Training, Consulting and Networking in the Solar Industry
About Us
GREEN Solar Academy combines hands-on solar training with strategic skills development consulting because effective training requires a strong system behind it.
In our 5 solar academies in South Africa and 9 more in other African countries we train professionals and youth.
As consultants, we offer services across the entire skills value chain and provide training for an extended target group, further develop training programmes and consult with TVETs, universities, government officials, industry associations and other stakeholders.
We use our influence to form a network of our alumni, the solar industry and other relevant decision-making entities to multiply our impact and contribute to 100% renewable energy.
Committing to reliable training that pays off
Our purpose is to serve the solar industry by making high-quality training a reliable investment. Our training pays back in daily operations, boosts careers and creates value for companies, employees and the just energy transition itself.
Our vision
All Africans should have access to knowledge and skills to implement the just energy transition, benefit from solar energy and have the chance to partake in the industry.
Our mission
- Facilitate healthy growth of the solar industry by training professionals and youth to become top-quality solar installers
- Consult like-minded stakeholders in the field of skills development
- Connecting our trainees with each other and the industry
What we do
Our strength lies in combining practical training delivery with systemic skills development and industry connection.
Training Provider
Professional short courses at our academies, for individuals and groups
Consulting
Focusing on skills systems and capacity development for TVETs, private institutions, governments and NGOs
Network
Connecting sectors and scaling impact of a single training
Where we do it
Expertise in Skills development and capacity building
As a training provider ourselves we understand the complexity of training. It is much more than a PowerPoint presentation, a successful training needs to be embedded in a system that takes context into account and goes beyond a single course.
We support institutions and programmes in building these effective, scalable and sustainable skills systems.
Our consulting focus areas:
- Curriculum and training content development
- Accreditation and qualification frameworks
- Training of Trainers (ToT)
- Advisory services for TVET, youth and labour market programmes
- Support for institutional and ecosystem development
Competency in solar technology is on its way to become a modern basic skill. Skills initiatives should therefor not be isolated programmes but integrate with labour market demands, industry developments and existing national and regional qualifications.
If you choose to work with us, we will focus on long-term capacity building and sustainability rather than short term delivery.
Linking resources in our Alumni network
GREEN is an acronym for Global Renewable Energy and Efficiency Network. We connect trained professionals, companies, training institutions and industry stakeholders to strengthen collaboration, knowledge exchange and market access.
Jointly we increase the overall quality of PV installations and contribute to reaching our industry’s declared goal of 100% renewable energy generation.
Our training participants are in the focus of our networking activities (read more about our alumni network here) but we leverage it to create value across all our fields of activity.
Core network benefits:
- Peer learning and professional exchange, locally and across borders
- Linking professionals and trained youth with employers and industry
- Participative development of concept that lead to actual sector collaboration and long-term success
With every training, project or consultancy that we do our network grows and many of our projects don’t just end but continue to multiply their impact thanks to the connections we have made.
Have a look at the impact we have created so far.
Training at 14 locations in 9 countries
GREEN Solar Academy delivers practice-oriented photovoltaic training programmes across Africa and beyond. Our courses combine structured curriculum standards with strong hands-on application, ensuring that participants gain both technical competence and practical confidence.
We offer standardised certification courses as well as tailored training solutions adapted to specific market needs, company requirements or donor-funded initiatives.
Training formats
For Individuals
Certification-oriented installer and technician training programmes.
For Companies
Group trainings, customised in-house trainings, upskilling programmes and qualification pathways.
For Youth & Development Projects
Structured training concepts for CSR initiatives, public programmes and donor-funded projects.
High-quality training is the basis of safe and reliable solar installations and a long-term growth of the solar industry. We ensure reliable access to structured, quality-assured training across all our academies.
Who we work with
We are members of the South African PV Industry Association (SAPVIA), the Southern African-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK Southern Africa), Western Cape Business Opportunities Forum (WECBOF).
Our customers
In the past we have worked with private companies as well as TVET colleges, universities, NGOs as well as governments and municipalities. These are a few of our past customers:
How we work
Our working methods are shaped by our German background. We work very structured and our aim is to deliver highest quality and “doing it right” even if that means we are asking harder questions or take on more challenges.
Collaboration as a business model
All courses at GREEN Solar Academies are centrally developed and locally delivered, following the model of the German DGS SolarSchools.
- Central programme development and trainer qualification
- Local implementation by GREEN-accredited trainers
- Uniform standards across all locations
- Strong local ownership and capacity building
Teaching skills that work in the field
In our trainings, we prioritise practical application over theory. We include lots of hands-on exercises, make sessions interactive and encourage participants to share their own experience. There are also learning checks and self-tests to track your progress.
We design our trainings to meet international standards while remaining product-neutral and market-relevant.
- Standardised curriculum
- Continuous updates aligned with industry trends
- International recognition
- Clear quality assurance framework
By involving industry partners at course level, we make sure that there is always a practical connection to the industry. After training more than 10 000 PV installers in Africa, we have built up a strong and widespread network that includes, amongst others, installation companies, EPCs, manufacturers, consultants, public and governmental players.
Our beginnings
GREEN Solar Academy builds on a partnership established in 2011, when the German solar company maxx-solar & energie and the German Solar Energy Society (DGS) joined forces to professionalise solar training in South Africa.
Between 2011 and 2020, the jointly founded maxx | solar academy trained more than 2,000 participants across Southern Africa laying the foundation for its spin-off GREEN Solar Academy. The company remains under German ownership, with its two founders still actively involved in shaping the strategic direction and quality standards of GREEN Solar Academy.
Let’s work together
GREEN Solar Academy collaborates with companies, institutions and development partners to implement structured photovoltaic training solutions.
How can we support you?
