Exploring Future Skills Shortage in the Transition to Localised and Low-Carbon Energy Systems

As the climate change pressures mount, the need to transition to clean (non-fossil fuel based) energy systems becomes ever more apparent. Such a transition requires availability of trained workers to install and control the new energy systems, as well as skilled governance and regulation to guide such a major societal change. This paper takes the first steps to explore the issues related to said skills and training provision, using group discussions with the UK’s energy researchers and practitioners. It reports on the areas of currently perceived skills gaps, and argues for the need to research on the future skills shortage prediction and training provision. This work aims to prevent such shortages from arising in order to facilitate a successful transition to clean energy systems.