BSW Solar to integrate Indian skilled workers into German solar market; EDF Renewables acquires 529 MW PV in Germany; Tongwei enters 1 GW module supply contract with Austria's Energy 3000 Solar GmbH; Ameresco takes over Italy's Enerqos.
Skilled Indians for Germany's solar market: The German Solar Industry Association BSW Solar has announced an agreement with the Indian Skill Council of Green Jobs (SCGJ) to integrate Indian skilled workers into the German solar industry to help the European nation meet its solar expansion targets. India has been training its denizens under a Suryamitra or Sun Worker short-term electrician training course to get them ready for the solar market. Germany will tap into this talent pool.
With this, Germany is trying to deal with the challenge of lack of skilled human resources that the European solar industry faces in its efforts to speed up solar deployment. "We need more hands for the energy transition and want to secure the necessary massive expansion of solar energy by trained craftsmen, which we cannot find alone in Germany due to the shortage of skilled workers. We are looking forward to finding out together with our Indian partners how well the young electricians can be integrated into the solar industry and get further qualifications," said International Director of the BSW, David Wedepohl.
The BSW will further expand the integration of skilled workers from beyond shores into the solar industry after the government brings in Skilled Immigration Act into effect.
EDF Renewables invests in German solar: EDF Group's renewable energy business EDF Renewables has acquired 529 MW solar PV portfolio from German project developer MEC Energy which is part of the MEC Group. This expands EDF Renewables' footprint in Germany where it currently has a portfolio of around 180 MW onshore wind. MEC Energy selected EDF Renewables after a competitive solicitation process to develop the 17 ground mounted solar power plants in Lower-Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Brandenburg. All these facilities are due to come online between 2024 and 2025.
Tongwei finds solar module supplier in Austria: Chinese solar module producer Tongwei Solar has entered a framework agreement with Austrian supplier of solar modules and storage systems Energy 3000 Solar GmbH. Under the agreement, the Austrian company will secure 1 GW worth of Tongwei's high efficiency p- and n-type modules over the next 3 years. Tongwei said Energy 3000 will become the company's European market partner helping it expand its reach to more regions.
Ameresco acquires Enerqos of Italy: US based renewables company Ameresco has acquired Italian renewable energy player Enerqos Energy Solutions to expand its presence in Europe. Enerqos caters to various industries as healthcare, real estate, retail and residential segments with its solar PV, gas cogeneration and wood biomass boilers offerings. For Ameresco, this acquisition expands its geographic footprint and adds a new pipeline of work throughout Italy, said the company's President and CEO Geogre Sakellaris.