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India’s ambitious bid to lead the global renewable energy transition is running into a significant obstacle, a shortage of skilled workers. Industry leaders say this talent gap is driving up costs, delaying projects, and reducing productivity. Without urgent intervention, the shortfall could undermine the country’s clean energy targets and global climate commitments.
A senior executive at a major Indian call manufacturer said the current situation needs an immediate solution. “India urgently needs professionals with expertise in photovoltaic technology, semiconductor materials, wafer technology, device fabrication, etc.”
Additionally, there is demand for skills in precision testing, defect analysis, statistical process control, and compliance with international quality standards. Familiarity with automated manufacturing systems, robotics, chemical safety protocols, real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and yield optimization is also essential.
India’s current educational and vocational training infrastructure is not equipped to meet these wide-ranging requirements. As a result, competition for skilled professionals is intensifying, further widening the talent gap.
The problem is compounded by the industry’s shift toward newer technologies like TOPCon and HJT, which require a specialized workforce that is currently in short supply. “We are expanding at scale while navigating rapid technological changes. Our production base is still small, but we have huge potential to become a global supplier of photovoltaic technologies. The only logical and sustainable way forward is to train our workforce. We need to build and maintain a strong talent pool,” the executive explained.
India added 25.3 GW of solar module capacity and 11.6 GW of solar cell capacity in calendar year 2024, according to Mercom’s recently released State of Solar PV Manufacturing in India 2025 report. This capacity is only set to increase further leading to the growing technically qualified manpower to run it.
The project development and installation segment is also facing pressure. One installer highlighted the shortage of experienced engineers and project managers across solar, wind, hybrid systems, energy storage, and grid integration. “We’re struggling to find qualified professionals across the board.”
Beyond engineering roles, there is a rising demand for digital skills. As the sector becomes more dependent on data-driven performance management, expertise in weather analytics, SCADA systems, asset management platforms, and data science is increasingly important. “This kind of digital expertise is extremely scarce in the current talent pool,” the installer added.
The shortage also extends to semi-skilled and technical labor. Workers for project execution, mechanical and electrical assembly, and commissioning are vital to executing projects but are often overlooked in workforce planning. “Remote project sites are especially difficult to staff,” the installer said. “People are unwilling to relocate to isolated areas, and local labor often isn’t trained for this kind of work.”
The limited talent pool has sparked intense competition among developers. “Everyone is fighting for the same engineers and technicians, offering significant salary hikes to attract them.” This has increased attrition rates, making it harder for companies to build and retain project teams.
Terance Alex, Founder and CEO of WattSun Energy, reported similar issues. Despite offering competitive salaries, his company struggles to hire skilled engineers, junior staff, electricians, and welders. Alex said many experienced candidates have fundamental knowledge gaps, which is why his company prefers to train fresh graduates in-house.
To address the issue, WattSun set up its own training academy in collaboration with the Skill Council for Green Jobs and the Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology. The program combines classroom instruction, hands-on fieldwork, and detailed product training under the guidance of certified engineers.
“We don’t just train people to sell solar systems,” Alex explained. “We train them to solve problems, whether it’s reducing electricity bills, achieving energy independence, or protecting the environment.”
Many developers also point to the lack of practical training in academic institutions. While solar and wind energy are part of many curricula, instructors often lack real-world experience, leaving graduates unprepared for industry demands.
During a panel discussion at the recent Mercom Renewables Summit 2025, Raj Prabhu, CEO and Co-Founder of Mercom Capital Group, highlighted the skills shortage as one of the most pressing issues holding back India’s clean energy growth.
He estimated that the lack of skilled workforce is slowing industry growth by 10–20%, directly affecting companies’ ability to execute projects and scale operations at the desired pace. Drawing from his company’s experience, he pointed out that many job candidates in renewable energy roles still talk about outdated technologies like concentrated solar power, which went out of business more than a decade ago, a clear sign that academic curricula are disconnected from current industry realities.
Prabhu argued that this mismatch means companies must spend valuable time and resources retraining new hires, even for basic sector knowledge, at a time when the industry cannot afford delays. While acknowledging that the private sector will need to take the lead in upskilling, he stressed that government and educational institutions must update engineering and renewable energy programs to reflect modern technologies and market needs.
He noted that India’s large pool of young talent is a unique advantage, but unless it is “harnessed” through targeted training, the country will continue to face bottlenecks in executing its ambitious clean energy plans.
The government has begun addressing the issue. At the Summit, Sudeep Jain, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), acknowledged the need to update training programs. “Traditional approaches aren’t enough. We need to introduce renewable energy modules in engineering colleges, industrial training institutes, and vocational schools. Industry involvement is key to building effective curricula,” he said.
Jain noted that under the PM Surya Ghar program, MNRE trained more than 100,000 students from industrial training institutes in the previous year. “Our target now is to develop 100 specialized Industrial Training Institutes,” he added.
The government has also expanded its training infrastructure. According to Minister of State for MNRE Shripad Yesso Naik, India now has 1,167 renewable energy training centers and about 926 industrial and national skill training institutes, including 23 under the Directorate General of Training and the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development. All are actively involved in renewable energy skill development.
Under the Prime Minister Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, the government is working to create a skilled local workforce for rooftop solar installations. Training is being provided for technicians, electricians, installers, engineers, supervisors, vendors, and trainers by key organizations such as the Directorate General of Training, the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development, the National Institute of Solar Energy, and the Skill Council for Green Jobs.
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