Congratulations to the four winners of the Upskill Prize Round 2. The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded these teams for their innovative programs that recruit and train the next generation of solar manufacturing workers. Their programs will help develop the necessary workforce skills to grow U.S.-based manufacturing capacities and strengthen the domestic energy supply chain.

Each team consisted of a partnership between a manufacturing facility and a training facility to develop plans to equip new workers with essential skills for the solar manufacturing industry or to enhance career development for existing workers.

The winning teams are: 
 

  1. First Solar Ohio: First Solar Ohio partnered with Northwest State Community College (NWCC) to expand its existing technical training program for production associates. In this enhanced program, five specialized courses at NWCC will upskill First Solar’s manufacturing, engineering, technician, and maintenance workforces.
     
  2. Hemlock Semiconductor Operational Excellence and Training: As part of its facility and workforce expansion efforts, Hemlock Semiconductor is partnering with Delta College to provide training for new manufacturing operators. Delta College will provide a 12-week course in chemical process technical skills, while Hemlock will provide a 12-week on-site training tailored to the operators’ specific areas, followed by a certification of program completion.
     
  3. Our Borealis: Silfab Solar is developing a solar photovoltaic cell manufacturing facility in Fort Mill, South Carolina. It will partner with York Technical College to offer a 90-day onboarding program, combining on-site and online training and college courses. Additionally, prize funding will be used to implement an apprenticeship program for at least three internal employees who want to upskill to a more technical role and to hire a technical training consultant for on-site equipment training and the development of training materials. 
     
  4. Qcells-SEI Training: Hanwha Qcells Technologies has partnered with Solar Energy International (SEI) to provide online and hands-on training for new and incumbent engineers at its manufacturing locations in Dalton and Cartersville, Georgia. SEI will provide training in the fundamentals of solar photovoltaic manufacturing, while Qcells will provide a certification course in advanced manufacturing processes and safety protocols.