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https://theconversation.com/to-hit-82-renewables-in-8-years-we-need-skilled-workers-and-labour-markets-are-already-overstretched-188811>
"In just eight years time, the Labor government wants Australia to be 82%
powered by renewable energy. That means a rapid, historic shift, given only 24%
of our power was supplied by renewables as of last year.
To make this happen, we must rapidly scale up our renewable energy construction
workforce. Last week’s energy ministers’ meeting calls for assessment of the
“workforce, supply chain and community needs” for the energy transition. The
government’s jobs and skills summit in early September will tackle the issue
too. While it’s positive the government is focused on these challenges, the
reality is we’re playing catch-up.
Why? Because Australia is already stretched for workers, and it takes time to
give new ones the skills they will need. Our research estimates the renewable
energy transition will need up to 30,000 workers in coming years to build
enough solar farms, wind farms, batteries, transmission lines and pumped hydro
storage to transform our energy system. Most of these jobs will be in regional
areas.
In coming decades, Australia will invest around A$66 billion in large-scale
renewables and $27 billion in rooftop solar and battery storage. This creates
openings for industry development like the $7.4 billion market opportunity for
an integrated battery supply chain and manufacturing which builds on our
strengths, such as wind towers.
If we get this right, we can create new manufacturing and supply chain jobs and
reverse the long drift of these jobs overseas. But if we get it wrong, skill
shortages could derail the vision of a new energy system by 2030."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
