Online Solar Training

In a significant step towards bolstering Australia’s clean energy transition, the Australian Industry Skills Committee (AISC) and Clean Energy Council (CEC) collaborated to introduce major updates to the training units for small-scale renewables. These changes, implemented in December 2022, mark the first substantial overhaul of these units in over a decade.

The revamped training units were meticulously designed to address the evolving skillset required for working on PV, battery, and standalone energy systems. This includes staying abreast of updated standards, regulations, and licensing requirements. The impetus for this comprehensive revision stems from extensive reviews and recommendations provided by the CEC and other industry representatives.

One of the most notable changes is the introduction of a new electrical design pathway, now accessible to anyone seeking to pursue it. Previously, only engineers and electricians were eligible to enroll in design accreditation courses. However, the introduction of the Electrical Principles course specifically caters to non-electricians, paving the way for them to undertake design accreditation courses and become CEC-accredited designers.

The revamped training units were meticulously designed to address the evolving skillset required for working on PV, battery, and standalone energy systems. This includes staying abreast of updated standards, regulations, and licensing requirements. The impetus for this comprehensive revision stems from extensive reviews and recommendations provided by the CEC and other industry representatives.

This expansion of access to design accreditation brings forth several advantages. It ensures that individuals designing PV, battery, and standalone systems possess the necessary formal training to create compliant, safe, and reliable systems. Additionally, these new units contribute to upskilling various job roles, particularly site surveyors and sales and support teams. This upskilling addresses the current skills and job shortage in the renewables industry, thereby alleviating the burden on electricians, fostering better collaboration across roles, elevating standards in renewables infrastructure, and bolstering customer confidence.

There are three primary accreditation types: Grid-Connect Solar PV accreditation, Grid-Connected Battery Storage accreditation, and Stand-Alone Power Systems accreditation. Each of these accreditation types comes in three variations: design only, install only, or both install and design. The chosen variant depends on whether one wishes to become an accredited installer, an accredited designer, or both.

Registered electricians and electrical apprentices are eligible to become accredited designers, installers, or both. Non-electricians, on the other hand, can become CEC accredited in the design variants of all three courses. For non-electricians, completing the Electrical Principles course is a prerequisite before enrolling in the grid-connect, battery, or SAPS courses.

Students currently enrolled in any of the old accreditation units have until December 2023 to complete these units. After this date, training organisations will no longer be authorised to issue the old units. As a result, it is highly recommended that students complete the old units before the deadline to avoid the need for additional gap training.