Dualsun opens a new Academy in Lyon to participate in the structuring of the French solar industry

With an intensive and practical program, the Dualsun Academy trains photovoltaic and solar thermal professionals to ensure high-quality, secure and sustainable installations.

The solar sector is booming in France, with a growing demand for qualified labor. According to the barometer BRAWO IMPACT for Dualsun, job offers in the solar sector increased by 18% in the first half of 2024 (vs. first half of 1). The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region is where the needs are most pressing, with nearly 2023 job offers in the solar energy sector.

Responding to the challenges of professionalizing the sector

Faced with strong demand for training and solar installations, one observation remains: there is too little training dedicated to solar in France.

For Jérôme Mouterde, Co-founder and General Manager of Dualsun: "Too many installers still train their teams on the job, which is expensive for them and does not constitute a sustainable solution: with long, low-skilled integrations, and a lack of awareness of the safety issues of rooftop installations. The period of high hiring observed at the start of the year highlights the crucial need to train agile professionals with the skills adapted to the specificities of this profession."

The Dualsun Academy addresses this gap by offering practical training that goes beyond the QualiPV certification, which is essentially theoretical, by including essential skills such as the installation of panels, their configuration and their commissioning.

Furthermore, Dualsun actively campaigns alongside Enerplan with the help of its co-founder & Vice-President of Enerplan Laetitia Brottier, for better recognition of the profession, clearer regulatory framework and official recognition of skills, particularly with regard to qualifying training.

Promising results for an investment in the future

The opening of this Academy follows the success of a first training center in Marseille, launched in September 2023. In one year, the latter has trained 465 learners through 61 sessions, with a satisfaction rate of 9,5/10. This positive feedback underlines the quality of the training, combining theory and practice to meet the requirements of professionals and companies. In Lyon, Dualsun aims to train at least 500 new learners in the first year, a realistic objective given current demand.

The new Dualsun Academy will also offer accelerated two-week qualifying training courses, to enable professionals to quickly acquire the essential technical skills. The safety of installers (working at height, electrical risks) as well as that of occupants of buildings equipped with photovoltaic panels will be covered in depth in the various modules offered by the Academy. "Safety is a major concern in our courses to guarantee reliable and sustainable installations over time," explains Eric Fihey, Director of the Dualsun Academy.

Strengthening proximity with the Lyon region

Lyon was chosen for its strategic geographical positioning as a convergence point for many solar players, and thanks to its proximity to a dynamic employment pool. It is also a well-known territory for Dualsun, which manufactures its hybrid panels 60 km away, making it a natural choice for the opening of the second training center of the Dualsun Academy.

This centre, which represents an investment of €300.000 including equipment, rental space and labour, will create two direct jobs and meet strong local demand whilst facilitating access to training for learners from all over France, thus reducing travel.