Supporting the energy transition requires a broad set of interdisciplinary skills. Eirgrid, the operator and developer of Ireland’s electricity grid, is responsible for a safe, secure and reliable supply of electricity, playing a key role in helping Ireland to meet its climate commitments and to successfully navigate the energy transition.
“Eirgrid must ensure we have the right workforce with the right skills and capabilities in our efforts to ensure that 80 per cent of our electricity comes from renewable sources, as per Government targets,” says Ciara Corby, Eirgrid’s head of talent development.
Key technical skills include renewable energy technologies, including wind and solar, energy storage systems, offshore wind and a range of engineering disciplines.
For example, project engineers are required to connect customers and generation to the grid, grid infrastructure improvement projects, and delivery of onshore and offshore projects, all of which support the integration of renewables to the grid.
“However, it is important to note that knowledge of the renewable energy sector or sustainability experience is not essential for every role in the green jobs revolution, including here at Eirgrid,” she says.
“Expertise in project and portfolio management, commercial management, law, IT, data science, change management, investor relations, public engagement, vendor management and policy development and implementation, to name a few, are also critical,” says Corby. “We want people who have a willingness to grow and develop and who are passionate about Eirgrid’s mission for creating a cleaner energy future.”
Eirgrid offers bespoke on-the-job and sector-specific training to upskill staff coming from a range of backgrounds. It also welcomes the development of new courses relating to offshore wind in universities such as MTU, UCC and TUS as well as with Skillnet Ireland and Springboard.
“This includes undergraduate, postgraduate and micro-credential programmes, which will play a key part in facilitating people to upskill and reskill in sustainability and renewables,” she says.
Eirgrid also works closely with the MaREI Research Centre, based at UCC, collaborating on a range of activities including citizen engagement, offshore wind energy research and talent development, and provides early career and education initiatives such as ‘earn and learn’ and graduate programmes, college internships and activities for transition year groups.
“While our purpose attracts people to the organisation, our culture ensures people stay. Our commitment to hybrid working, flexible hours, educational support and inclusion are all part of Eirgrid’s efforts to foster a culture of innovation and work-life balance,” she adds.
With energy transition gaining momentum, organisations are becoming increasingly aware of the need to nurture talent.
“At Schneider Electric we’re already creating high-skilled jobs, from electrical engineers to AI experts,” says Chris Collins, the company’s country president in Ireland.
There is however “a notable gap” in STEM skills being felt across many businesses in Ireland, particularly in engineering, digital and data, and machine learning and AI, he points out.
“This gap is increasingly evident in construction, manufacturing, building management, and facilities management, and is threatening industrial progress and the ability to implement energy efficiencies and lower carbon emissions,” says Collins.
“It is with this in mind that our training places a great focus on the development of green skills in these areas. And with young people increasingly interested in organisations that focus on sustainability, there is lots to be hopeful about when it comes to future talent driving forward the energy transition.”
Schneider Electric has developed a number of training solutions to build and keep the skills it needs in-house.
“Improving workforce training, education, and standards is essential for attracting, retaining, and developing talent. Despite the apparent skills gap among the traditional workforce, Schneider Electric’s emphasis remains on reskilling the workforce rather than looking to replace talent by recruiting from a small and highly competitive pool of qualified and experienced candidates,” he explains.
But he believes more needs to be done to promote trades as a valued career path. “One of the best ways we do this at Schneider Electric is through our apprenticeship programme. Our apprentices have been an excellent source of talent development, bringing together different perspectives in roles which foster both technical and interpersonal skills for quick progression,” says Collins.
The company mentors female electrical and engineering undergraduates as part of the Equality in Science and Technology by Engaged Educational Mentoring programme with TU Dublin.
“This initiative aims to prevent the knowledge and skills gap from the start, ensuring a steady pipeline of skilled professionals,” he says, adding that “by hiring for aptitude, not just experience, we are also creating opportunities that help address gender imbalances, opening more doors for women to access technical and vocational education that will lead to high-quality jobs that further the sustainability agenda.”
Such initiatives are vital not just for individual employers but for Ireland Inc, he emphasises. “Without targeted measures like training programmes, apprenticeships, and stronger industry-education partnerships, Ireland risks missing out on the economic benefits of the green transition. Now is the time to invest in skills essential to the clean energy transition.”
