by the strength, growth and expansion of businesses already engaged in the sector as well as the increasing interest shown by foreign businesses/investors including leading global players to explore the growing opportunities in the local sector. All these factors have made Sri Lanka’s renewable energy generation sector present lucrative business/investment opportunities for foreign businesses/investors on the lookout for such in Sri Lanka. Foreign businesses could also look at expanding into Sri Lanka’s renewable energy generation sector through partnerships or joint ventures with local businesses.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20260422/Z_1 |