Sri Lanka sets mandatory qualifications for solar technicians from 2028

Sri Lanka will introduce mandatory vocational qualifications for solar power technicians from 2028 as the country moves to regulate a rapidly expanding industry needed to meet its renewable energy targets.

The Engineering Council of Sri Lanka (ECSL) has gazetted new regulations requiring those working as solar energy technicians to hold at least an NVQ Level 3 qualification in the relevant field from 1 January 2028 to 31 December 2029.

From 1 January 2030, technicians will be required to possess a minimum NVQ Level 4 qualification in Solar Power Technology.

Solar technicians will also be required to register with the ECSL as engineering technicians.

The new requirements come as Sri Lanka seeks to add around 600 megawatts of solar power capacity to the national grid each year to achieve its target of generating 70 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

More than 1,000 companies have already been licensed by the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority (SLSEA) to import and install solar power systems.

Around 10,000 people are estimated to be employed in the solar power industry, but the majority reportedly do not possess recognised professional qualifications in solar technology.

Authorities estimate that around 5,000 qualified solar technicians will need to be trained annually to support the installation of approximately 600 MW of additional solar capacity each year.

However, Sri Lanka has only a limited number of training centres equipped to provide specialised solar technology training and also faces a shortage of qualified instructors.

The SLSEA and the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) have therefore launched a programme to train 5,000 solar energy technicians and 100 instructors and inspectors ahead of the new regulatory requirements.

Around 1,500 technicians have already been trained under the programme.

A separate initiative is also under way to award NVQ Level 3 qualifications through the Recognition of Prior Learning scheme.

Under the scheme, solar technicians with more than two years of industry experience will be able to obtain the NVQ Level 3 qualification free of charge.