The US has announced an investment worth $10 million (£6.9m) for solar training projects.

The Department of Energy (DoE) will use the money to fund 10 new schemes under its ‘Solar Training and Education for Professionals’ (STEP) scheme which aims to help meet the sector’s demand for qualified workers.

Five additional military bases will also join a programme which prepares service members for a career in the solar industry.

The ‘Solar Ready Vets’ programme was launched in May last year and around 250 people have completed the scheme.

Both programmes are part of President Barack Obama’s target to train 75,000 solar workers by 2020.

Deputy Secretary Elizabeth Sherwood-Randal saidl: “Jobs in the dynamic solar energy sector have grown more than 20% per year for the past several years. At DOE, we are committed to training the solar workforce of the future through our partnership with the Department of Defense, the solar industry and community colleges around the country.”