Initiatives to boost solar energy adoption are doing much to grow Ontario’s green economy, but the rapid launches of the province’s renewable energy projects comes at a price - the growing gap between demand for skilled workers and the ability of solar training classes to graduate these professionals.
That nearly 700 new projects have been approved for renewable energy incentives from the Ontario government illustrates the economic and job creation potential of the province’s aggressive green legislation. Renewable energy directly and indirectly creates new jobs, while ensuring that the energy needs of homeowners and businesses are met sustainably. However, establishing a labour force capable of steering this changing economy could pose significant challenges.
Solar Classes Adding Capacity
As several solar panel manufacturing plants come online this year, they could face substantial difficulties staffing their facilities with employees who have appropriate levels of solar training. Similar challenges await solar integrator and installation firms.
While schools such as Toronto-based Ontario Solar Academy have expanded their solar training classes targeted at PV designers and installers, the province’s green economy will almost certainly demand more qualified professionals than can be graduated currently. David Gower, Associate Director, comments, “The labour gap is obviously good news for our graduates, many of whom come to us for career training. But the province still has much work to do.”
With the province committing some $15 billion to the green economy, Ontarians have been told to expect as many as 50,000 new renewable energy jobs in the coming years. Not all of these positions will require solar training. In fact, not all of these positions will even revolve around solar energy, with wind, geothermal, biogas, energy efficiency, and energy auditing accounting for much of the expected growth. Even still, the solar industry is short-staffed now, and the sector has only just begun its rapid expansion.
Focus on Solar Training
Much of this expansion stems from external interest in Ontario’s favorable investment climate and green energy goals. For example, Korean electronics giant, Samsung, leads a consortium of investors pumping $7 billion into Ontario’s renewable energy economy. Because of the province’s domestic content guidelines, at least 50% of those hired through this historic project must be local. This is obviously terrific news for an economy hard hit by the current crisis, but only if the province can supply enough job-ready, highly trained workers to justify the type of growth that $7 billion can bring.
Hopefully, Ontario will heed the recommendations of CanSIA’s exhaustive energy report by promoting solar training, creating apprenticeships, adding university solar classes, and establishing Canadian-specific industry standards.
