August 22, 2023, IEEE (PI)2 Austin Technical meeting: Workforce Repurposing to Renewables: the Main Challenges and Best Practices
08 August, 2023
On August 22, 2023, IEEE (PI)2 Austin hosted a technical meeting: Workforce Repurposing to Renewables: the Main Challenges and Best Practices
The speaker, Ksenia Solomatina, founder of PowerTechs, spoke about the challenges arising from transitions towards a more sustainable and renewable energy future, specifically the repurposing of the workforce from one set of work skills to a new set in the new eco-centered industries. Analysis shows that the cost to retrain can be cheaper that the process to conduct staffing searches for new personnel. She discussed the main challenges and best practices associated with transitioning a workforce to the growing renewables sector. The transition necessitates the realignment of skills, knowledge, and experience from traditional energy industries to renewable technologies. Challenges arise from the need to bridge the skills gap, ensure a fair transition for affected workers, and address regional disparities in workforce capabilities. Additionally, the rapid evolution of renewable technologies requires continuous upskilling and reskilling efforts to meet changing industry demands. Best practices involve proactive planning and collaboration among governments, industries, and educational institutions. Policies that promote workforce transition, provide financial support, and facilitate training programs are crucial. An excellent example is that of workers in the coal fuel industries who will have fewer job opportunities as coal plants are phased out. It may apear that there is little similarity between the skills in the coal industry and the skills in the electric vehicle or solar plant construction and operations. The core skills of critical thinking, judgement, creativity and problem solving may be the same however. Determining and using those fundamental skills to develop more specific skills in the new arena is a key to a successful transition. Engaging affected communities, offering retraining opportunities, and fostering innovation in workforce development. A lively discussion ensued, looking at other areas of skill transfer, such as the retraining of workers in gas power car factories to work on electric vehicle fabrication.
About the Speaker: