These Are The Skills Sa Needs For The Energy Jobs Of The Future
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Wendy Poulton is Secretary General of SANEA
Future energy jobs will require skills in legal, finance, science and technology, entrepreneurship, engineering and social science, to name a few, according to a new report.
The South African Energy Skills Roadmap 2023, published this week, is the collaborative work of the South African National Energy Association (Sanea) and Wits University. The project was proposed by the South African BRICS Business Council, with the aim that the roadmap would support the country's broader plans for a just energy transition. It was funded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
The roadmap identifies skills gaps for the energy sector of the future. It also unpacks recommendations to ensure the right skills are in place to aid South Africa's energy transition.
It notes that while fossil fuel-related jobs will decline over the next seven years, there is expected to be a high demand for construction jobs for renewable energy plants.
"With the shift away from fossil fuels towards more renewable and clean energy, the initial demand for design, construction and installation-related jobs will be high," the report read.
Following the construction of renewable energy plants, skills will also be needed for their continued operations and maintenance. "Installation, repair and maintenance is an important emerging area that has significant implications for local enterprise development and community skills development," the report read.
Workers will require specialised skills for these clean energy technologies (such as green hydrogen and even energy storage solutions). Apart from technical specialists that can work with solar PV and wind technologies, others, such as electrical engineering and non-electrical technical skills like boilermakers, welders and mechanical skills, will be needed.
Future energy jobs will require skills in legal, finance, science and technology, entrepreneurship, engineering and social science, to name a few, according to a new report.
The South African Energy Skills Roadmap 2023, published this week, is the collaborative work of the South African National Energy Association (Sanea) and Wits University. The project was proposed by the South African BRICS Business Council, with the aim that the roadmap would support the country's broader plans for a just energy transition. It was funded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
The roadmap identifies skills gaps for the energy sector of the future. It also unpacks recommendations to ensure the right skills are in place to aid South Africa's energy transition.
It notes that while fossil fuel-related jobs will decline over the next seven years, there is expected to be a high demand for construction jobs for renewable energy plants.
"With the shift away from fossil fuels towards more renewable and clean energy, the initial demand for design, construction and installation-related jobs will be high," the report read.
Following the construction of renewable energy plants, skills will also be needed for their continued operations and maintenance. "Installation, repair and maintenance is an important emerging area that has significant implications for local enterprise development and community skills development," the report read.
Workers will require specialised skills for these clean energy technologies (such as green hydrogen and even energy storage solutions). Apart from technical specialists that can work with solar PV and wind technologies, others, such as electrical engineering and non-electrical technical skills like boilermakers, welders and mechanical skills, will be needed.
