Bhubaneswar, Oct. 5 (UDN): Odisha is set to strengthen its clean-energy workforce with the establishment of a dedicated Green Energy (Solar) Centre of Excellence at the World Skill Center (WSC) in Bhubaneswar.
Pic Credit: x.com/EnergyOdisha
The new facility, being developed at the WSC’s Mancheswar campus, will focus on advanced solar technologies and industry-oriented training, preparing young people for emerging jobs in the renewable energy sector.
₹1.48 Crore CSR-Funded Project
The Centre of Excellence will be fully funded under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme of the Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC). The project involves an investment of ₹1,48,75,009 during the financial years 2026–27 and 2027–28.
The initiative was announced on Monday in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister and Energy Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Industry, Skill Development and Technical Education Minister Sampad Chandra Swain.
Spread across around 3,000 square feet at Kaushal Bhawan, the facility will feature practical demonstration systems covering rooftop solar, floating solar and solar-tracker technologies.
Focus on Advanced Solar Skills
The Centre will combine WSC’s existing expertise in electrical systems, industrial automation, advanced manufacturing and digital technologies with emerging clean-energy applications.
Training will include technologies such as Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), SCADA, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), remote monitoring, digital twins, predictive maintenance and Energy Management Systems (EMS).
The hands-on approach is aimed at helping trainees move beyond classroom certification and gain the practical skills required for employment in the renewable energy industry.
300 Youth to Receive Training Every Year
The Centre is expected to train around 300 young people annually for specialised roles, including Solar PV Technicians, Operations and Maintenance Technicians, Site Supervisors and Energy Auditors.
Youth from all districts of Odisha will be eligible, with special outreach planned in areas where OHPC operates.
The programme will also emphasise gender inclusion, encouraging greater participation of women in the clean-energy workforce in line with Sustainable Development Goal 5.
WSC Plans Wider Expansion
The event also saw the announcement of plans to expand the World Skill Center’s reach across Odisha.
The number of fully sponsored students at WSC is being increased from 60 to 100 annually from this year. A proposal has also been made to establish new WSC branches in Berhampur and Sambalpur, taking advanced technical skilling beyond Bhubaneswar.
Minister Sampad Chandra Swain said the Centre would play an important role in equipping Odisha’s youth with future-ready skills and creating sustainable employment opportunities in the solar and green-energy sector.
Senior officials, including Additional Chief Secretary, Energy, Vishal Kumar Dev; Commissioner-cum-Secretary, SDTE, Bhupendra Singh Poonia; WSC COO Rashmi Ranjan Mohapatra; and OHPC Director (HR) Sandeep Pattnaik, attended the MoU signing ceremony.