Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute (GERMI), Gandhinagar, has announced the launch of its National Certification Programme for rooftop solar photovoltaic installers. The programme was launched by GERMI in the presence of Union Minister for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal earlier this week at Gandhinagar.
During the recently concluded Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit-2015 at Gandhinagar, GERMI signed memorandums of understanding (MoU) with eight State nodal agencies or distribution companies and 20 leading solar companies in the country to recognise and promote this programme, a statement said.
The programme, designed to meet the challenges of developing skilled and qualified manpower to install rooftop photovoltaic systems in the country, is open to technicians, students and entrepreneurs. It aims to help achieve the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s (MNRE) target of installing 4,000 MW of rooftop solar systems by 2022.
State nodal agencies include renewable energy development agencies from Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh, besides distribution companies including Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM), BSES Rajdhani Power Limited and BSES Yamuna Power Ltd.
Among the solar firms that joined hands with GERMI are SunEdison, Azure Power, Energy and Environment Foundation, GMR Group, WAREE Energies, Bharat Heavy Electricals, Madhav Group, Harsha Abakus Solar, Studer Innotec India, Tata Power Solar System, IL&FS Energy Development Company and Bergen Solar Power & Energy Ltd (BSPEL).
India has 300 MW of solar PV installed on rooftops, of the total 2,900 MW of solar installations, the GERMI statement said.