The Renewable Energy Jobs Market Expands to Support Increasing Demand

The Renewable Energy Jobs Market Expands to Support Increasing Demand The Renewable Energy Jobs Market Expands to Support Increasing Demand 2 Jul 2019 Duncan Martin Renewable energy has been a steadily rising force in a sector once dominated by oil, coal and gas  . With the UK Government recently putting into law an obligation to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, there has simply never been a better time to get involved. As well as this legally binding emphasis on reversing â€" or at least stalling â€" the damage done to the planet, major companies which previously profited from harmful energies such as oil and gas are making major changes to incorporate green practices into their futures. Ford Motors recently announced it would increase its investment in electric cars to $11 billion by 2022 and General Motors is planning to supply the market with 20 new fuel-cell electric and battery models by 2023  . Additionally, some of the biggest influences in the tech world, including Google and Facebook, are committing to large scale purchases of clean energy. The evolving renewable energy job market Why is this relevant to you? Ever since renewables began gathering momentum, more and more opportunities have been created for both employers and candidates. What was once a niche, specialised market has exploded into hundreds of different subsections, each with their own opportunities. From constructing wind turbines in the North of Scotland, to helping design and organise the creation of a billion pound ‘Western Link’ from Scotland to Wales, there is a constantly growing demand for workers. According to the Annual Renewable Energy and Jobs Review 2019, the industry employed over 11 million people worldwide in 2018 â€" up 700,000 from the previous year. The report also showed that the UK was fifth worldwide for wind employment, with around 40% (44,140) of its renewables jobs in wind power. In addition to this, due to government incentives, companies are now able to employ more diverse skillsets that would otherwise have been impossible, continuously recruiting for whatever projects they have planned next. In recent years this has included the introduction of electric vehicles and powering homes and workplaces with clean energy. Currently, those who work in the industry are looking to develop storage facilities (essentially just extremely large batteries) that can stockpile the clean energy being generated. Scottish Power’s plans for a 50MW ‘Super Battery’ just South of Glasgow were approved, prompting Keith Anderson (CEO) to describe it as a “significant step” towards renewable energy providing the baseload for the grid. Renewable energy opportunities The opportunities for both internal progression, and in the industry as a whole, are definitely present in the current market. Entering the renewables industry sooner, rather than later, will ensure you gain invaluable experience as soon as possible. The potential of the renewables industry is enormous and it’s something which is guaranteed to continue growing due to our certain future reliance upon it. In Scotland there is a huge drive towards being entirely dependent on renewables by 2020 for our electricity needs. Combined with Scotland having 25% of Europe’s offshore wind and tidal resources and providing considerably more than half of the UK’s onshore wind capacity, we are leading the way in the generation of renewable energy. According to the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Scotland produced enough renewable energy in the first quarter of 2019 to power 88% of its homes. Incredibly, this number is steadily increasing year by year, as 17% more was created than in the same period of 2018. If you’re looking to join the renewable revolution, or if you’d like to chat about finding the best talent in the sector, please get in touch and we’ll find the perfect consultant for you to speak to.