New Delhi: The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), in collaboration with the National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI), today hosted the National Conference on ‘Skill Development for Renewable Energy Workforce’ at MNRE. Chaired by Secretary MNRE, Shri Santosh Sarangi, the conference focused on accelerating skill development to support India’s ambitious clean energy transition.
In his Keynote Address, MNRE Secretary Shri Sarangi underscored India’s vision for “Clean Tech, Clean Energy, and a Clean Future.” He emphasized the critical need for skilled manpower, a robust carbon credit mechanism, and active startup participation to achieve these goals.
Dr. Arun K Tripathi, Scientist G, MNRE, set the context for the discussions, outlining key action points. These included boosting trainer motivation, strengthening the ecosystem for skill development, promoting blended learning approaches, ensuring quality improvement in training programs, and fostering entrepreneurship development within the renewable energy sector.
Shri Subrahmanyam Pulipaka, CEO, NSEFI, delivered the Opening Remarks, highlighting the crucial role of industry-led skilling initiatives to meet the evolving demands of the clean energy sector.
A significant highlight of the conference was the launch of new programs by Shri J.V.N. Subrahmanyam (IAS), Joint Secretary, MNRE. He officially unveiled the City Accelerator Program (a joint initiative of MNRE & SSEF) and the Startup Challenge (in partnership with DPIIT & NISE). Additionally, Shri Subrahmanyam announced an ambitious rooftop solar plan for 100 cities, with 30 cities slated for implementation in Phase I.
Shri Sudeep Jain, Additional Secretary, MNRE, reinforced the importance of high-quality training and trainers to ensure the effectiveness of skill development programs. Smt. Sonal Mishra, Additional Secretary, MSDE, lauded the convergence between MNRE and MSDE, advocating for an increase in awarding bodies for certifications and promoting women entrepreneurship in the renewable energy domain.
The conference served as a vital platform for stakeholders to collaborate and strategize on developing a skilled workforce essential for India’s transition towards a sustainable and clean energy future.