©Mark Ollig
Minnesota’s
job growth in the solar industry looks bright; especially with solar
installations, per the 2018 National Solar Jobs Census Report.
The
80-page report analyzes employment and other statistics within the US solar
industry.
Published
by The Solar Foundation, the report provides wide-ranging survey results from
solar industry employers.
Our
state is experiencing rapid growth in residential, commercial, and community
solar panel/power installations (nearly 4,000 as of 2018).
Minnesota
has approximately 160 solar companies (and growing), which include
manufacturers, developers, designers, and installers.
In
the US alone, more than $1.5 billion was invested in solar during 2018.
Minnesota,
as pointed out in the report, has strict solar licensing requirements, which
may slow solar installations; however, these precautions ensure safety.
Our
state considers solar installations “electrical work,” and thus, requires an
installer to be at least a journey-level (completed an apprenticeship program
or an experienced worker), or a licensed master-level electrician to complete
the electrical phases within a photovoltaic (PV) installation.
New
solar installation electrical sites in Minnesota require at least one licensed
electrician for every two unlicensed electricians.
The
report states that a large installation in Minnesota could require 20 licensed
electricians if the solar PV installation employs 40 workers.
The
most challenging position to fill is an electrician, according to 43 percent of
Minnesota solar companies surveyed, which may be a result of our state’s
licensing requirements.
Solar
companies in Minnesota occasionally hire electricians from other states,
because sometimes there are not enough local electricians available to meet
solar installations/maintenance demands.
The
report found that, on average, 10 percent of the electrical work for solar
installations in Minnesota was performed by non-resident electricians.
As
the solar industry continues to grow, we will need more licensed electricians,
and community and technical college courses teaching solar PV installation
under state and industry accreditation.
Seven
states have solar-specific license requirements, six states accept the North
American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) certification, and 10
states have no licensing requirements to perform solar installation work.
While
not always needed, solar-specific licensing, including NABCEP, can be
advantageous, as the training explicitly addresses the relevant skill sets
required to carry out solar installations.
Solar
companies surveyed in 2018 said they required solar installation experience for
60 percent of all new employees; an increase from 55 percent needed in 2017.
In
2018, California lawmakers passed a “rooftop solar mandate” for new homes,
which is estimated to produce a 14 percent increase in total US solar sales
over the next four years.
Solar
employment for 2018 totaled 242,343, and is categorized in the following
sectors:
•
Installation/project development: 155,157.
•
Wholesale trade/distribution: 29,243.
•
Operations/maintenance: 11,164.
•
Manufacturing: 33,726.
•
Related sectors: 13,053.
Last
year, there were 4,602 employed in Minnesota solar-related jobs. In 2017, there
were 4,256.
Besides
the installation of solar panels to harness the sun’s energy, batteries to
store solar energy are crucial in providing electricity to consumers and
businesses who switch to it when the power goes off.
The
report stated that 3,900 jobs are directly related to battery storage.
Employment
has increased in solar industry software companies, such as Aurora Solar, which
provides residential and commercial solar design and software sales programs
for solar installation companies.
Aurora
Solar, based in San Francisco, CA, has doubled its workforce over the past
year.
The
National Solar Jobs Census Report includes data gathered between September and
October 2018, including information from approximately 59,300 phone calls, and
more than 49,000 emails.
The
solar industry outlook for this year is positive. Based on the report’s survey
results, solar jobs are expected to increase by 7 percent in 2019, bringing the
total employment jobs to around 259,400.
Nationwide,
the Solar Energy Industries Association reports 1,904,000 solar systems have
been installed. They are producing 60 gigawatts of electrical power.
Minnesota’s
energy profile from the US Energy Information Administration can be found at
https://bit.ly/2X8akJ4.
The
Minnesota Department of Commerce solar webpage is
https://mn.gov/commerce/industries/energy/solar.
The
2018 National Solar Jobs Census Report and other information is available at
https://www.thesolarfoundation.org/national.
While
writing this column, I looked out the window and noted the blue sky and an
abundance of energy-producing sunshine.
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| Credit: US Department of Energy |