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New Energy World
New Energy World embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low carbon technologies.
US and UK take steps to reskill workers for the energy transition
30/10/2024
News
Both the US and UK are embarking on initiatives to reskill their energy workforce and ensure that workers from traditional sectors like coal, oil and gas can transition smoothly into clean energy industries. In the US, the Biden-Harris Administration has pledged $428mn to support clean energy manufacturing in former coal communities. Meanwhile, the UK is to launch an ‘Energy Skills Passport’ in early 2025, a tool designed to enable energy workers to move seamlessly between sectors, with a focus on offshore wind.
US initiative: Revitalising former coal communities
The Biden-Harris Administration is to invest $428mn investment in 14 projects across 15 coal communities in the US. The projects will focus on clean energy manufacturing in areas with decommissioned coal plants and promise to create more than 1,900 well-paid jobs.
The focus is not only on the energy transition but on utilising the existing skills of workers in these regions. ‘By leveraging the know-how and skillset of the former coal workforce, we are strengthening our national security while helping advance forward-facing technologies and revitalise communities across the nation,’ said US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.
The projects, funded by the Department of Energy (DoE), will support five key supply chains – grid components, batteries, low-carbon materials, clean power generation and energy efficiency products, with the aim of positioning the US as a global leader in clean energy technology. The DoE forecasts that clean energy and carbon reduction technologies will represent a $23tn market by 2030. It says that many of the new roles created in the projects will require similar skills to those used in coal, including manufacturing, maintenance and technical operations.
The funding announcement is expected to generate over $500mn in private sector investment. The projects include $80mn of funding for MetOx International’s Project Arch, an advanced superconductor manufacturing facility in the south-east US.
UK skills passport: A smooth transition to offshore wind
Across the Atlantic, the UK is also taking steps to support its workforce through the transition from traditional energy sectors to renewables. RenewableUK and Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) have developed an Energy Skills Passport that aims to streamline the process for workers looking to switch sectors, particularly from oil and gas to offshore wind.
The UK offshore wind industry currently employs around 32,000 workers, a figure expected to triple by 2030. At the same time, the UK oil and gas sector supports over 200,000 jobs. Research shows that 90% of oil and gas workers have skills transferable to the renewable energy sector. Roles such as maintenance technicians and high-voltage engineers are particularly well-suited for this transition.
The Energy Skills Passport will provide clarity for workers and employers by mapping out career pathways and highlighting which qualifications are mutually recognised across different energy sectors. The tool will also reduce duplication in training, enabling workers to move efficiently between roles. The scheme, supported by the UK and Scottish governments, is being piloted by a limited group this year before its full launch in January 2025.
Highlighting the positive implications for workers, Jane Cooper, Executive Director of Offshore Wind at RenewableUK, comments: ‘The upsurge in offshore wind jobs over the course of this decade and beyond creates excellent opportunities for highly-skilled oil and gas workers to bring their valuable experience to the clean energy sector.’
Meanwhile, Katy Heidenreich, OEUK’s Director of Supply Chain & People, adds: ‘Collaboration is key to unlocking the full potential of the UK’s offshore energy sector. This passport can help [workers] succeed right across our diverse energy mix.’
