For the transition to renewable energy to succeed, Australia needs the largest clean energy workforce in its history to build the necessary infrastructure, writes Kane Thornton, Chief Executive of the Clean Energy Council.
That’s a daunting prospect and there are countless uncertainties that need to be addressed to make it happen. I’ve written recently about the difficulties of planning and approvals, environmental concerns, community partnerships and more.
And all those challenges are magnified when you consider Australia is operating in a global marketplace, competing for materials, investment and talent. That’s why it’s so important we get policy settings right, to make Australia the most hospitable location for renewable projects.
Amid those varied challenges, competition for talent is the one that isn’t so widely reported on. But it’s vitally important if we are to reboot Australia’s energy system.
There are so many important professions linked to renewable energy, from engineers, construction workers and electricians to community engagement specialists, lawyers and environmental scientists.
As it stands, Australia has a shortage in many of these areas, which is why the Clean Energy Council is working hard to try to attract talent into the clean energy sector. And not just numbers, but diverse talent and high-quality leadership, so that our industry is set up for the future.
Building a workforce
If we’re to encourage people to join our industry, first of all we need to make it visible and attractive to them, whether they are just leaving school, making their way through TAFE, looking for a career change.
Last year, we launched Careers for Net Zero, a movement designed to showcase the many career opportunities that will help deliver an equitable, prosperous and net-zero emissions Australia. This year, we ran follow-up events in three regional locations in Queensland – because more than anywhere else, the energy transition is happening in the regions. It was a delight to see so many people engaged with these events, keen to learn about and in some cases join the net-zero movement.
But as well as numbers, we need training. One of the biggest challenges for the clean energy workforce is inconsistencies in what are considered meaningful qualifications. To ameliorate that, we need industry qualifications and training opportunities that will be taken seriously and will lead to worthwhile careers.
Our team is doing a huge amount of work on a new program called Clean Energy Required Training, initially in Victoria and Queensland. The objective is to improve worker mobility and establish consistent, industry agreed training and qualifications for trade workers employed in renewable energy developments.
When fully implemented, this program will increase the pool of qualified and experienced workers, including under-represented or marginalised labour groups, the long-term unemployed, and workers transitioning out of the thermal energy sector. It will enable individual workers to establish career development pathways and move between clean energy projects more efficiently because they understand what skills and training are required and what opportunities exist. It will also provide the clarity and certainty needed by training organisations to offer relevant training offerings.
All of this is backed up by our recently revamped online e-learning platform, LearnLAB, which is designed to educate the industry, the public, installers, and Clean Energy Council members. It features an updated Discover the Renewables Industry Learning Plan, continued delivery of SAA-accredited CPD courses for Solar Installers and Designers, and micro learning badges that enhance professional profiles and validate expertise in the clean energy sector.
Inclusive leadership
In addition to training and attracting a workforce in such a varied sector, the clean energy industry must ensure it builds that workforce around a diverse range of talent, that it continues to work to make the sector as inclusive as possible, and that leaders demonstrate the right behaviours and norms to keep the industry healthy.
The Clean Energy Council has been running the Women in Renewables initiative for almost 10 years, through which we’ve been championing the role of women in clean energy. The renewables sector already has better representation of women than the fossil fuel industry, but the balance is still not there, and there is plenty of work to be done, especially in senior positions and roles in the trades. You’ll be able to hear from some winners and past recipients of our Women in Renewables scholarships in the next issue of ecogeneration.
Seeing the next generation of women coming through each year reminds me that if we encourage and promote diversity in our industry, we’ll always have new generations of talent to carry the transition forward. That extends to the whole industry, not just women. To ensure we are an open, equitable industry, we need to be aware of, and reform, systemic barriers and processes that are open to discrimination or bias.
I’ll be leading a session on mental health and wellbeing at All Energy, Australia’s biggest renewable energy event, in late October, where I’ll expand on the six principles of leadership, I believe the industry needs to embrace to not only help Australia become a global clean energy superpower, but do so in a way that promotes happiness, support and care for those around us. Those principles are courage, inclusion, collaboration, resilience, purpose, and self-care.
In an industry we all care so passionately about, it’s not always easy to switch off, to balance our time, and to focus on the elements beyond the headline-grabbing act of building a physical project. But to maintain a healthy industry that is welcoming and attractive to newcomers, that’s what we need to do.
Working to bring certainty
It’s an interesting time for the renewables transition.
There is a lot going on, as always, in both the industry and the country. With a Federal election looming, there will be more changes to come. The current administration has put in place several measures, many sitting under the umbrella of the Future Made in Australia Act, that are aimed at boosting the transition and drawing in the investment we need.
To cut through the uncertainties, we need strong policies, reforms and regulations that help rather than hinder the energy transition, while maintaining the highest standards possible.
That’s what the Clean Energy Council is for – to bring certainty where it is needed. We are deeply engaged with governments and other bodies to make sure we get the right legislation and the right outcomes for clean energy.
Promoting a healthy landscape for the clean energy workforce is just one of many areas we’re operating in to bring the certainty that is needed
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