Bhubaneswar: In a major boost to Odisha’s green workforce and clean energy transition, the World Skill Centre (WSC), a Section 8 company under the Odisha Skill Development Authority, will set up a dedicated Green Energy (Solar) Centre of Excellence (CoE) at its Mancheswar campus in Bhubaneswar.
Fully funded through a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative by the Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC), the project involves an investment of over Rs 1.48 crore across the 2026–27 and 2027–28 financial years.
The development was formally announced in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo, who holds the Energy portfolio, alongside Minister for Industry, Skill Development & Technical Education Sampad Chandra Swain, marking a strategic effort to align regional technical capabilities with India’s broader climate goals.
According to an official release, the state-of-the-art facility, spanning nearly 3,000 square feet at Kaushal Bhawan, will feature practical demonstration units covering rooftop solar, floating solar, and solar-tracker technology. Built on WSC’s core competencies in electrical systems, industrial automation, and digital design, the centre will incorporate advanced technical fields such as Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), SCADA systems, Industrial IoT, remote monitoring, digital twins, and energy management solutions. It will offer direct, hands-on exposure, bridging the gap between classroom training and industry requirements while addressing critical skill shortages in the renewable energy sector
During the event, the Deputy CM unveiled ambitious growth plans for the World Skill Centre, announcing an increase in the annual intake of fully sponsored students from 60 to 100 starting this year. Additionally, a proposal was presented to expand advanced vocational training across the state by establishing new WSC campuses in Bramhapur and Sambalpur.
Minister Swain noted that the initiative serves as a transformative step toward equipping Odisha’s youth with future-ready skills, positioning the state at the forefront of clean energy innovation and sustainable job creation.
Designed to train around 300 individuals annually, the Centre of Excellence will offer specialised, market-aligned programmes for key industry roles, including Solar PV Technicians, Site Supervisors, Operation & Maintenance Technicians, and Energy Auditors. The opportunity is open to youth from all districts across Odisha, with specialised outreach planned for communities near OHPC operational zones. Aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 5, the programme also emphasises gender inclusion to boost female participation in the clean energy workforce while driving local entrepreneurship.
Senior state officials, including Additional Chief Secretary (Energy) Vishal Kumar Dev, SDTE Commissioner-cum-Secretary Bhupendra Singh Poonia, WSC COO Rashmi Ranjan Mohapatra, and OHPC Director (HR) Sandeep Pattnaik, attended the MoU signing ceremony.