Bhubaneswar: In a major initiative to build a skilled workforce for the clean energy transition, the Odisha government will establish a Green Energy (Solar) Centre of Excellence (CoE) at the World Skill Centre (WSC) campus in Mancheswar here in partnership with the Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC).
The Centre, to be fully sponsored under OHPC’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, involves an investment of Rs 1,48,75,009 over the financial years 2026-27 and 2027-28.
The initiative was announced in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister and Energy Minister K V Singh Deo and Industry, Skill Development and Technical Education Minister Sampad Chandra Swain.
The state-of-the-art facility, spread over around 3,000 square feet at Kaushal Bhawan, will provide hands-on training and demonstration facilities in emerging solar technologies, including rooftop solar, floating solar and solar-tracking systems.
The CoE will leverage WSC’s expertise in industrial automation, electrical systems, advanced manufacturing and digital technologies and integrate them with emerging applications such as Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), remote monitoring, digital twins, predictive maintenance and Energy Management Systems (EMS).
The initiative is aimed at bridging the gap between formal certification and industry readiness by providing practical, field-oriented exposure to youth aspiring to build careers in the rapidly expanding green energy sector.
The Centre is expected to train around 300 youth annually in specialised, job-oriented programmes for high-demand positions such as Solar PV Technicians, Operation and Maintenance Technicians, Site Supervisors and Energy Auditors.
The programmes will be open to youth from all districts of Odisha, with special outreach in OHPC’s operational areas. The initiative will also promote gender inclusion in the renewable energy sector in line with Sustainable Development Goal 5 and encourage women’s participation and local entrepreneurship.
Addressing the gathering, Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo announced a major expansion of the World Skill Center, saying the number of fully sponsored students would be increased from 60 to 100 annually from this year.
A proposal has also been made to decentralise advanced skill development across the state by establishing World Skill Center branches in Berhampur and Sambalpur.
Industry, Skill Development and Technical Education Minister Sampad Chandra Swain said the Centre of Excellence would be a transformative step towards equipping Odisha’s youth with future-ready skills in solar and green energy.
He said the initiative would strengthen Odisha’s capacity in clean energy innovation while creating sustainable employment opportunities for its young workforce.
