The government has green energy targets to meet. By 2050, the UK is supposed to reach Net Zero targets, which will require a huge shift in investment focus and consumer behaviour.
At present, 41.8% of energy used in the UK comes from green sources, including offshore wind and solar. While this is a great start, there’s clearly more to be done. And this doesn’t account for the increase in demand for electricity once we start to phase out gas central heating and increase the use of electric vehicles.
Both of these shifts will trigger an increase in demand for technology, so not only does the UK need to increase its capacity for renewable energy production, it also needs to put measures in place to ensure this supply is reliable and able to cover the increased demand.
Government policy will clearly have an impact on the roll out of green energy and the increase in jobs as a result. Government policy can shape things like green energy investment, it can help to boost consumer demand through incentive schemes, and it can help to identify and fill technical skills gaps through targeted training programmes.
Without smart government policy, investment will fall behind, UK workers will lack the skills we need, and consumers won’t see the value in making these essential switches. Clearly, the government has a lot to answer for when it comes to stimulating interest in green energy, so let’s look at what past governments have been doing and what the current government hopes to do differently.
How have past governments performed?
There were many promises made around Net Zero targets, including cash incentives for households taking steps to make their homes more energy efficient, but these never fully materialised.
According to one source, investment in green energy was uneven under the Conservatives. There was also inconsistent policy and interest in projects that would be counter to our Net Zero targets, such as investing in fracking and new oil and gas exploration.
Deregulation efforts also had a wider impact on the environment. Budget cuts at the Environmental Agency meant that issues like water quality went unchecked. This has shifted public attention towards England’s water companies, which now face increasing prices in order to deal with decades of underinvestment.
Higher energy prices also make it more difficult to sell the benefits of investment in green energy. Above all else, consumers want to see their energy bills stabilise before they start to think about investment in new technology like heat pumps.
What is the current policy?
Current policy marks a shift away from privatisation and towards nationalisation of key services. The overarching focus of these policies is to make bills more affordable first, while directing private investment towards green energy projects to help bring bills down in the long term.
As part of the manifesto, there is a commitment towards investment in green energy that will inevitably have an impact on green jobs. What remains to be seen is if the training and opportunities will be there to enable us to upskill the workforce in the ways required.
There’s no news yet on how the UK plans to meet education and training targets to ensure the workforce is ready for the shift to renewable energy. There has been talk about an increase in high quality apprenticeships and specialist technical colleges to help train the next generation.
What projects could move the needle?
There are a few projects that could help to move focus towards green energy which would generate green jobs in turn.
The first is the launch of Great British Energy. This will put the focus on floating offshore wind and tidal energy, while also bolstering nuclear energy production to ensure energy supply is reliable and able to adapt to changing demand.
The second project to watch is the National Wealth Fund. This is a £7.3 billion fund aimed at directing private investment to where it is needed the most. This could include the decarbonisation of heavy industry and investment in new green energy projects.
The idea is to streamline the investment process to make it easy for private sector investors to put their money into government-backed schemes that are future-proof. This will create jobs in multiple ways. First, investment will lead to growth, which will result in more job opportunities. Second, there will be a National Wealth Fund task force, which will create jobs in itself.
What is the future of green energy employment in the UK?
The future looks bright for those with green energy skills, training and experience. If you are already trained in this sector or you’re looking to upskill and retrain, there is no shortage of opportunities for growth and development.
School leavers will also have the opportunity to get on the right track for a lucrative career by focusing on green energy apprenticeships. With the introduction of Great British Energy, the focus is on removing reliance on sourcing energy from other countries, specifically fossil fuels.
The focus is also on a nationalised service, which will help to bring down energy bills while making the service more efficient and reliable. This could lead to greater collaboration between sectors like the environmental protection agency and energy companies. This will allow for greater movement between the two sectors, which can boost employment opportunities for those already working in the sector.
In short, it’s a great time to be working in green energy in the UK. With the UK bound to Net Zero targets, the only way to realistically achieve these goals is through continued investment in green energy. And this will inevitably lead to more employment opportunities for those with the right skills and experience.
Investment is not only for new projects, but also for ensuring that the workforce is up to the task. Expect far more opportunities for young people to get started on their green energy sector training, and for those working in fossil fuels to be able to retrain and put their skills to good use in the green energy sector.
