Monday 14 February 2011

Sharp Solar opens Renewable Energy Academy

Sharp Solar last week opened its new training academy, on the back of a recent factory expansion. The photovoltaic manufacturers expect to train 25 to 50 people a month, from electricians and roofers to engineers and building contractors.

The launch of the academy is a bold statement of Sharp's intent for the future of UK solar, especially considering the government's recent review of the Feed-in Tariff scheme.

Mr Igarashi, CEO at Sharp Manufacturing UK, said: "We're experiencing an exponential rise in UK solar installations, so to meet that demand we're looking for the UK's top tradespeople to sign-up for the Sharp Renewable Energy Academy."

Research by Sharp into solar in the UK has suggested the benefits of solar power generation, with 56% of homeowners saying they would install solar panels. However, the research also stated that a massive 86% would only trust an accredited solar installer to fit the products.

The academy offers a range of training courses, from a one day awareness course to a full five day installation training programme.

Sharp has been in the photovoltaic industry for 53 years and is the largest manufacturer in the UK.