Photovoltaics - a profession for the future

Today, technology development and environmentalism are at the forefront of the market. Having renewable (pot. green) energy in your home is a huge advantage. Especially in terms of rising prices and rises. Such an investment will pay for itself quickly and save a lot of money. Add to this the fact that it is subsidised under the Clean Air Programme. As a result, new positions and completely new specialisations have appeared on the labour market. It therefore pays to know what skills and aptitudes are needed to get started. 

Installation of solar panels at your home

Operating principle of the system 

The basic premise in photovoltaics is to adapt a house, public building, business or residential building to absorb solar energy (using special panels) and turn it into electricity at no cost, so the sun's rays provide us with electricity, contributing to looking after our planet. 

What responsibilities does the fitter have? 

The photovoltaic fitter is still a fairly new profession on the Polish market. His/her main duties include the correct installation of the photovoltaic structure with brackets and its connection to the inverter and connection to the home installation. In addition to this, there will be electrical tasks such as the installation of cables, modules, electrical measurements or safe cable routing. Other activities will be the configuration of current inverters, checking the entire installation and evaluating it, servicing (in case of problems) and periodic technical inspections of the grid. 

Characteristics of a good professional 

The prospective fitter should be independent and have interpersonal skills. It will be useful to have a driving licence and your own car, so you can get to customers more easily. In this profession, it is useful to have a broad knowledge, which will help to provide answers to people who want to buy equipment. With a large number of projects to complete, good organisation of working hours will be an important consideration. It is worth being punctual and maintaining good relationships with people. 

An assembler's education is not relevant, but this does not change the fact that the following qualifications are needed for this job. These include: 

  • UDT (Office of Technical Inspection) certificate valid for 5 years; 
  • SEP category E and D authorising contact with electricity; 
  • knowledge of electrical installations; 
  • an accredited course and a passed state examination; 
  • knowledge:  
  • roofing (so as not to damage the roof); 
  • general construction; 
  • Technical. 

How much is the salary? 

It is difficult to give an exact rate. It will depend on many different factors such as: 

  • the province in which the duties are performed, 
  • possible bonuses, 
  • type of order and installation capacity in kWp, 
  • skills, 
  • knowledge base, 
  • experience. 
Quality control of purchased equipment

Another issue is the method of employment. It is possible to be self-employed or to have an employment contract/commission. However, it should also be taken into account that work in this industry is seasonal. This means that it is suspended during the winter. Another disadvantage is the weather conditions that postpone the installation. With a full-time job, you don't have to look for clients. You have a permanent job for a period of time. With a company, on the other hand, you have to take care of everything yourself. 

How badly are fitters needed in the labour market? Is it worth it? 

Photovoltaics are gaining in popularity and public awareness. The European Union subsidises projects to support the energy economy. This can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create a competitive, integrated system. A lot of companies and households are being persuaded to invest in this field. With the right qualifications, you have the opportunity to work abroad, for example in the Netherlands, Germany or France, where the earnings will be several times higher. So if you are interested in exploring new technologies, building environmental awareness then it is worth checking out the possibilities of this career. 

What should be taken into account when choosing a fitter? 

  • Read reviews among customers; 
  • Verify the company in the KRS and CEIDG; 
  • Find out whether the person has the required qualifications and check them; 
  • Ask about experience and completed installations; 
  • Enter into a service contract, with technical support for module performance, maintenance and the entire installation. 

How to choose a trusted photovoltaic company? 

Before deciding to buy panels, it is worth making sure that our roof is suitable for it. Knowing what our roof's capabilities are, we can move on to finding the right company to carry out our order. Before we do this, however, it is worth examining the various points: 

  • Have we been informed of the current rules for receiving a grant? 
  • What components does the manufacturer whose panels we are going to use use use and does it have branches in Poland, so that in the event of a problem it can easily go through the complaints process? 
  • Is the contractor certified as a RES installer by the Office of Technical Inspection? 
  • How detailed was the roof checked and the analysis of the accounts to date? 
  • Did the consultant ask about plans to purchase new equipment that will increase electricity demand? 

It is worth consulting people who have been using such an installation for at least a few years. Such people can give us relevant information: 

  • Was the calculation correct? 
  • what was the quality of the installation and service? 
  • was the installation really as efficient as the vendor stated? 
  • timeliness of the company carrying out the project? 
photovoltaic rooftop fitter

It is good to know the opinions of both companies and individual customers. Everyone has different needs, so a reliable installer is able to cope with any task and give suitable solutions. A directory of photovoltaic companies proves useful, where you can easily find professionals by location or name. The key details of the companies in the same location are described there. This saves time.  

Why is a good choice of PV so important? 

Because a bad installation is very likely to have serious consequences in terms of electrocution or even fire. More often, however, there are situations related to the lack of acceptance of the installation when the person did not have sufficient authorisation. It is important to remember that only a compliant installation ensures trouble-free operation of the panels.