CCUS (carbon capture, utilisation and storage) is a vital part of the strategy for global net-zero, which makes it the perfect time to start searching for carbon capture jobs and transition into the green energy sector.
Carbon capture involves trapping, transporting, storing, or recycling carbon dioxide from large emission sources such as industrial processes and energy generation. As of 2021, the annual amount of CO2 captured from power and industrial facilities reached 40 million tonnes globally.
CCUS is a relatively new industry compared to the traditional carbon-based manufacturing and power sectors. However, new avenues of funding and climate targets are increasing the number of new pilot carbon capture facilities and providing retrofitted CCUS capabilities for carbon-based power generation and manufacturing.
Job opportunities in CCUS
While working in the carbon capture sector will require a new set of skills and experience unique to the industry, there’s also room for skills already developed in other sectors.
Skills that are commonplace in industries like oil & gas will be brought into the CCUS sector through an experienced workforce that can drive innovation and growth.
For those looking to transition from traditional oil and gas roles into the renewables industry, carbon capture jobs offer the perfect opportunity to make that change.
Key roles in CCUS
Project management and planning roles
Project management has long been a vital part of traditional carbon energy industries such as oil & gas.
Whether planning a retrofit project on a large manufacturing or energy site or building a state-of-the-art carbon capture facility, project managers, technical project leads, and project procurement are all carbon capture jobs that will prove vital in building the future of the CCUS sector.
Key transferrable skills
Carbon capture companies will be looking for effective communication, risk management, technical expertise, scheduling and negotiation in these disciplines.
Analysis roles
Like any traditional project, before significant work can begin on a CCUS facility, an analysis of the feasibility of the project must be completed. Analytical skills to determine financial and technical viability are vital in understanding whether a project is fit to go ahead.
Various data analysis roles, including analysts, research scientists and data engineers, are vital for getting a CCUS project off the ground.
Key transferrable skills
Analysts bring critical thinking, working with databases, cost-benefit analysis and strong decision-making to carbon capture jobs.
Engineering roles
A wide variety of engineering disciplines will help drive innovation in the CCUS sector, creating and improving new technologies, processes and facilities. Every discipline, from mechanical to chemical engineering, is required in CCUS.
As the industry expands and new projects are started, demand for these types of carbon capture jobs will increase. Workers with engineering backgrounds will be highly sought after and at the forefront of CCUS technology.
Key transferrable engineering skills
CCUS companies will be looking for creativity, innovation, attention to detail and technical knowledge of chemical, process or structural engineering.
Business development roles
Identifying key areas of opportunity for expansion will be important in ensuring CCUS continues to build on its successes in lowering carbon emissions and become an integral part of the fight against climate change.
Business development managers, consultants and commercial managers will all be in high demand as providing business cases for the latest CCUS facilities and technology becomes vital to local governments, nations and international organisations.
Key transferrable skills
CCUS employers will be looking for business development professionals with strong interpersonal skills, research and planning, negotiation skills and the ability to analyse and implement ROI strategies.
The demand for carbon capture jobs is growing
These are just some brief overviews of the roles available within the CCUS sector. Still, there is demand for a wide variety of skill sets spanning multiple disciplines, including IT, finance, logistics and many more.
Working in carbon capture provides an opportunity to be at the forefront of developing technology and facilities to lower emissions and combat climate change.
Although it is an industry ready for exponential growth and innovation, the current number of carbon capture, utilisation and storage projects in development stages would quadruple the current capacity.
The skills and expertise already required in traditional industries such as oil & gas, wind, chemical engineering and mining will all be relevant for anyone looking to make the switch to CCUS.
Problem-solving, articulating complex problems simply, and integrating with and managing large teams are all skill sets that will allow anyone to work in carbon capture jobs and drive the sector forward in the future.
Training, upskilling and reskilling for positions in CCUS
CCUS training courses are beginning to appear online and in-person across the globe. With a focus on retraining and reapplying the skills common in other industries and showing how they can be deployed in new CCUS facilities.
Graduate programmes and universities are also tailoring courses to focus on the latest developments in carbon capture, with environmental engineering, environmental science and environmental conservation being key areas to pursue if looking to get a head start in a career in CCUS.
For workers who already have experience in similar industries, or already have degrees, postgraduate courses such as Hull University’s Carbon Capture course are now opening up.
It’s an exciting time to join the industry and work on the latest technology in the fight against climate change. CCUS is already becoming a major part of the energy and manufacturing sectors, and this growth shows no signs of slowing down.
With this ongoing growth will come various opportunities to join the CCUS workforce using the expertise and experience acquired from other roles and qualifications. The government has outlined its commitment to support the formation of four low-carbon CCUS clusters by 2030, and is keen for the private sector to invest in more CCUS facilities. This is a strong indicator of growth for the carbon capture industry.
Transitioning into renewables jobs in different sectors
It’s not just carbon capture jobs that provide an opportunity to transition from a traditional oil and gas job into the renewables industry. You may also be interested in transitioning into battery or hydrogen jobs.
Looking to get started in a carbon capture job?
Finding the perfect carbon capture job is about a lot more than doing a search on the internet. At Energy Resourcing, we’re proud to offer support and job advice to our candidates and connect them to the best jobs in the industry.
Why not take a look at our latest jobs and kick-start your transition into the green energy sector?
