Training for Net Zero
12 January 2024
To meet the demand for specialist training in the developing renewable energy sector within the power generation industry, the Energy & Utility Skills organisation has established the Power Generation Group within the National Skills Academy for Power (NSAP).
Power generation is undergoing significant technological advancements such as carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS), energy from waste, wind, and other renewable sources.
These advancements are creating numerous job opportunities, with further anticipated industry growth indicating a requirement for an additional 70,000 skilled professionals within the offshore wind sector alone by 2030.
In October 2023, the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank, produced power for the first time and, upon full operation, it will provide power equivalent to the needs of six million homes. In addition, more than 15 million tonnes of residual waste is converted annually by the UK’s Energy Recovery Facilities (ERFs), enough to supply half the homes in London for an entire year, says Energy & Utility Skills.
The organisation says that many employers express concerns about finding and securing the right talent, and that The Power Generation Group is taking steps to address these concerns by identifying skill gaps and shortages.
It says that specialised skills such as electrical and mechanical engineering, planning and connecting, and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), among others, are foreseen as essential to meet the evolving demands of the renewables industry.
Stephen Barrett, Director of Membership and Strategic Engagement at Energy & Utility Skills said: "A focus on renewables within the Power Generation Group allows us to support industry by establishing and upholding the necessary training standards, contributing to the UK's training infrastructure, and addressing the growing demand for upskilling."
Energy & Utility Skills members comprise major infrastructure companies within water, power, gas and waste management and their top tiers of delivery partners.
