The World Skill Centre (WSC) has partnered with Odisha Hydro Power Corporation (OHPC) to establish a state-of-the-art Green Energy (Solar) Centre of Excellence (CoE) at its Mancheswar campus in Bhubaneswar.
Fully funded under OHPC’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, the project entails an investment of Rs 1,48,75,009 spanning FY 2026–27 and FY 2027–28.
The announcement was made in the distinguished presence of Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Energy, Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, alongside Hon’ble Minister for Industry, Skill Development & Technical Education Sampad Chandra Swain.
Hands-On Training for Future-Ready Solar Careers
Spanning roughly 3,000 square feet at Kaushal Bhawan, the advanced facility will feature full-scale, hands-on demonstration units, including rooftop solar, floating solar, and solar-tracker systems.
Building upon WSC’s core expertise in industrial automation, electrical systems, and digital technologies, the CoE will integrate cutting-edge technical domains such as:
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Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) & SCADA
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Industrial IoT & Remote Monitoring
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Digital Twins & Predictive Maintenance
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Energy Management Systems (EMS)
By bridging the gap between theoretical certification and field-level industry requirements, the Centre addresses pressing skill shortages in the rapidly expanding renewable energy market.
WSC Expansion: New Branches in Berhampur & Sambalpur
Delivering a major announcement for technical education in the state, Deputy Chief Minister KV Singh Deo revealed plans to expand WSC’s reach across Odisha:
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Increased Sponsorships: WSC is boosting its annual fully sponsored student quota from 60 to 100 candidates, ensuring broader access to world-class technical training.
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Decentralised Skilling: A proposal has been initiated to set up new World Skill Centre branches in Berhampur and Sambalpur, bringing advanced vocational programs directly to regional youth.
Emphasising the state’s vision, Minister Sampad Chandra Swain stated:
“This Centre of Excellence marks a transformative step in equipping our youth with future-ready skills in solar and green energy, ensuring Odisha leads the way in clean energy innovation and sustainable employment.”
Empowering Youth & Driving Local Entrepreneurship
Designed to train 300 youth annually, the CoE will offer specialised, industry-aligned training programs for high-demand roles, including Solar PV Technicians, O&M Technicians, Site Supervisors, and Energy Auditors.
The program is open to candidates from all districts across Odisha—with dedicated outreach targeted at operational areas of OHPC. Aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality), the initiative places special focus on increasing female participation in clean energy while inspiring sustainable local entrepreneurship.
The MoU signing ceremony was attended by senior leadership, including Vishal Kumar Dev, ACS, Energy Department; Bhupendra Singh Poonia, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, SDTE; Rashmi Ranjan Mohapatra, Chief Operating Officer, WSC; and Sandeep Pattnaik, Director (HR), OHPC.
