The Advisory Council of the European Solar Academy is shaping how Europe prepares people for the future of solar energy. It brings together the perspectives that matter most to ensure skills lead to real outcomes.
Europe is accelerating the rollout of solar energy. Meeting these targets requires more than technology and infrastructure. It depends on a workforce that is ready to deliver across deployment, manufacturing, operations, and end-of-life. Yet in many regions, the gap between what is taught and what the sector actually needs continues to grow.
The European Solar Academy created the Advisory Council to address this gap. It brings together leaders from industry, education, policy, and civil society to guide workforce strategy. The Council helps define the roles that matter, shape the learning pathways that support them, and align credentials with practical needs across Europe.
The Council connects the dots. It ensures that what gets taught reflects where the sector is going, not just where it has been.”
The European Solar Academy Advisory Council brings together experts from different fields, some with specific knowledge on the solar industry, and some with a broader perspective on the entire energy sector. Working together, we can ensure that the rapidly evolving skills needs of the solar workforce are anticipated and met across Europe. ”
A structure for shared responsibility
Each member of the Council contributes insights from their part of the solar value chain. Their collaboration strengthens the Academy’s ability to act on hiring challenges, qualification gaps, and emerging workforce trends.
For Johan Lindahl, Advisor to the European Solar Manufacturing Council, this structure supports industrial progress.
Skills are a core part of industrial resilience. They determine how fast Europe can respond to market shifts. The Council helps us plan for the workforce needed to scale manufacturing and build strong supply chains.”
Council members help shape course content, influence which roles are prioritised, and support credential recognition across Member States. This results in faster delivery, more focused training, and stronger alignment with real needs.
A new approach to skills development in Europe
The Advisory Council reflects a wider shift in how Europe is tackling the skills challenge. The emphasis is moving away from generalised interventions toward targeted collaboration between sectors.
Daniela Santopolo, Policy Officer at the European Commission Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL), sees the Academy and its Council as part of a broader shift in EU labour market strategy.
The Council’s contributions help the Academy stay focused on outcomes that matter. The goal to train 100,000 learners in three years is not only about scale. It reflects a commitment to workforce development that is relevant, inclusive, and responsive to changing market needs.
We are seeing a stronger focus on skills that link directly to strategic value chains. The Academy and its Council are contributing to this by creating targeted solutions that support quality jobs, industrial strength, and labour mobility.”
We are not just building knowledge through courses. We are fostering confidence across the industry. The Council is essential in making that possible.”
What this makes possible
The Council has already influenced major initiatives within the European Solar Academy. These include training for manufacturing, learning journeys in operations and maintenance, guidance for local permitting authorities, and strategies for cross-border reskilling.
This work creates a foundation for long-term impact. The structure ensures that education remains connected to labour market shifts, employer demand, and regional realities. It is a way to move from plans to implementation, and from ideas to results.
The Advisory Council provides a model for how skills development can be done differently. It brings relevance, speed, and coordination to a space that often lacks all three.
Explore how the Advisory Council is shaping solar workforce strategy
Visit the Advisory Council page and partner with the European Solar Academy
