Brisbane, Australia, 12 May 2026: New Energy Training has been named winner of the Training & Professional Development Award at the Smart Energy Excellence Awards & Gala Dinner 2026, recognising its contribution to building a more skilled, professional and trusted renewable energy workforce across Australia.
The award, presented by the Smart Energy Council, was announced at the Smart Energy Excellence Awards & Gala Dinner held at Doltone House, Jones Bay Wharf in Sydney, as part of the industry’s annual Smart Energy gathering.
The award recognises New Energy Training’s focus on practical, industry-aligned education, including its Certified Consultant Pathway, an industry-first program designed to lift standards among solar sales professionals and support roles. The pathway addresses a long-standing gap in the renewable energy sector, where salespeople can advise homeowners on solar and battery systems worth tens of thousands of dollars without any formal training requirement.
“Winning the Training & Professional Development Award is a proud moment for New Energy Training and for everyone who has supported the push for higher professional standards in solar and batteries,” said Liam Ricketts, Co-founder and Director of New Energy Training
“Our view has always been that better training leads to better outcomes. When sales consultants, designers and installers share a common technical and compliance foundation, customers receive clearer advice, better system design and installations that more closely match what was promised.”
New Energy Training’s programs are closely connected to current industry practice through its relationship with Supply Partners, one of Australia’s largest solar and battery wholesalers. This connection helps ensure course content remains aligned with evolving technology, regulatory changes and the realities of installation work across the country. The organisation delivers training from permanent facilities in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, co-located with Supply Partners’ wholesale branches, with mobile training rigs extending access to regional centres.
Its installer training pathways cover grid-connected PV, grid-connected battery storage and stand- alone power systems, helping electricians prepare for Solar Accreditation Australia pathways. For non-electricians, the pathway progresses from solar and battery essentials through to Certified Advocate, Certified Consultant and Certified Designer training.
“As batteries become more central to Australia’s energy transition, the need for accurate advice, ethical sales practice and technically literate customer support is only increasing,” said Ricketts.
“This award reinforces the importance of training the whole value chain, not just installers. A stronger industry depends on better conversations at the kitchen table, better documentation before a job reaches site and better collaboration between sales, design and installation teams.”
In 2026, New Energy Training aims to train more than 1,000 students through its design and install programs, while continuing to expand access to quality training across metropolitan and regional Australia.
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About the Supply Partners Group:
New Energy Training is a registered training organisation, delivering quality training for Supply Partners and the industry, improving industry skills and professionalism. With offices in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, plus capability to run mobile training across any region nationally. NET is part of the larger Supply Partners Group.
For more information please visit : https://newenergytraining.com.au/
About the Smart Energy Council
The Smart Energy Council is Australia’s independent industry peak body representing the renewable energy and smart energy sector, with a focus on advocacy, policy leadership and industry development.
Media Contacts
Smart Energy Council Media contact: Tim Lamacraft – tim@smartenergy.org.au – 0448 972 192
Supply Partners Group Media contact: Wade Curtis – Wcurtis@supplypartners.com.au – 0427 168 276
