May 11th, Emma Elheim Karlsson, CEO of the Swedish company Hallabro Elektriska, Board Member of Installatörsföretagen, and Vice-President of EuropeOn, spoke at the high-level implementation dialogue on permitting for renewable energy projects and related infrastructure, with Commissioner Dan Jørgensen. This high-level discussion was organised on the framework of the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW).  

Emma brought the perspective of electrical contractors from Sweden, who typically install rooftop solar installations and battery storage systems.   The latter also suffer from permitting issues as varying requirements from multiple grid operators create unnecessary complexity for installers. She also stressed the delays caused by understaffed administrations and DSOs.

The urgent need for skilled professionals in the energy sector was identified as a key barrier to the deployment of renewables  by most of the attendants, as confirmed by the Sli.do poll. Emma also brought forward another skills-related concern: while the current education received by electricians is good, it must evolve to keep up with technological advances. This requires closer cooperation between schools, governments, and businesses. “We need more people in our sector to be more competitive,” she said.

As a best practice, Emma shared Sweden’s “program advice” initiative, where the installation industry frequently reviews academic curricula to ensure they remain relevant and prepare electricians to install renewable energy projects effectively.