Renewable energy capacity can be installed quickly, but a resilient renewable energy economy can only be built through people. As India expands solar, wind, bioenergy, small hydro, storage, green hydrogen and distributed energy systems, the demand for specialised capabilities is growing across design, manufacturing, project development, installation, commissioning, grid management, operations, safety and maintenance. Skill and capacity building must therefore be treated as core energy infrastructure rather than as a supporting activity undertaken after projects are announced.
The workforce requirement is both large and constantly evolving. The MNRE research compendium records more than 75,000 technicians trained through the Human Resource Development programme, including Suryamitras, Vayumitras, Varunmitras and Jal-urjamitras. Under PM Surya Ghar, capacity-building efforts have trained over two lakh candidates across roles such as rooftop solar technicians, electricians, installers, supervisors, vendors, trainers and DISCOM officials. The National Green Hydrogen Mission is creating an entirely new set of occupational requirements across electrolyser manufacturing, plant operations, storage, transport, safety, certification and industrial applications. These efforts demonstrate that technology deployment and workforce development must advance together.
The next stage requires a more integrated skills architecture. Training curricula must remain aligned with current technologies, national quality standards and real operating conditions. Industrial training institutes, universities, research institutions, Sector Skill Councils and manufacturers should collaborate on modular courses, apprenticeships, simulator-based learning and certification pathways. Training must cover not only technical competence but also commercial understanding, digital tools, cybersecurity, occupational safety, environmental safeguards and customer service.
Managers, regulators and financial institutions also require sector-specific capability so that project approvals, procurement, risk assessment and workforce planning keep pace with technological change. Equally important is the development of trainers, assessors and local service networks that can sustain quality beyond the initial installation cycle.
Capacity building must also be inclusive and geographically distributed. Young people, women, rural entrepreneurs and workers from conventional energy sectors should be able to enter the clean energy economy through accessible training, recognition of prior learning and clear career pathways. Local expertise reduces downtime, improves consumer confidence and ensures that renewable assets continue to perform throughout their operational life. Bharat Renewable Energy Summit & Expo offers an opportunity to align governments, industry and academia around a common workforce agenda. India’s clean energy leadership will ultimately be measured not only by gigawatts added, but by the depth of capability created to design, manufacture, operate and continuously improve the systems powering the future.