• • • TRADE SKILLS • • •
EV charging – a booming market with long-term upside
Driver uptake continues to rise, and infrastructure is scaling to match. Tens of thousands of new public chargers were added in 2025, including rapid and ultra-rapid units, but the real opportunity lies where people charge most often: homes, workplaces and fleet depots.
Domestic installations remain a steady workstream and typically lead to further upgrades, such as solar PV or home batteries. Fleet and workplace charging offers even higher-value projects, with load management, monitoring and collaboration with Distribution Network Operators (DNO) becoming standard. To deliver this confidently, electricians should hold a recognised Level 3 electrotechnical qualification, current BS 7671 and a dedicated EV charging qualification covering load assessment, earthing arrangements (including PME), smart charging systems and DNO notifications. Larger commercial projects increasingly require an understanding of energy management platforms and the ability to interpret connection offers. EV charging often acts as a gateway into whole-house electrification, making it a natural steppingstone into PV, battery storage and heat pump integration.
Solar PV – the staple that’s scaling fast
Solar PV remains one of the UK’s most active domestic markets, with record installation volumes and strong interest from homeowners, landlords and local authorities. PV is becoming a core part of the modern electrical skillset.
Installers must understand roof assessments and mounting systems, safe DC isolation, array stringing, inverter configuration, export limitation and DNO requirements. MCS certification also continues to carry weight; customers want consumer protection, performance assurance and access to finance or grants.
Business opportunities cover both new installs and a growing retrofit market. System upgrades, such as inverter replacements, performance checks and battery add-ons are all increasing, offering repeat business for electricians who maintain good customer relationships.
Battery storage – from add-on
to essential Battery storage has shifted from an optional extra to a central part of a home energy system. Record installation numbers in 2025 show that homeowners are looking for greater control over their energy use and better returns on solar investment. Many early solar adopters are now ready to add storage, creating a strong retrofit pipeline. For electricians, mastering battery installation opens high-value work. Batteries support time-of-use tariff optimisation, increase self- consumption of solar and improve energy resilience. They also introduce new technical considerations: high-voltage DC handling, integration with hybrid or AC-coupled inverters, configuration of monitoring platforms and compliance with EESS standards.
electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • DECEMBER/JANUARY 2026 17
Qualifications update – what’s changed?
The qualification landscape has evolved in 2025, reflecting the growing complexity of low-carbon systems. From 1st September 2025, electricians installing solar PV or Electrical Energy Storage Systems (EESS) must hold:
• A recognised Level 3 electrotechnical qualification, or • an ECS Gold Card
Current BS 7671 is essential across all technologies. Upskilling should be structured and deliberate, and electricians should: • Start with strong foundations, including Level 3 + BS 7671
• Choose recognised PV and EESS qualifications that meet industry standards
• Build practical skills in realistic training environments
• Plan ahead for MCS certification, using compliant installations as evidence from day one
Low carbon heating
Heat pump deployment grew strongly through 2025, supported by incentives like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme. The focus is shifting from standalone heat pump wiring to full integration with PV, storage and EV charging systems. Whole-home electrification works best when technologies are in sync. Solar and batteries can offset heat pump running costs, smart controls can coordinate heating and EV charging with tariff windows and energy management systems give customers a clear view of where savings are made. Electricians who can explain these interactions and commission the controls that join them together stand out in the market. Even if hydronic work sits outside the electrical scope, understanding the demands and behaviours of heat pumps is now a valuable differentiator. Homeowners increasingly want one trusted contractor who can deliver a complete package and ensure everything works seamlessly.
Get the basics right As we move into 2026, we are seeing a shift in the way that homes are powered and heated. Regulatory changes mandating certain technologies and market development are driving the transition to low carbon heating, and end users are beginning to adapt. Electricians who pair solid technical competence with whole-system thinking will be the ones who benefit most from this transition. Recognised training, compliance and hands-on experience remain paramount. As the market moves toward whole-house performance, electricians are increasingly becoming the trusted experts for low-carbon upgrades, an opportunity to move beyond the one-off installations.
https://www.logic4training.co.uk
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