Training, Certification, and Standards: The Pillars of Residential Solar in Quebec

After a first article addressing the current and future labor shortage in Quebec's solar industry, it's time to talk about structure.

This structuring relies on three essential pillars: training, certification, and standards.

But before diving into these solutions, it’s important to understand why structuring the market is essential and what a lack of preparation could lead to.

The consequences of uncontrolled solar growth

When a market grows too quickly, without safeguards, the consequences can be serious.

First, on a technical level: a poorly designed or poorly executed solar installation may at best operate inefficiently. At worst, it can pose fire hazards and put people's safety at risk.

Add to that false promises of performance, installations sold at two or three times their real cost by unscrupulous sellers, and you get an explosive cocktail for a nascent industry.

It won’t take long before the media gets hold of these stories. Even if it concerns just one project out of a thousand, that will be the one everyone talks about on social media. And in the eyes of the public, there will be no distinction between reputable companies and fraudsters.

Take it from me, I saw this happen in France. Restoring the image of a sector afterward is incredibly difficult. Trying to explain, educate, and provide nuance takes years. Opinions form quickly, trust takes much longer to rebuild.

It is therefore essential to protect consumers from shady or even illegal practices. These can lead households into long-term debt or even cause them to lose a lifetime's savings, based on energy production promises that are as appealing as they are unrealistic.

Unfortunately, Quebec is currently a target. Why? Because the U.S. solar market is collapsing. Its president is undoing ten years of progress with his "Big Beautiful Bill." As a result, a wave of unscrupulous sellers will soon be out of work and looking for new markets. Guess which province borders Vermont? Bingo!

Our beautiful province is now in their sights. And it's not just American sellers. Others from across Canada will join as well. Alberta, for example, which has seen some of the country’s strongest solar growth in recent years, is already facing these challenges.

Now, after this sobering (but necessary) picture, the good news: concrete solutions do exist.

Training skilled installers: a necessity

Today, the reality is simple: solar is a profession. Having installed a panel on a cousin’s roof or wired a basic electrical panel isn’t enough.

You need to understand the theoretical basics of photovoltaic electricity, know how to size a system, understand safety standards, use the right tools (hello Otonomi DX 😅), and above all, be rigorous.

These skills can’t be improvised. They must be learned in a structured setting. This raises several questions. What’s the best training approach? Theoretical or practical? Long or short? In training centers or on the job?

The answer will always depend on the individual being trained.

One thing is certain: we need to diversify formats to meet different needs. Intensive courses for career changers. Longer programs for recent graduates. Specific modules for remote regions.

No matter the duration or delivery method, we need standardized content.

Some training options already existat CEGEP Jonquiere, Écohabitation, Stardust, CMEQ, ETS, Électricité Plus and BC Énergies, for example. But they remain isolated.

New programs must be developed, in collaboration with experienced professionals, and made accessible geographically, financially, and logistically.

The theoretical part can be taught in just a few days to those who already have a strong electrical background. But the practical side is crucial. Installing a residential solar system involves many tasks: drilling through a roof, ensuring waterproofing, wiring DC panels, securing the site, making AC connections between the inverter and the home's electrical panel, etc. Each step carries its own risks.

Mastery of these procedures can take several months. Training must include hands-on practice in real-life conditions.

And given that Quebec is in a situation where demand far exceeds supply, why not build bridges between new trainees and existing businesses that need workers? Just putting the idea out there...

Recognizing skills: certification as a benchmark

Training is great. But how can a customer know if an installer is truly competent?

This is currently a weak point in the Quebec market. Consumers lack clear benchmarks.

In other countries, recognized certifications have helped structure the market. In the U.S., NABCEP guarantees a certain level of competency. In France, the QualiPV certification plays a similar role.

These certifications have become points of reference for both consumers and public institutions. In some cases, they are even required to access subsidies.

Quebec does not yet have such tools. Yet developing one or more certifications co-designed with industry players and recognized by government and municipal authorities would be extremely valuable.

It would provide consumers with a reliable benchmark and encourage professionals to pursue proper training. (And yes, some are already working on it 😉)

When standards struggle to keep up

Beyond having trained and clearly identified actors, a final component is essential to making the residential solar sector work properly: standards.

Hydro-Québec’s net metering program, which allows customers to sell their solar energy surplus back to the grid, has been in place since 2006. Yet to this day, fewer than 900 residential solar projects have been connected through it. At the time, a set of standards known as E.12-01 to E.12-09 technically existed, but they were vague, incomplete, and often left much up to interpretation—and to the good judgment of professionals in the field.

That changed in late 2024, when the E.12 standards were updatedwith both positive and problematic consequences.

The good news is that the new standards now provide a clearer framework specifically for residential solar in Quebec. They address essential safety issues, particularly regarding how residential inverters interact with the public grid and how technicians are protected during installation and maintenance.

The downside is that the updated code focuses almost entirely on the AC (alternating current) side between the grid and the home while offering little to no guidance on the DC (direct current) side, where the solar panels operate. These two types of electricity require very different safety considerations. The code also introduced additional requirements, such as manual transfer switches and disconnection devices, even though most inverters already include these functions by design.

When the new version of the standards was released, it triggered a strong reaction from the solar community. Professionals criticized it for lacking practical relevance and for increasing installation costs, especially with the required add-ons—which ultimately reduces system profitability for homeowners. The added cost has been estimated at $1,000 to $2,000 per project.

This situation reveals a disconnect between two professional worlds that now have to work together: off-grid solar installers, who are highly experienced but sometimes marginalized, and certified electricians, who are technically competent but often unfamiliar with the specifics of solar installations.

Moving forward, these standards will need to evolve. This evolution must be informed by real-world experience, and some professionals are already working with Énergie Solaire Québec and Hydro-Québec to better align regulations with field realities.

Compliance checks: the missing link

So, installers are trained, consumers have certification references, and (imperfect) safety standards exist. But one critical piece is missing: no one actually checks if these rules are followed in real life.

Once a solar installation is complete, there's no guarantee it was done to code. There is no mandatory post-installation verification process, leaving the door open to mistakes, oversights, or even risky practices.

From my experience in France, a best practice would be to declare the end of work to an independent inspection entity, certified by Hydro-Quebec for an on-site review before the system is energized. Only after approval would the solar system be allowed to go live.

We don’t even need to look across the Atlantic for inspiration, this is exactly how things work in Ontario, where the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) inspects and certifies each project before it connects to the grid.

Encouraging signs

As we’ve seen: it’s far from perfect, but positive dynamics are emerging.

Énergie Solaire Québec has been working closely with Hydro-Québec for several months. The organization acts as a crucial bridge between field actors and the utility, sharing installers' realities and updates on discussions. This dialogue helps Hydro-Québec tailor its standards to real-world needs. At the same time, professionals are collaborating to build a complete list of inverters and batteries compatible with upcoming regulations.

Énergie Solaire Québec also recently launched a working group focused on training issues.

This group brings together public and private academic institutions as well as professional organizations. Their mission: study global best practices, anticipate Quebec’s evolving needs, and design a framework for future training programs that will shape the solar professionals of tomorrow.

These initiatives clearly reflect a growing will to organize and formalize a new market.

In short, training and certification aren’t optional for a sector in its early stages, they are fundamental to its survival.

Quebec will only succeed in its solar transition if its professionals are ready, skilled (and let’s be honest, they already are (thank you off-grid market 😛), and recognized.

This will require a collective effort from institutions, training centers, companies, and industry representatives. It also means learning from international experience—not to copy, but to avoid past mistakes.

All stakeholders must rise to the occasion. Because only unity and collective intelligence will determine the life (or death) of a market we all desperately need.

Up next: the key topic of subsidies.

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