Qualitative Study of Skills Needs for Community Energy Projects

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Abstract

This paper presents a small-scale study of the picture of the current skills issues within the community energy sector in the UK. It is intended to highlight training needs to be addressed for a shortage-free transition to future clean local energy systems. We have carried out 12 semi-structured interviews with individuals from community energy projects and organisations who help communities build energy projects. Topics discussed include skills and knowledge required to develop community energy projects and skill shortages that exist now or are expected in the future as we scale up the number of energy projects. We also discuss barriers faced by the energy communities, factors that support the development of community energy projects as well as training provision needs. Through thematic analysis of the transcribed interviews 12 themes emerge. We find that within each theme, parallels can often be drawn between the discussion points. For example, financial barriers such as access to funding can be solved by the enabling factors including new business models. So too, the skills deemed to be in shortage such as financial modelling echo the issues that exist in these areas.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationInternational Conference on Community Energy for Collective Self-Consumption
Publication statusPublished - 16 Jun 2020
EventInternational Conference on Community Energy for Collective Self-Consumption - Online
Duration: 15 Jun 202016 Feb 2021
https://ce-ec.sciencesconf.org/resource/page/id/3

Conference

ConferenceInternational Conference on Community Energy for Collective Self-Consumption
Period15/06/2016/02/21
Internet address

Research Groups and Themes

  • Bristol Interaction Group

Keywords

  • skill shortages
  • skills training
  • community energy
  • smart local energy systems
  • interviews

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  • Rework of EnergyREV

    Chitchyan, R. (Principal Investigator)

    1/12/1830/09/22

    Project: Research

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