The North Sea’s skilled oil and gas specialists must be retained to power the transition to clean energy, according to a report released by Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) today.
The OEUK Workforce Insight 2023 report found a “homegrown energy transition” using existing skills could see the UK energy workforce increase by 50%, leading to 225,000 employed in the sector by 2030.
According to the report, more than 90% of workers employed in oil and gas production and its associated supply chain have skills that are potentially transferrable to wind, carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) and clean hydrogen production.
Transition must be ‘effectively managed’
OEUK said the transition away from dependence on oil and gas must be “effectively managed” to ensure the existing skills of workers are considered so they can “move smoothly into new roles”.
The offshore trade association also said it is “essential that education systems are adapted to future workforce requirements” to give equal value to technical pathways with better long-term funding for apprenticeships.
The report also calls for a “fair and predictable tax regime” to attract investment in the North Sea sector.
According to the report, UK offshore energy companies would invest up to £200 billion in the domestic renewables sector with “the right incentives and stability”.
It also called for more collaboration between the energy industry, trade unions, national and devolved government and education providers.
© Supplied by Wullie Marr/ DCTThe report said a “dedicated skills co-ordinating body” should be established for each of the devolved UK nations to ensure a continuing pipeline of highly skilled workers as well as reiterating calls for a “Skills Passport” to help oil and gas workers transfer more easily to renewables projects.
Clean energy potential ‘enormous’
OEUK said its research shows the opportunity for domestically produced clean energy and new jobs is “enormous”, but relies on “fiscal stability and an attractive investment environment”.
OEUK director of supply chain and people Katy Heidenreich said the UK’s “world class workforce” is key to providing low carbon energy and cutting emissions while supporting the economy.
‘This cannot be a debate about oil and gas versus renewables,” Ms Heidenreich said.
© HEMEDIA“We need to support both oil and gas and renewable energy since they are increasingly the remit of the same companies and the same people.
‘Instead, it needs to be a conversation about unlocking the full potential of our people.”
Ms Heidenreich said unlocking the right investment will mean the UK can scale up to reach 50GW of wind and 10GW of hydrogen, and speed the development of at least 4 clusters of carbon capture and storage projects by 2030.
‘That is what the future could look like, but our research shows we need more action to address skill shortages and to recognise the huge value in the existing workforce,” she said.
‘We need to continue to collaborate over this issue, and industry continues to work with politicians of all parties as well as policymakers to signpost where transformational action could be realised.”
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