GREEN Solar Academy: powering solar training in South Africa

Are you looking for solar training in South Africa? 

If you're like me, you're probably new to the solar industry, or curious about how to develop your solar skills.

I found GREEN Solar Academy a few years ago when load shedding was REALLY bad in South Africa. I was researching everything solar, driving my wife nuts with watching solar videos on YouTube, and really just trying to understand solar before we got a few solar quotes ourselves (here's a guide for what to consider before you get solar quotes).

Part of my learning experience with GREEN Solar Academy was signing up for one of their fully online programmes: Principles of PV Systems. 

This gave me a solid understanding of the basics of solar and allowed me to go on to the PV Off-grid Technician course (also fully online).

My goal in 2025 is to complete practical training with GREEN Solar Academy and get some hands on experience to better understand the world of solar. I will do this through their SuperSolarSchool programme.

What is GREEN Solar Academy?

GREEN Solar Academy is, fundamentally, training for a just energy transition.

Their Mission is stated as follows:

We train professionals and youth to become to-quality solar installers and connect them with each and and the industry, by bridging the gap between solar installers, manufacturers and distributors.

Their focus area: training in the area of photovoltaic (PV), backed up by more than 10 years of activity in the PV sector:

• Cover a complete range of solar training activities
• Training of solar trainers
• Development of the solar training sector

GREEN Solar Academy was founded in 2019 as a spin-off of maxx-solar academy but extends further back to the many years of experience broughty by co-founders Antje Klaus-Vorreiter and Vivian Blumel. They share a belief in the power of networks and diversity and combined the knowlege of experts in their network, from solar engineers to electricians, entrepreneurs, project managers and other diverse experts.

GREEN Solar Academy's Footprint

GREEN Solar Academy has headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa and currently manage 13 Academies across 8 countries.

Their learning and training programmes have so far had more than 8,000 participants across the African continent.

Principles of GREEN Solar Academy's training

In all aspects of their work GREEN Solar Academy focuses on the following principles:

• Interactivity and effective learning psychological principles
• Trainers have solar field experience and have done the train-the-trainer programme
• Practical training experience is essential and is a strong focus in hands-on solar training programmes

Local Partnerships

GREEN Solar Academy has partnered with local, approved partners in a model which works as follows:

GREEN Solar Academy provides:

• All training material
• Training for trainers
• Front-end administration
• Marketing of the programmes
• Quality assurance

Local partners provide:

• Training facilities and trainers
• Equipment and maintenance

Permanent Academies

There are 13 permant academies across Cape Town, Gqeberha, Ballito, Johannesburg and Pretoria.

These academies include classrooms for theoretical training, showcase PV installations and fully-equipped workshops including training roofs for practical installation training.

The flagship Johannesburg academy includes 5 different inverter brands, 4 types of batteries and 2 functional PV systems.

What types of courses does GREEN Solar Academy provide?

There is an exciting range of courses available. Honestly, I wish I had the time and money to do them all myself, but one step at a time.

Here's an overview of some of the current offerings:

Basic and Intermediate courses

Solar 101:

• Learn the basics
• No pre-knowledge required
• 3 days in duration

PV Mounter:

• Learn hands-on installation
• 2 days in duration
• Earn 2 CPD points

SuperSolarSchool:

• Learn all about solar
• Comprehensive
• 5 days in duration
• Earn 5 CPD points

These basic and intermediate courses lead towards the 2-day assessment of the PVGreenCard certification.

Advanced courses

Take your knowledge further with these advanced courses offered by GREEN Solar Academy:

Solar Power Designer Commercial:

• Plan and design commercial and industrial PV projects
• 3 days in duration
• Earn 3 CPD points

Compliance for PV Systems:

• Gain a thorough understanding of SANS10142-1
• 1 day in duration
• Earn 1 CPD point

Financing for PV Systems:

• Gain an understanding of financing for PV systems
• 1 day in duration

Solar Water Pumping:

• Learn irrigation and drinking water pumping with PV
• 3 days in duration

Are GREEN Solar Academy courses accredited?

Yes, the following institutions and bodies have endorsed and accredited GREEN Solar Academy:

• Endorsed by South African PV Industry Association (SAPVIA) within the PV GreenCard Programme
• CPD Accreditation by Engineering Council South Africa (ECSA) and SAIEE
• Accredited as Skills development provider by QCTO

Additional accreditations include:

• Accredited training provider in Angola
• National accreditation in Botswana
• The online exams are accredited by the German Solar Energy Society Thuringia (DGS)

Benefits of the GREEN Alumni Network

The Alumni Network gives you access to industry and technology partners who have vast knowledge, experience and resources to grow your solar career or business. 

This results in a valuable exchange of ideas and partnerships to help new installers grow and support the overall solar industry.

This network also offers newbies a stepping stone into a more advanced solar practice. 

Manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors equip the GREEN Solar Academy training workshops with the latest technology, giving participants an opportunity to experience the cutting edge of the industry while forming strong business partnerships.

GREEN Solar Academy Training Projects and Youth Development

GREEN Solar Academy has realised training projects in various countries across the African continent, including:

• PartnerAfrica Project Ghana
• ADRA Green Energy TVET
• DevelopPPP West Africa Project at Takoradi Technical University
• Youth training in Gauteng, South Africa including 1 year training with internships
• Collaboration with NPO Life Choices in Cape Town

Faculty and staff

The GREEN team consists of more than 25 freelance trainers, 10 partners organisations and 13 full time staff, with partners across Cape Town, Johannesburg, Gqeberha, Ballito, Gaborone, Addis Ababa, Namibia, Harare, Accra, Maputo and Luanda.

Are you joining me?

Like me, you're probably keen to continually increase your knowledge about the solar PV industry. 

I hope to see you on a training course with me soon.

Let me know and let's connect on LinkedIn.