The number of tradesman opting to retrain as solar panel installers is on the rise as more and more people and businesses look to use renewable energy sources.
Over the past few years there has been an increase in both private solar panel installations and government-funded projects, with solar panels being installed on both new build properties and older public buildings.
Recently the former mining village of Craghead in Durham had 90 homes fitted with solar panels as part of a government scheme to reduce fuel poverty.
As part of another government-funded project, Jewel & Esk College in Edinburgh is planning to unplug from the national grid completely by building a “solar meadow”. This involves fitting 800 panels in a nearby field which will power all the college’s electrical needs and also provide surplus energy for the local community.
This increase in demand for solar panel installations has seen a rise in the number of tradespeople retraining as installers. Roofers, electricians and plumbers are taking courses to add another string to their bow to keep up with this trend.
Courses are readily available all over the country and some companies are now taking on apprentices to learn the trade.
Christos Panayiotou of Trade Skills 4U says: “We have seen the numbers of people retraining go through the roof, if you’ll excuse the pun. Over the last year, feed-in tariffs have helped grow the industry both in the commercial and domestic sectors. With energy prices continuing to increase, demand for renewable energy skills continues to grow. Training now would be a wise choice for many looking to enhance or update their current skills.”
Some tradesman insurance policies have the option to add on “solar panel installer” so if you’re thinking of retraining this year, make sure you’ve got the right level of cover.
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