Trade guide
Green Trade Jobs: Solar, Heat Pump & EV Charging Careers
Overview
The UK's net-zero targets are creating an entirely new generation of trade careers. The government plans 600,000 heat pump installations a year by 2028, 70GW of solar capacity, and 300,000+ EV charge points by 2030. This requires hundreds of thousands of skilled tradespeople — and there aren't nearly enough yet. If you're already a qualified electrician, plumber, or heating engineer, adding renewable energy skills puts you into a market where demand already far outstrips the supply of qualified installers.
Next steps
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The Green Skills Opportunity
• Heat pumps: The UK needs to go from ~55,000 installations/year to 600,000/year by 2028. That requires an estimated 50,000 trained heat pump installers — we currently have around 3,000.
• Solar PV: Target of 70GW by 2035 (currently ~15GW). Domestic and commercial installations booming.
• EV charging: 300,000+ public charge points needed by 2030, plus millions of home chargers.
• Battery storage: Home and commercial battery systems growing rapidly alongside solar.
• Insulation/retrofit: 19 million homes need energy efficiency upgrades under the government's retrofit programme.
These are legally backed targets, not marketing. Tradespeople who add renewables skills now will be selling into a shortage for years.
Heat Pump Installer
Who it suits: Existing plumbers, heating engineers, and gas engineers. Your existing skills in pipework, heating systems, and system design transfer directly.
Qualifications needed:
• Level 3 NVQ in Plumbing & Heating or equivalent (prerequisite)
• Heat Pump training course (typically 1-2 weeks for qualified heating engineers)
• MCS certification — Microgeneration Certification Scheme. Required to install heat pumps that qualify for the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant (£7,500 per installation)
• F-Gas qualification if handling refrigerant
Salary: £35,000 - £50,000 employed. Self-employed MCS-certified installers are charging £1,500-£3,000 per installation and can complete 2-3 per week. That's potential earnings of £70,000-£100,000+.
Getting started: Contact training providers like Logic4Training, BPEC, or your local college. Many offer fast-track heat pump courses for qualified heating engineers. Plumber guide →
Solar Panel Installer (Solar PV)
Who it suits: Existing electricians (for the electrical side) and roofers (for the panel mounting). Many solar companies train both elements.
Qualifications needed:
• Electrical qualifications — Level 3 NVQ in Electrical Installation or equivalent
• MCS certification for installations qualifying for Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) payments
• Solar PV installation course — Typically 5 days for qualified electricians
• Working at height certification
• Ideally: 18th Edition + 2391 Inspection & Testing
Salary: £28,000 - £42,000 employed. Self-employed solar installers earning £40,000 - £65,000. Companies installing solar + battery packages are seeing very strong demand.
Market outlook: Solar installations doubled between 2022-2025 and continue to grow. Rising energy costs make solar an obvious investment for homeowners. This is a growth market for the foreseeable future.
Electrician guide →
EV Charger Installer
Who it suits: Qualified electricians. This is essentially specialist electrical work.
Qualifications needed:
• Level 3 NVQ in Electrical Installation
• 18th Edition Wiring Regulations (BS 7671)
• EV charger installation course — Typically 1-2 days for qualified electricians
• OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles) approved installer status — needed for grant-funded installations
• Manufacturer-specific training (Tesla, Pod Point, Andersen, etc.)
Salary: £30,000 - £45,000 employed with an EV installation company. Self-employed installers earning £500-£800 per domestic installation, with potential for 3-5 installations per week = £75,000-£150,000+ turnover.
Market outlook: The UK ban on new pure petrol and diesel car sales from 2030 means EV charging demand will only accelerate. With over 1 million EVs already on UK roads and growing fast, this is one of the fastest-growing trade niches.
Electrician guide →
How to Transition to Green Trades
Step 1: Assess your base qualifications
• Electricians → Solar PV, EV charging, battery storage
• Plumbers/heating engineers → Heat pumps, solar thermal
• Roofers → Solar panel mounting (partner with an electrician for wiring)
• General builders → Insulation, retrofit coordination
Step 2: Choose your training
• Logic4Training — Heat pump, solar, EV courses
• BPEC — Heat pump and renewable heating
• NICEIC — Solar PV and EV charger courses
• Local colleges — Part-time and evening courses available
Step 3: Get certified
• MCS certification is key for heat pumps and solar — it allows your customers to access government grants
• OZEV approval for EV charging grant work
• TrustMark registration for all retrofit work
Step 4: Market yourself
• Add green services to your Checkatrade/MyBuilder profile
• Join the MCS installer directory
• Target local councils and housing associations who need bulk installations
Funding: The government's Green Skills Fund and various CITB grants can subsidise training costs. Check CITB.co.uk for current grants.
The construction industry is going green fast. Getting qualified now puts you ahead of the curve.
Step-by-Step Career Path
Qualifications Needed
- ✓Base trade qualification (electrician, plumber, or heating engineer)
- ✓MCS certification (heat pumps, solar)
- ✓OZEV approved installer (EV charging)
- ✓F-Gas qualification (heat pumps)
- ✓Working at Height certification (solar)
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Fastest-growing sector in construction
- Premium salaries — 20-40% above traditional trade rates
- Government backing and grants driving demand
- Future-proof career — net zero is happening
- Can add to existing trade skills
- Less physically demanding than traditional construction
Cons
- Requires existing trade qualification as foundation
- MCS certification process can be complex
- Technology changes rapidly — ongoing learning needed
- Some seasonal variation (solar installs peak in spring/summer)
- Upfront training costs for new certifications
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I become a heat pump installer without being a plumber?▼
Technically you can train from scratch, but it's much harder and longer. The standard route is to qualify as a plumber/heating engineer first (2-4 years) then add heat pump training (1-2 weeks). Some training providers offer combined courses for career changers, but expect 1-2 years minimum.
How much does renewable energy training cost?▼
For already-qualified tradespeople: heat pump courses £1,000-£2,500, solar PV courses £800-£1,500, EV charger courses £300-£600. MCS certification costs around £1,200-£2,000 annually. CITB grants and the Green Skills Fund can offset these costs.
Is the demand for green trades really that high?▼
Yes. The UK needs to go from 55,000 heat pump installations/year to 600,000/year. Solar installations are doubling every 2-3 years. Over 300,000 EV charge points are needed by 2030. The skills gap is enormous and will take years to fill.
Which green trade pays the most?▼
MCS-certified heat pump installers currently earn the most, with self-employed installers potentially earning £70,000-£100,000+. EV charger installation has the highest turnover potential for volume work. Solar PV is the most established market with steady demand.
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