CORE, the renewable energy education and skill development arm of the POWERCON Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU) to boost workforce readiness in India’s rapidly growing clean energy sector. The partnership will launch Certificate, Diploma, and Degree courses in Renewable Energy and Cleantech Technologies, with 12 specialized programs expected to roll out by May 2025.
As India works towards its ambitious target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, the need for skilled professionals in areas like solar, wind, energy storage, electric vehicles, and hydrogen technologies is increasing rapidly. By 2030, around 24 million green jobs are projected to be created globally, with India’s renewable energy sector alone requiring over 1.8 million skilled workers. This translates to about 200,000 new careers per year over the next six years, along with the need to reskill and upskill thousands of existing professionals. The CORE-YCMOU collaboration aims to address this growing demand by providing structured, industry-driven education aligned with real-world needs.
This initiative closely supports national programs such as the National Solar Mission, National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy, and the Green Hydrogen Mission, ensuring alignment with government mandates under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and Skill India. The programs will offer hands-on learning, preparing students to become certified Wind, Solar, or Renewable Energy (RE) Commandos — professionals equipped with both technical expertise and practical skills to work in the field of clean energy.
YCMOU, one of the world’s largest open universities, offers over 120 academic programs across various disciplines and enrolls more than 600,000 learners annually. The university’s flexible learning system is particularly beneficial for individuals in remote and rural areas, as well as working professionals, homemakers, and adult learners seeking to upgrade their skills.
Praveen Kakulte, CEO, the POWERCON Group, emphasized the significance of this collaboration: “India’s clean energy transition depends on a skilled and future-ready workforce. CORE’s partnership with YCMOU enables the masses to acquire the most critical and difficult to get RE industry skills, qualification and a University certification. This secures employability of the youth and working professionals across the domestic and global RE industry.”
Prof. Dr Sanjeev Sonawane, Vice-Chancellor YCMOU, added, “Partnering with CORE allows us to introduce very specialized programs that directly contribute to India’s RE goals. Together, we are committed to developing a talent pool at a faster pace. YCMOU being a Mass Varsity and with its recent recognition as a Digital University, the access for and development of talent is augmented further without any limitation to geographical boundaries.”
CORE, a ‘Not for Profit’ initiative by the POWERCON Group, plays a crucial role in clean energy education by delivering a unique blend of theoretical knowledge and practical training. The academy’s infrastructure includes Wind, Solar, and Hybrid Simulators, remote Command and Control systems, Energy Management facilities, and tools for Analytics, Diagnostics, and Restoration. This hands-on approach ensures that learners not only gain technical knowledge but also develop the skills and mindset needed to operate in dynamic, open-field environments.
In addition to classroom learning, the partnership will offer internships, faculty exchanges, and job placements, providing students with invaluable exposure to the renewable energy industry. This collaboration between CORE and YCMOU marks a major step toward building a skilled workforce capable of driving India’s clean energy transition and supporting the country’s journey towards a sustainable future.
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