Category: FAQ articles

As the renewable energy sector expands at record speed, the lines between different clean energy disciplines are beginning to blur. Wind and solar energy, once siloed industries, are now frequently integrated across large-scale energy projects and hybrid developments. This convergence has created a new challenge — and opportunity — for the workforce: cross-training.

At STL USA, we believe that preparing technicians to work confidently across both wind and solar environments isn’t just a smart workforce development strategy — it’s a critical step toward creating a more resilient, efficient, and future-ready clean energy workforce.

Why Cross-Training Matters in Renewable Energy

The U.S. renewable energy industry is projected to generate over 500,000 new jobs by 2030, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many of these roles will span both wind and solar installations as the market shifts toward integrated energy solutions and hybrid projects.

Cross-training empowers technicians to:

1. Increase Employability

Professionals with experience in both wind and solar technologies are significantly more attractive to employers who need flexible, multi-skilled teams. Whether it’s responding to seasonal project demands or transitioning between construction and O&M phases, cross-trained staff ensure agility in deployment.

2. Boost Operational Efficiency

For employers managing diverse portfolios, having personnel who can work across technologies helps optimize scheduling, reduce downtime, and maintain continuity across projects — especially in rural or offshore locations where mobilizing crews is costly.

3. Advance Careers

Cross-training opens the door to broader career pathways, giving technicians the ability to pivot between roles or step into leadership positions that require knowledge across multiple clean energy domains.

STL USA: Pioneering Cross-Training for a Converging Industry

At STL USA, we’ve designed a suite of training programs specifically to support dual-skilled technicians. Our goal is to meet the evolving demands of the energy sector while helping workers unlock new career opportunities.

Combined GWO and Safety Training

Technicians entering the wind sector typically pursue GWO Basic Safety Training (BST), covering working at height, first aid, fire awareness, and manual handling. However, these same safety principles apply in solar environments — particularly large-scale solar farms with elevated platforms and energized equipment.

We streamline these overlapping skill sets to create an efficient, dual-purpose training experience. For example:

• GWO Enhanced First Aid can benefit both wind technicians working offshore and solar techs in remote desert environments.

• NFPA 70E Electrical Safety Training is crucial for personnel across both sectors due to the risks associated with live electrical systems.

By combining certifications into a single structured program, STL USA saves time, lowers costs for employers, and empowers students with a broader safety foundation.

Custom Training Pathways

Recognizing that not all technicians start from the same point, STL USA offers customizable cross-training tracks to bridge skill gaps for those transitioning between sectors. For example:

• A solar technician may already have PV installation experience but lack rescue training or confined space awareness needed for wind turbines.

• Conversely, a wind tech might need additional instruction in solar array layout, grounding, or module maintenance.

Our trainers work directly with employers to tailor course packages that make these transitions seamless, reducing learning curves while ensuring all regulatory requirements are met.

WindStart Program + Solar Integration

Our WindStart Program, a foundational course for new entrants into wind energy, is expanding to include solar modules, providing students with a comprehensive introduction to both major energy sectors. It’s ideal for high school graduates, career changers, or veterans looking to enter clean energy with a solid, versatile foundation.

Building a More Resilient Workforce

A workforce trained in both wind and solar can better withstand market volatility. As political and economic conditions shift — such as recent federal policy reversals on offshore wind or new tax incentives for solar — dual-trained technicians can adapt to where the work is.

This agility reduces project delays, improves safety outcomes, and keeps talent employed even when one sector faces uncertainty. In short, cross-training isn’t just good for the worker — it’s strategic for the industry.

STL USA: Your Partner in Clean Energy Workforce Development

With decades of experience and training centers strategically located across the U.S., STL USA is the trusted name in renewable energy training. Our instructors bring hands-on industry experience, and our facilities are equipped to simulate real-world scenarios across both wind and solar environments.

Why STL USA?

• GWO-Certified Courses

• Custom Program Design for Employers

• Advanced Rescue & Electrical Safety Training

• Career Support Services

• Modern Training Facilities with Industry-Relevant Tech

Whether you’re a technician looking to expand your qualifications or an employer managing a mixed-energy portfolio, STL USA has the tools, experience, and vision to prepare your teams for tomorrow’s energy challenges.

As the world accelerates toward a clean energy future, the role of emerging talent in sustaining this momentum has never been more critical. Among this next wave of workers is Generation Z—a cohort defined by its digital fluency, passion for purpose-driven work, and hunger for lifelong learning. For the renewable energy sector, particularly wind and solar, engaging Gen Z isn’t just an opportunity—it’s a necessity.

At STL USA, we recognize that building the future workforce of clean energy starts by aligning our training, tools, and mission with what matters most to the next generation. By bridging industry needs with Gen Z values, STL USA is setting a new benchmark for workforce development in the energy transition.

Why Gen Z Matters to the Renewable Energy Industry

Gen Z, loosely defined as those born between 1997 and 2012, is entering the workforce in large numbers. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Gen Z will make up 27% of the global workforce by 2025. At the same time, the renewable energy sector faces an acute talent shortage. In wind energy alone, there is a 6–8% technician vacancy rate, which threatens project timelines and safety standards.

Globally, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates the sector will need to fill over 38 million jobs by 2030 to meet decarbonization targets. This gap can only be filled by cultivating a skilled, engaged, and future-ready workforce—and Gen Z is key to achieving this.

Understanding Gen Z: What Drives Them?

To truly connect with Gen Z, it’s vital to understand their professional values and expectations. Here are three of the most prominent characteristics influencing their career decisions:

1. Purpose-Driven Careers

Gen Z wants more than a paycheck—they want to make a positive impact. A 2023 Deloitte survey found that 77% of Gen Zs want their work to be meaningful, particularly in areas like sustainability and climate action. Renewable energy provides an ideal platform for this: working in wind or solar means being on the front lines of combating climate change.

2. Digital Integration

This is the first generation of true digital natives. They expect employers and educators to use modern technologies to enhance experiences, streamline processes, and offer flexibility. Platforms like virtual reality (VR), augmented learning environments, and mobile-first platforms are essential tools to engage and retain Gen Z talent.

3. Continuous Learning & Career Progression

Gen Z is ambitious and highly motivated by growth. They are looking for clear, structured career pathways with opportunities for upskilling, certifications, and advancement. According to LinkedIn, Gen Z changes jobs more frequently than previous generations—making career development a key retention strategy.

STL USA: Leading with Vision, Innovation & Purpose

At STL USA, we’ve designed our approach to workforce development with these principles in mind. As a global leader in clean energy safety and technical training, we don’t just prepare students for today’s roles—we empower them to lead the industry tomorrow.

1. Immersive & Digital-First Training

To meet Gen Z where they are, STL USA has invested heavily in technology-driven learning. Our training centers feature cutting-edge simulation environments and virtual reality components that mirror real-world wind turbine scenarios. Whether students are learning tower rescues or electrical diagnostics, they do so in highly immersive, digitally enhanced settings that build confidence and safety awareness.

Our online learning management system (LMS), which launches this year, will provide hybrid flexibility, allowing learners to access coursework and assessments on their own schedules—an essential feature for today’s mobile-first generation.

2. Structured Career Pathways

Understanding Gen Z’s need for progression and clarity, STL USA offers clear, stackable training pathways designed to support long-term career development. One of our most popular offerings, the Total Wind Training Pathway, bundles together core GWO (Global Wind Organisation) certifications and technical courses in a format that moves learners from entry-level safety competencies to advanced rescue, electrical safety, and technical diagnostics.

Courses include:

• GWO Basic Safety Training (BST)

• GWO Enhanced First Aid

• Gearbox & Borescope Training

• Balance of Plant Substation/PMT Switching

• Advanced Rescue Training

• Electrical Safety (NFPA 70E)

This holistic, modular structure helps learners envision their future and actively work toward it, reducing attrition and enhancing confidence in their chosen career path.

3. Purpose & Impact at the Core

STL USA doesn’t just teach skills—we connect those skills to impact. Every course is framed around the role of technicians in advancing renewable energy, protecting the environment, and powering a sustainable future. We host workshops, guest speakers, and employer partnerships that help students understand the bigger picture and feel part of a global movement.

Through our WindStart Program, for example, career changers and new graduates are introduced to the industry through an engaging curriculum that ties technical instruction with environmental stewardship and social impact.

4. Career Placement & Support

In partnership with top renewable energy companies, STL USA provides career support services to help our graduates find job placements in onshore and offshore wind, solar, and energy infrastructure. This full-circle approach ensures that Gen Z not only receives world-class training—but also finds a meaningful place to apply it.

A Future Built by the Next Generation

Gen Z is ready to build the future. What they need is opportunity, support, and a roadmap to success.

At STL USA, we’re proud to be the bridge between this generation’s ambition and the renewable sector’s workforce needs. By prioritizing digital innovation, purposeful education, and structured growth, we are not only engaging Gen Z—we are shaping them into the safety leaders, technicians, and innovators who will drive the clean energy revolution forward.

As the United States accelerates its clean energy transition, wind energy is playing an increasingly vital role in meeting net-zero targets. But while wind power installations are scaling up across the country, the workforce pipeline is struggling to keep pace. In fact, the U.S. wind energy sector is facing an alarming technician vacancy rate—estimated at 6–8%—posing a real risk to both project timelines and operational safety.

At the heart of this issue lies a significant mismatch between the sector’s rapid expansion and the available pool of skilled, safety-qualified technicians. According to the Global Wind Energy Council’s “Global Wind Workforce Outlook,” over half a million new wind technicians will be required globally by 2028, with the U.S. market accounting for a sizable share. Closer to home, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 60% increase in wind turbine technician jobs between 2023 and 2033—making it one of the fastest-growing occupations in the country.

What’s Driving the Shortage?

The growth in wind energy installations—especially offshore wind projects on the East Coast—has created a surge in demand for skilled labor. But the wind industry is not just competing with other renewables like solar; it’s also facing workforce competition from construction, utilities, and oil & gas, all of which are ramping up recruitment amid infrastructure investment.

Further exacerbating the issue is a lack of public awareness and defined entry points into the sector. Many potential workers simply don’t know how to transition into renewable energy careers—or don’t understand the range of opportunities available. And without proper safety certifications, even those with mechanical or electrical experience can’t legally or practically work on turbines.

STL USA: Bridging the Gap with Proven Training Pathways

This is where STL USA is leading the way. As the premier provider of wind energy safety and technical training in North America, STL USA offers tailored, accredited programs designed to rapidly upskill new entrants and enhance the capabilities of existing technicians.

1. WindStart Program – For Career Changers and New Entrants

Specifically designed to attract and onboard individuals from other industries or those newly entering the workforce, STL USA’s WindStart Program introduces students to the fundamentals of the wind energy sector. It includes core modules on safety culture, turbine technology, and industry expectations—providing a solid grounding before students progress to more specialized courses.

2. Total Wind Training Pathway – Full Skill Development in One Stream

STL USA and Danish Wind Power Academy began working together in 2024 to solve one of the biggest challenges facing US wind employers – how do we turn the large numbers of rookie technicians into experts and ensure that our customers continue to win in wind.

The result is Total Wind Training, an adaptive program that covers both industry required certification and competency training from beginner to advanced.

This flagship course bundle includes a comprehensive sequence of Global Wind Organisation (GWO)-certified courses and practical technical skills. It covers:

• GWO Basic Safety Training (BST)

• GWO Working at Heights & Manual Handling

• GWO Enhanced First Aid

• GWO Fire Awareness

• Technology Essentials (All major components)

• OEM Familiarization (Vestas, Siemens, GE)

• OEM Troubleshooting (Vestas, Siemens, GE)

• Technical sprints (1 day sprint sessions on specific components, platforms etc)

• GWO Advanced Rescue Training

• Electrical Safety (NFPA 70E aligned)

• Gearbox & Borescope training

• Substation/PMT Switching (Balance of Plant)

By packaging these essential skills into one pathway, STL USA in partnership with the DWPA ensure students are truly job-ready and fully compliant with international safety standards.

3. Flexible and Accessible Locations Across the U.S.

STL USA operates state-of-the-art training centers and offers mobile onsite training in key clean energy hubs including Texas, New York, and California. Our state of the art mobile units are available to support remote and on-site workforce needs. This logistical capability is critical to serving the rapidly expanding offshore wind sector along the Eastern Seaboard.

Why Choose STL USA?

Beyond its course offerings, STL USA differentiates itself with:

• Industry-Leading Instructors – Experienced professionals with years of fieldwork across onshore and offshore wind installations.

• GWO Accreditation & Partnerships – Certified training aligned with international standards and recognized across the global wind industry.

• Career Support Services – Helping graduates connect with leading wind employers and building long-term career roadmaps.

• Innovative Training Tools – Including VR modules and simulation-based training for real-world preparation without real-world risk.

STL USA’s training programs are not just educational—they’re transformative. They open doors for individuals who may never have considered a wind energy career, and they help employers meet project milestones with confidence in their workforce’s skills and safety compliance.

Addressing the Skills Shortage = Unlocking Clean Energy Growth

The clean energy transition will falter without a robust workforce. Every unfilled technician role represents a risk to safety, a delay in construction, and a missed opportunity to generate sustainable power.

By investing in training and workforce development, companies—and indeed, the nation—can address this shortfall head-on. STL USA stands ready as a trusted partner in this effort, equipping technicians with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to power America’s energy future.

Whether you’re a technician looking to upskill, a veteran changing careers, or a project developer needing a trusted training provider, STL USA is your gateway to building a safer, smarter, and more sustainable workforce.