Renewable energy is an important topic that has gained traction in recent years due to growing concerns about climate change and the need for sustainable development.
As the world continues to face challenges posed by climate change, more industries are turning to renewable energy as a solution. This has created more job opportunities in the renewables sector.
Working in renewable energy is an exciting and rewarding field that contributes towards creating a sustainable future for our planet. From wind and hydrogen to battery technology, and carbon capture, there are a variety of opportunities to develop your skills and grow your career in the renewable energy sector.
Let’s look closer at each renewable industry and the information needed for anyone looking to transition into renewable energy from more traditional sectors.
Why transition into renewable energy roles?
There are several reasons why someone might be interested in transitioning from traditional energy sectors to renewable energy.
Environmental impact is an obvious reason. The traditional energy sector has a significant impact on the environment, and those concerned about the environment may want to work on projects that aren’t having that same negative impact.
Another reason to transition into renewable energy jobs is career growth. Renewable energy is still a relatively young industry with many opportunities to work on innovative projects and technologies. This makes it a highly rewarding industry for anyone who wants to push boundaries in their career.
The volatility of oil and gas prices has knock-on effects on job security in traditional energy sectors. In contrast, the renewable energy industry is growing rapidly, and job growth is currently anticipated to continue for the foreseeable future. This growth means that the industry as a whole provides a lot of opportunities. Gaining experience while the industry is young, will give you more influence in shaping the course of the sector in the future.
Important points to consider before you make a change
Whilst there is a large amount of crossover between traditional and renewable energy, there will still be a lot of new things to learn, such as technology, terminology, and skills. Working in a new industry might also require you to relocate. It may not be as robust in terms of economic downturns as traditional energy industries.
Understand your skills
Renewable energy is a highly specialised field. So understanding if your current skills and knowledge are applicable is a key consideration to make before transitioning into these roles. Further training might be required, which may not fit in with your schedule or career goals.
Job availability
Job availability in renewable energy is another thing to research before moving into the sector. Whilst the industry is currently undergoing strong growth, job availability in certain sectors or locations may not follow the overall industry trends exactly. When moving to any new job or sector, it’s important to thoroughly research jobs in the industry and locations you want to work in.
Your risk tolerance
Finally, it’s important to make sure you know your own personal risk tolerance before looking for a role in renewable energy. Understanding how you will deal with any issues or challenges that may arise is key before looking at moving into the sector.
Renewable energy industries you may be interested in
Depending on your skills and experience, getting into renewable energy can mean working across a variety of sectors. Those with a background in technical and maintenance may look towards the wind industry as demand for turbine technicians increases as new wind farms are built.
Those who are more interested in working on the energy infrastructure, instead of generation, may find themselves drawn towards the battery industry and the development of battery technology. This sector is always looking for innovators and technologically confident people to design and build the latest battery storage technology.
For those looking to stay closer to their roots in traditional energy, the hydrogen and carbon capture industries offer a more traditional approach to technology and energy generation with some exciting twists. For example, retrofitting older carbon-based energy projects with carbon capture technology is a key part of CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilisation & Storage).
Hydrogen generation meanwhile, is a still growing sector that uses many of the techniques and lessons learnt from traditional energy sectors to create state-of-the-art renewable energy facilities.
Wind energy
Wind energy is a rapidly growing sector, offering a large variety of roles, including turbine technicians, business development, HSEQ and safety roles. It may be one of the oldest renewable energy sectors and one of the most well-known. But there is still lots of room for innovation within the sector. New wind projects are starting up all the time, and technology is constantly adapting to the challenges faced by the industry.
Our wind energy jobs blog contains valuable information relevant to the sector, highlighting the importance of investment in training and education programs and helping workers transition from traditional energy roles to wind energy jobs.
This includes providing support for apprenticeships, internships and other forms of training that help workers improve their current skills and develop new ones.
Find out more about the transition to working in wind energy.
Battery industry
Not all renewable energy jobs are about the power generation phase. Instead, they focus on the energy infrastructure carrying that power throughout the world.
The battery industry is a perfect example of this, as storage technology is continually advancing. The sector is often found in the public eye by making a real difference to end users’ day-to-day lives.
Our battery industry blog discusses how this relatively new industry can be an excellent choice for workers transitioning from other power sectors. We look at the rising demand for battery storage to support the increase in electric vehicles and what that means for the wider industry and job market.
We highlight the variety of job opportunities available as the battery industry continues to develop and grow. Including positions in R&D, manufacturing and operations. Some specific roles discussed include battery engineers, material scientists and production managers.
Read about how you can transition into the battery industry here.
Carbon capture
For those focusing on reducing pollutants in the atmosphere, carbon capture is a renewable energy sector that will hold lots of appeal.
Carbon capture is a relatively young industry with a variety of projects, from retrofitting manufacturing facilities to capturing carbon via power generation. The industry is continually innovating, and the expertise of workers already experienced in traditional energy sectors will be vital to the growth of carbon capture in the future.
Our carbon capture jobs blog details the training and education necessary for workers to comprehensively understand how the carbon capture sector works, and how their skills might best be applied within the industry.
Find out more about the transferrable skills needed in the carbon capture industry.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is a new, key growth area for the renewable energy sector.
The hydrogen industry has many commonalities with sectors such as oil and gas, technology, and renewable energy. This crossover means workers can easily adapt to working in hydrogen, and bring with them a wealth of skills and knowledge.
Hydrogen projects aren’t just focused on power generation. Low-cost hydrogen fuel will help decarbonise existing industries and transport infrastructure, providing jobs for those with relevant experience.
We created a hydrogen jobs blog to explain the transferrable skills currently desired in the hydrogen sector. We also looked at key roles that will drive development and innovation in hydrogen projects, as well as education and training.
While hydrogen roles may require similar skills to those involved in traditional energy, there are still differences to consider.
Learn more about how you can transition to working in the hydrogen industry.
Interested in transitioning to a renewable energy role?
Transitioning into renewable energy is not an easy decision, and many factors need to be considered before making your move.
The industry is constantly evolving, and while opportunities are massive, there are still several challenges to working in renewable energy.
Consisting of various sectors with a huge range of roles, there’s a place for everyone in the renewable energy sector. Finding the right fit for you and your skillset is all-important for making the most of renewable energy’s current growth.
Allow us to help you transition into renewable energy
Finding your ideal role in the renewable energy sector is about a lot more than searching the internet. At Energy Resourcing, we’re proud to connect our candidates to the best renewable jobs in the industry.
Why not look at our latest roles and kick-start your transition into the renewable energy sector today?
