Electrical Engineering Technician
Electrical engineering technicians help plan, test and maintain the electrical systems of solar farms, wind farms, battery storage sites and substations, working between engineers and electricians. Industry says the shift from coal power to solar and wind power calls for more people with electrical and civil engineering skills.
Jobs in the energy transition
Substation technician
You'd help test new equipment at substations before it's switched on and maintain it afterwards, so that power from new solar and wind farms can flow into the grid.
Extra training: After NC(V) Level 4, you'd usually need a diploma accredited by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) to register as an engineering technician.
Solar farm electrical technician
You'd monitor a solar farm's electrical systems, find and fix faults, and help keep its connection to the grid working.
Extra training: After NC(V) Level 4, you'd usually need a diploma accredited by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), or an electrician's trade certificate earned through an apprenticeship.
Battery storage technician
You'd help install, monitor and maintain the large battery systems being built at solar farms and Eskom substations.
Extra training: After NC(V) Level 4, you'd usually need a diploma accredited by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), or an electrician's trade certificate earned through an apprenticeship.
Wind turbine service technician
You'd maintain and repair the electrical and control systems inside wind turbines, working at heights and in tight spaces.
Extra training: You'd first need to qualify as an electrician or earn an engineering diploma, and then take the wind turbine service technician course at SARETEC, a renewable energy training centre in Cape Town.
How to get there
The qualifications
What you need to start
To start NC(V) Electrical Infrastructure Construction at Level 2, you need to have passed Grade 9, and the older NATED (N1 to N6) engineering courses are no longer open to new students. To register as an engineering technician later, you'll usually also need a diploma accredited by the Engineering Council of South Africa, which you can apply for with good enough NC(V) Level 4 results.
These are the official minimum requirements, and colleges can set higher ones.
Where you can study
Data verified June–July 2026 from official college publications and the DHET occupational qualifications register. Spot an error? Suggest a correction.
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