site.btaSolar Academy Bulgaria Chair: Lack of Personnel in RES Sector Could Create Serious Problems

Solar Academy Bulgaria Chair Vesselin Todorov said in a BTA interview that the sector of renewable energy sources (RES) requires qualified personnel, including people with engineering specialties, electricians, as well as installers of metal structures for the installation of ground and roof power plants. Todorov spoke on the occasion of the first career exhibition and forum for professional development in the RES industry, entitled "Recharge Your Career", which took place last week in Sofia. 

Todorov stressed that there is already a shortage of labour force and specialists in the RES sector. He noted that the lack of qualified labour can lead to big mistakes and poor outcomes.

Despite the fact that Bulgarian companies have established themselves as one of the strongest in European countries for the installation of photovoltaic plants, the market in the RES industry in Bulgaria and abroad is different, the Solar Academy Bulgaria Chair explained. He specified that there are several factors that determine the lack of personnel in this country. 

"We are observing an export of labour in terms of personnel in the RES sector abroad - to countries such as Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, where Bulgarian companies still work, but for the foreign market, as Bulgaria has a very small percentage of installers,"  added Todorov. He pointed out that the salaries given abroad are on average between BGN 4,000 and 6,000 for work on foreign projects, while for work on Bulgarian projects the remuneration varies between BGN 2,000 and 3,000.

Importing workers into Bulgaria from countries that are outside the EU is quite complicated due to procedural obstacles, and does not guarantee competent personnel. Todorov stressed that it is time to invest in the personnel in Bulgaria.

When asked whether the state helps in this process, he answered that since difficult sciences such as physics, mathematics and others are involved in the RES sector, the dual form of education should be introduced as early as in secondary education. In addition, there should be incentives for businesses to hire 11th and 12th graders as well as university students, which can lead to a natural cooperation between educational institutions, the educational system and businesses. "Currently, this connection is broken in Bulgaria", Todorov pointed out.

Todorov also argued in favour of setting up adequate programmes in vocational training centres, their control, accreditation. In addition, there are technologies that are not taught in either secondary or tertiary education, such as geothermal and hydrogen. "There are no personnel here who can build a hydrogen station in Bulgaria," he stressed.

Solar Academy Bulgaria Chair argued that it is time for the state to intervene, since in the next 10 years the focus will shift to a combination of different technologies - photovoltaic plants, geothermal plants, hydrogen plants, as well as other new technologies that are now still entering Bulgaria.