Energy is at the forefront of today’s media, politics and discussions around family dinner tables across the country. The current gas price hikes present a real challenge for many businesses and households as prices begin to soar and bills increase by more than 50%.

Whilst there is no quick fix, it does sharpen the focus on the move to cleaner, more sustainable and secure energy supplies as we continue to combat and adapt to an ever-changing climate.

The East of England, recognised as one of the UK’s leading energy producers, is at a turning point which could genuinely help to deliver the longer-term low carbon and integrated net-zero energy system that the country desperately needs. There’s just one question: Have we got the people and skills to deliver it?

The big opportunities

Our region has one of the largest concentrations of decentralised energy projects in the UK with more than 1.4GW of solar farms, 450MW of onshore wind, almost 1GW of battery storage projects at varying stages of construction, and over 30 biomass and anaerobic digestion sites. The region also has its first consented hydrogen project being developed in Lowestoft, offering exciting prospects for future hydrogen developments.

At Opergy, we are seeing the beginnings of a technology revolution with new, innovative heating technologies for homes and business; a new generation of zero- emission vehicles and vessels moving people and goods around the world; and new technologies in low carbon and renewable energy production.

This includes the use of larger wind turbines alongside moving from fixed wind to innovative designs for floating wind turbines in deeper waters, a new market forecast for significant growth from 2026 onwards as technology matures.

Then there’s green hydrogen demonstration projects being developed and scaled up where we will need new solutions and technologies in efficient production and storage, driving a revolution across transport, heating and industry.

With the likelihood that the market for passenger electric vehicles will continue to accelerate, a new fleet of charging infrastructure is needed, which for many parts of our rural region may require upgrades to the local networks, so let’s combine them with battery storage and hydrogen refueling hubs to maximise the options for consumers, and offer flexibility in managing the local grid. Win-win.

Sizewell C could offer some of the biggest opportunities in the region to drive innovation in construction, developing a rich pool of highly-skilled people and skills infrastructure that will leave a regional legacy.

Meeting the energy skills challenge

Opergy estimates that more than 108,000 new jobs are going to be needed before 2030 in industry. That’s almost a 50% increase on today’s workforce. Another 500,000 plus jobs will be created over the next two decades as offshore wind and hydrogen accelerate, and new nuclear projects, be they large or small, continue to develop.

The demand for new skills is growing just as rapidly both for engineering and technical skills and non-technical roles. Opergy is fortunate to be working with some of the industry’s largest names, helping to shape the future for energy skills across the region and nationally.

We are working with RenewableUK and the Offshore Wind Industry Council (OWIC) to lead the delivery of the People & Skills workstream of the Offshore Wind Sector Deal, with ambitious targets for growth in jobs including apprenticeships, and striving for greater gender balance. This includes working with the National Skills Academy for Rail to deliver a comprehensive annual industry skills survey, with the 2022 Intelligence Report underway ahead of release in spring.

Opergy is also working with the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult’s Floating Wind Centre of Excellence to deliver a broad skills model for this new and emerging sector, set for rapid expansion from the late-2020s into the next decade.

Understanding the jobs and skills needs for tomorrow helps us to educate, train and develop the talent we need, when we need it. For example, could today’s oil and gas workforce support the growth of floating offshore wind? We think it could.

We are also supporting the development of an Integrated People & Skills Plan with OPITO on behalf of the UK Energy Skills Alliance. The plan sets out the future skills needs covering offshore oil and gas, offshore wind, hydrogen, and carbon capture across the UK, with a range of actions improving STEM education and inspiration, vocational and academic career pathways, and identifying measures to enhance workforce mobility.

Then there is Sizewell C. We have supported the development of the project’s employment, skills and education programme, working alongside key suppliers and education partners in shaping the approach Sizewell C will take in developing the region’s talent pool and ensuring a skills legacy. We believe that when Sizewell C does get the green light, it will help deliver a game-changing boost for investment in engineering and construction skills, which so many other projects and sectors will benefit from.

So, what do we do?

The energy industry, both regionally and nationally, offers some of the most exciting career opportunities for a generation (pun intended). It’s a sector that is driving net-zero innovation, but like many industries it needs skilled people who are becoming increasingly difficult to recruit.

It also suffers a bit of an identity crisis at times. Yes, they are energy projects, but really, they are large engineering, construction and infrastructure projects. We need to be thinking about greater mobility for skills across sectors.

For example, could we use the skilled workforce currently being deployed on local civil projects to help kickstart the early construction phase of Sizewell C? Could we align supply chains to support the development of new port facilities at Harwich too, offering continuity for regional business and confidence to invest in longer-term skills development?

Let’s encourage greater collaboration between sectors and projects now, where everyone will reap the benefits of a highly-skilled network of regional businesses, and encourage industry partners to collaborate and co-invest with education and training bodies to build the necessary skills facilities that will deliver the next generation of talent. Let’s ensure that the sectors work together to inspire today’s youth and create tomorrow’s skilled workforce.