Wind energy

Expanding the wind energy sector means facing up to a range of challenges. The sector will need to employ a variety of people with fresh approaches to tackling them.  

• Planning in a sensitive way:  Wind farms and renewable energy developments are key to reducing carbon emissions but may have an impact on   biodiversity, land availability and local communities. This impact can be positive overall. However, survey work, scientific data collection, community engagement and detailed reporting may be required to assess and address negative impacts. 
• Bringing communities on the journey: While the public are mostly supportive of renewable energy, there is sometimes uncertainty about new developments. Many companies that develop wind farms employ people to engage with local communities and maximise the benefit a new project can bring to an area. Transferable skills, relationship building, and good communication are key in these roles. 
• Upgrading the grid: The UK’s grid needs to be expanded and upgraded to connect wind farms, and distribute the electricity they produce across the country. This will require engineers and planners. 
• Enhancing energy security: Wind energy is low-cost and reliable but weather dependent, which means a variety of technologies are needed to maintain a consistent energy supply year-round. Batteries, green hydrogen, pumped hydroelectricity, and other technologies can store and/or provide excess power when the wind isn’t blowing. Additionally, more electrical cables being built between the UK and neighboring countries, which allow the mutual sharing of clean electricity, reducing the impact of local weather patterns. This will require planning, coordination, engineering and construction. 

Skills in demand

Roles in high demand include (but are by no means limited to) the following:

• Wind Turbine Technicians, who maintain wind farms and undertake essential maintenance
• Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, who help to design, build and maintain electrical infrastructure
• Planning and Consenting Specialists, who support the development of wind farms, and work with communities and authorities to ensure projects are built in a sensitive way
• Welders, Fabricators and Tradespeople, who can help to manufacture components of wind turbines and supporting infrastructure (for example, blades, cables, towers and foundations)
• Health and Safety Specialists
• Data Analysts, particularly those with knowledge of SCADA systems used in the energy industry
• Business Analysts with financial acumen who can identify investment opportunities
• Project Managers, Business Development Managers and Communications Professionals
• Jobs associated with technological advancements in the sector e.g. robotics, automation and remote operation of systems

Entry-level, graduate and apprenticeship programmes

Those new to the workforce and interested in green jobs as a first step after education may consider starting their career in wind energy. Entry-level and trainee roles are available across the industry. Some larger companies offer apprenticeships, trainee programmes or graduate schemes tailored to renewable energy specifically – these include:

• EDF
• Equinor
• GE
• Ocean Winds
• Ørsted
• RES (Renewable Energy Systems)
• RWE Renewables
• ScottishPower Renewables
• Statkraft
• Siemens Energy
• SSE Renewables
• Vattenfall
• Vestas

Transferring to a career in wind energy

Relevant skills gained working in other sectors may be applied in a new role within the wind energy sector.  For those working on turbines, technical training standards for working on offshore wind are provided by the Global Wind Organisation (GWO) and G+. Onshore wind health and safety standards are provided by SafetyOn.

In addition, RenewableUK is currently working with Energy & Utility Skills and the Offshore Wind Industry Council to develop further training and assessment standards required for the renewable workforce. For other roles in HR, finance, communications, project management, and more you might find you need no new qualifications.

Wind energy is an attractive green career option for those seeking alternative employment to oil and gas or other carbon-intensive sectors, where demand is expected to decline. RenewableUK is working on pathways for employees in these sectors looking to reskill, making the move into renewables as seamless as possible. The Energy Skills Passport website is a tool that will enable workers to easily identify which qualifications, such as technical and safety standards, are needed for specific roles in oil and gas and offshore wind, as well as mapping out potential future career pathways within the energy sector.  

Many members of the Armed Forces community also make the transition into the renewables sector after service in the military. Further information and support can be sourced through Mission Renewable which specialises in supporting companies to access talent from the armed forces.  

Careers resources:  

• RenewableUK works with Unifrog to promote renewable energy careers to the next generation  
• A new national mission: why members of the armed forces community are a great fit for renewable energy careers 
• Careers in consenting for offshore wind 

Trade bodies:

• RenewableUK
• RenewableUK Cymru
• RenewableNI
• Scottish Renewables