The UK’s journey to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 has been boosted with the launch of the Sustainable Solar Energy Systems (SES) Network Plus. Spearheaded by Loughborough University’s Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST) in partnership with Lancaster University, Newcastle University, and the University of Southampton, the project will bridge the skills gap in the solar energy sector while encouraging the next generation of researchers and private sector workers.

The SES Network Plus is funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Energy Programme. It is open to members from academia, industry, government, finance, and the legal sectors involved or interested in solar implementation and system development.

Solar energy supplies about 5% of the UK’s electricity, but with ambitious plans to quintuple this figure by 2035, the industry needs to increase its skilled workforce. Achieving these goals will require an estimated 60,000 solar jobs, including 6,000 new engineering graduates.

The SES Network Plus seeks to address this by supporting early career researchers (ECRs) in solar energy across many technologies and applications. By creating a collaborative environment where academia and industry can share knowledge and best practices, the programme aims to enhance the UK’s leadership in key solar innovations, from cutting-edge materials and solar module development to waste management and ecological consequences.

Unlike traditional programmes focusing on narrow areas of expertise, SES Network Plus adopts a systems-level perspective, offering interdisciplinary training to equip participants with the skills necessary to overcome the complex challenges in solar energy implementation.

Key initiatives for Early Career Researchers include:

• Industry-Led Workshops: Practical sessions to develop solar-specific skills and best practices, ensuring researchers are industry-ready.
• Innovation Support Programmes: Collaborative projects fostering innovation to meet industry needs.
• Peer Mentoring: A network-driven approach to spread best practices, with a particular emphasis on including underrepresented groups in the sector.
• International Travel Fund: Financial support for ECRs to attend conferences, industry events, and training opportunities worldwide.
• Industrial Secondment Fund: Opportunities for internships with leading solar companies to gain hands-on experience and expand expertise.

The UK is a global leader in solar energy research and technology, with expertise in specialised glass manufacturing, novel solar materials, and solar power plant design. The SES Network Plus will build upon these foundations by developing the next generation of researchers and engineers.

Professor Alona Armstrong, Principal Investigator of the SES Network Plus, said: “This network is an amazing opportunity to bring researchers together across disciplines along side those from other sectors. It’s this integrated approach that will ensure solar deployments are sustainable, delivering to power needs as well as societal and environmental needs.”

With solar energy now often cheaper than fossil fuels, the SES Network Plus represents a timely investment in the technologies and talent needed to power a sustainable, net-zero future.

To join the network, and to be informed of the opportunities and calls, sign up here