The energy sector is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the urgent need to transition to renewable energy. According to the International Energy Agency’s World Energy Outlook 2023, renewable energy is projected to constitute 80% of new power generation globally by 2030. In the UK, offshore wind is a cornerstone of this shift, with nearly 100 GW of capacity under development, promising to contribute £25 billion to the economy by 2035. However, one of the biggest challenges facing this transition is the urgent need for skilled workers in the renewable energy sector.
The Offshore Wind Industry Council estimates that job opportunities in the UK offshore wind sector will surpass 100 000 by 2030, creating a substantial demand for skilled professionals. To meet this requirement, the industry will need to attract and retain 10 000 individuals annually. This rapid expansion is a boon for job creation in renewables but, without a skilled workforce, these opportunities may remain untapped.
The renewable energy industry requires a broad range of technical, engineering, and digital skills. High-level electrical and technical expertise is needed to upgrade power networks and develop battery storage systems. Advanced digital skills, such as data analytics, artificial intelligence, and robotics, are becoming increasingly essential within the industry as it evolves. Planning, project management, legal advisory, and environmental impact assessment roles are also growing in demand.
To address this skills gap, industry and government must work together to provide accessible training programmes, especially for young people entering the workforce. Failure to prepare adequately for these roles could slow the renewable energy transition and undermine the economic and environmental benefits it promises. So, how do we bridge the gap? Let’s start with educational courses, which need to be adapted to include specialised training for careers in renewable energy. For example, apprenticeships and technical training in areas like wind turbine maintenance and high-voltage transmission systems are essential for building the workforce of the future.
RS Group has a dedicated Renewables team who work to better understand the challenges in the renewable energy sector, with a current primary focus on offshore wind. They collaborate closely with the in-house RS Youth and Community team, who work to develop the future engineering workforce by supporting everyone from first-year students through to aspiring entrepreneurs. The team work on initiatives like internships, work placements, and skills workshops.
An example of this can be seen in action through the recent Global Offshore Wind event, hosted by Ørsted, where the Renewables team supported Kinewell at a workshop. This even brought together over 60 school children to tackle inter-array cable layout optimisation – designing cable layouts for offshore wind farms to reduce costs and improve reliability. The best design outperformed industry submissions, showcasing the exciting potential of young engineers and the value of hands-on learning experiences in solving real-world challenges.
Energy & Utility Skills is another organisation that addresses workforce challenges and skills within this sector. With its membership comprising the major utility companies’ suppliers in the UK, the organisation is dedicated to developing learning and development solutions to attract the right skills into the sector.
The UK’s new government has committed to increasing offshore wind capacity as part of its green energy agenda. By quadrupling offshore wind capacity by 2030 and expanding onshore wind and solar power, the UK aims to enhance its energy security while also addressing climate change.
For this ambitious vision to succeed, the government must ensure that training and upskilling initiatives are in place. This will create thousands of new jobs, reduce unemployment, and provide individuals with future-proof careers in the renewable energy sector. The renewable revolution offers not only environmental benefits but also a path to economic prosperity and social progress.
