Skills & Competence in Energy Transition

Safety Must Stay at the Centre of Growth

As the renewable energy sector expands, pressure to reduce costs and improve efficiency is increasing. But as Renewable Safety’s latest briefing Energy Transition: Skills and Competence makes clear, savings should never come at the expense of health and safety. The next phase of growth depends on building a capable, adaptable, and safety-focused workforce.

Capability Goes Beyond Qualifications

The briefing explains that certificates and technical courses alone do not guarantee competence. Real capability comes from a blend of formal learning, practical experience, mentoring, and reflection. It references recognised development models such as the 70:20:10 rule., where most progress comes through hands-on experience. Plus, Kolb’s Learning Cycle, which focuses on learning through action and review.

Strong Foundations Matter

A key theme is the need for stronger baseline development across the sector. Workers must understand site risks, follow safe systems of work, and know their own limits. While standards such as GWO training offer a useful starting point, employers still need to provide project-specific inductions, live risk updates, and regular practical refreshers to keep skills current.

Safety-Critical Positions Need More Focus

The briefing also highlights the need to identify and support safety-critical positions. These include not only technicians working directly with hazardous systems, but also supervisors, project managers, logistics coordinators, marine coordinators, trainers, and inspectors. People whose decisions can significantly affect outcomes. Organisations are encouraged to use a risk-based approach to review these positions and close any gaps before incidents occur.

Soft Skills Strengthen Performance

Another major takeaway is the value of soft skills. Communication, teamwork, decision-making, resilience and situational awareness. As well as the confidence to stop unsafe work all help create a stronger culture. Technical knowledge without these behaviours can still leave businesses exposed.

High-Voltage Work Demands Robust Standards

For high-voltage (HV) positions, the briefing sets out especially robust expectations. Employers should assess qualifications, relevant background, system knowledge, understanding of hazards, judgement, refresher records, and familiarity with local rules. It also recommends regular audits and formal authorisation processes rather than relying on paperwork alone.

The Bottom Line

The energy transition is not only about technology and infrastructure, but also about people. Businesses that invest in capability, development, and culture today will be best placed to deliver safe, reliable, and sustainable growth tomorrow.

Read the full briefing here