21/06/24 (Agence Europe) – On Friday 21 June, the European Commission launched the European Solar Academy, the first of a series of EU academies to be set up under the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA) to provide the necessary skills throughout the value chains, according to a press release. “The role of the NZIA academies is to develop learning content and programmes in collaboration with industry to ensure sufficient skills and manpower in the value chain”. Some 66,000 skilled workers will be needed by 2030 in the photovoltaic solar energy manufacturing sector alone. The Solar Academy aims to train 100,000 workers in the solar photovoltaic value chain over the next three years to fill the current skills and labour shortage in the sector. The model follows that of the European Battery Alliance Academy, launched in 2022. (SP)