INTRODUCTION

EPC Practitioner Skills Programme to create a labor force that can meet industry regulations

The Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Practitioner Skills Programme is a demand-oriented, dual-structured short course for Energy Performance Certificates for Buildings, to qualify young electricians and engineers for income-generating employment. The 2-year Certified Energy Auditor (CEA) Internship intends to enhance the employability of learners after the project closing date.

This is an Energy Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA), South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI), and Institute of Energy Professionals Africa NPC (IEPA) initiative with the support of the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) and The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) in partnership with the AEE Chapter, the South African Energy Efficiency Confederation (SAEEC), and its dedicated committee for ESCOs the Energy Services Companies Association of South Africa (EASA), and the Association for Renewable Energy Practitioners (AREP).

The EPC Practitioner Skills Programme consists of online training, an in-person practical sessions to prepare for the workplace assignment over a period of 3 months. The Internship provides the required work experience component where an EPC process will be followed to get a building EPC ready under mentorship extended to the preparation through on-demand modules towards the in-person examination preparation for the international CEA examination. This programme is restricted to the KwaZulu-Natal region for 20 electrical engineering learners for both EPC-Prac-SP and CEA; for EPC-Prac-SP 5 mentors new to the energy industry, and 5 lecturers that meet the minimum criteria to lecture the program at their institution.

The internship includes a stipend of R4,950-00 per month less UIF for 24 months, and access to the On-Demand Energy Audit Technician course as preparation for the AEE’s CEA examination preparation and international examination.

The Energy Performance Certificate for Buildings training programme which results in the EPC Practitioner QCTO registered certificate (SP-220323) for learners that pass is aligned to the EPC Regulation published in December 2022 which requires the mandatory display of EPCs by December 2022 for all building owners in certain building categories. The CEA Internship intends the strengthen the knowledge, skills and permanent employability of the Interns that enter the two-year programme so that they can contribute positively to the economy in South Africa through the energy industry which will in turn contribute to reduced carbon emissions.

Highlights

• Entry level short course in course Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) for Buildings
• Examination preparation training for Certified Energy Auditor (CEA)
• Intern, mentor and lecturer to take part in the training and practical exercises for EPCs
• Intern work placement for practical work experience over 2 years to become EPC Practitioners and Certified Energy Auditors (CEAs)
• R4,950-00 stipend payment over the 24 months internship
• Electrical Contracting Companies, Energy Services Companies, workplaces hosting interns have the opportunity to learn about an additional service they can provide or how to do EPCs for their buildings
• New company mentors to the energy industry in KwaZulu Natal will quality for the EPC Practitioners training
• The TVET and UT’s selected may present the EPC for Buildings short course to qualify their engineering students

Goals

• 24 months of training, practical exercises, and practical work under mentorship at a workplace
• 20 interns from KwaZulu-Natal
• 66% of interns to have permanent income generating jobs at the end of the programme
• 12 companies to host interns
• 5 mentors to benefit from training with the interns
• 1 College will be able to offer the short course after the programme
• 5 lecturers to have the benefit of upskilling as trainers
• 20 buildings to have collected information for EPC inspections