How people are a key enabler of the energy transition

The energy transition from carbon-intensive industries to renewables is gathering pace and it will have significant implications for employment over the next decade. The installed capacity of offshore wind is forecast to triple by 2030 according to the International Renewable Energy Agency. In their latest energy outlook report, BP say that global oil demand has already peaked, and further analysis reveals that demand could soon fall rapidly in the face of stronger climate action – by at least 10% this decade and by as much as 50% over the next 20 years. If these predictions materialise, the energy industry could see a reshaping of the jobs market. In this blog, Craig Pym, Managing Director – Team Energy Resources, the energy resourcing brand in Acteon’s Energy Services division, explores the potential skills shortage and what can be done to meet industry demand.

HOW CAN SKILLS BE TRANSFERRED FROM OIL AND GAS TO RENEWABLES?

A typical offshore wind farm project shares similarities with an oil and gas development project in that both follow a multi-year development timeline composed of sequential stages of surveying, engineering, fabrication, installation and commissioning. With fabrication and installation the basic skills that are required to undertake most roles are independent of the type of energy being harnessed. Oil and gas offshore jobs such as a geotechnical surveyor, subsea engineer, cable installation engineer, and offshore construction specialist require similar skills in the offshore wind industry. Project management of complex offshore projects, from managing external sub-contractors to overseeing installations at sea, also translates directly from one industry to another.

Team Energy Resources is engaging with renewables developers to help them build their project team. Seasoned hands from oil and gas backgrounds are proving to be instrumental in providing some of the much-needed project experience. These service technicians have the skills and experience that are directly transferable to the renewables industry, for example, fabrication yard and quality assurance roles. Moreover, they have indicated their willingness to transition outside the oil and gas industry. In an industry report last year, 81.7% of surveyed offshore workers said they would consider moving to a job outside of the oil and gas industry. At Acteon, we think the globalisation and rapid increase in the number of offshore wind projects will leave no other option but to transition oil and gas engineers and technicians into the market.