An exciting development has taken place in the field of renewable energy, attracting the attention of enthusiasts worldwide. On 21 March 2023, a partnership was launched, involving renewable energy trade associations and representatives of clean technology installations, and was actively supported by the European Commission. The result is a large-scale partnership of professionals that will redefine the renewable energy sector.
The main mission of this alliance is to equip workers with the indispensable skills needed to produce and manage renewable energy technologies. The goal goes beyond meeting the ambitious energy and climate targets set by the EU for 2030. It aims to achieve complete climate neutrality by 2050.
Nicolas Schmit, Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights, echoed this sentiment, emphasising the central role of well-trained workers in the myriad jobs being created in the renewable energy ecosystem. They are the prerequisite for a seamless transition to carbon neutrality. The innovative, large-scale Renewable Energy Skills Partnership aims to ensure the competitiveness and relevance of the sector in the face of changing energy market demands.
This monumental partnership is structured to deliver on its mission through multiple strategic pathways:
✅ Facilitating the creation of world-class employment opportunities and clearly defined career paths in renewable energy across Europe.
✅ Advocating for policy recommendations to promote skills to attract a workforce that can meet the dynamic challenges and demands of this ever-evolving sector.
✅ Work closely with relevant national authorities, educational institutions— – especially those specialised in vocational education and training — and training platforms.
✅ Emphasise the central role of promoting gender diversity by attracting and recruiting talented women to clean energy professions.
Remarkably, significant employment growth is projected for certain sectors. For example, the biomethane and heat pump sectors are projected to require over 1 million skilled workers by 2030. The photovoltaic solar energy sector is also projected to require 1 million workers by the same year, which includes up to 66,000 jobs in production alone.
Thierry Breton, Commissioner for the Internal Market, astutely emphasised: “Retraining and up-skilling workers in all industrial ecosystems is essential for our two transition goals. The Renewable Energy Skills Partnership will contribute to the goals of the Net Zero Industry Act by promoting growth and job opportunities while reducing dependency.”
This is the 15th Skills Partnership, a concrete implementation of the Skills Pact — a flagship initiative under the European Skills Agenda. It represents a decisive step forward and fits seamlessly with the objectives of the Net-Zero Industry Act, the Green Deal Industrial Plan, the REPowerEU Plan and the European Year of Skills. Moreover, the Pact fully contributes to the EU’s overarching goal: At least 60% of all adults to participate in further education and training each year by 2030. Since the Pact’s inception, over 1,000 organisations have committed to upskilling over 6 million people across Europe.
Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy, stressed the importance of this partnership for the widespread deployment of renewable energy — a cornerstone of a clean energy transition. She also underlined the central role of this partnership in achieving the ambitious REPowerEU renewable energy targets for 2030, which require the creation of millions of jobs in all renewable energy sectors.
Let us celebrate this remarkable step towards a greener, more sustainable future. Together, these actors are not only shaping careers, but also propelling the renewable energy sector to unprecedented heights.
Read more about this initiative: https://energy.ec.europa.eu/news/pact-skills-launch-large-scale-renewable-energy-skills-partnership-2023-03-21_en.
