COP29 Session: Shaping the future Wind Energy Workforce

At their joint session “Jobs4RE: Mobilising a Global Workforce for Wind Energy” at COP29 in Baku, Global Wind Organisation (GWO) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) explored the development of international workforce training guidelines. These guidelines will support delivery on two key Sustainable Development goals: Affordable Clean Energy (SDG 7) and Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8). This training initiative aims to prepare new joiners from various cohorts of the workforce, including young workers transitioning into new sectors for a sustainable career in renewables.

Following Jakob Lau Holst’s keynote on growing workforce demand to meet renewable energy infrastructure needs, the moderator opened the floor to three other panellists in a discussion around the challenge of future workforce training and mobility.

Outlining the country’s plans to install more than 15 GW of generating capacity, Michael Sinocruz, Director of the Energy Policy and Planning Bureau from the Philippines’ Department of Energy, considered the necessity of assessing skill gaps for the wind energy sector. He also emphasised the importance of international certification and labour mobility to meet the Philippines' energy goals. From his perspective as Adviser at the International Organisation of Employers, Robert Marinkovic highlighted the role of apprenticeships and the need for clear frameworks to support employers in scaling up their hiring efforts. He stressed the importance of international standards to facilitate the mobility of skilled workers across borders and accelerate the energy transition.

With GWO already providing training for two out of every three wind technicians outside mainland China and now working with the Global Solar Council (GSC) to extend these efforts to the Global Solar PV workforce, Alyssa Pek, Strategy Director at the GSC, shared insights from the solar industry, which faces similar workforce challenges. She discussed how the industry can collaborate with local communities to create long-term career opportunities, especially in regions with younger populations or workers transitioning from fossil fuel industries.

Jakob Lau Holst, CEO of Global Wind Organisation, commented: 

To meet the ambitious goals of SDG 7 and net zero targets, it is imperative that we scale up our training initiatives to address the growing demand for skilled workers in renewable energy. The wind and solar industries must significantly increase their capacity- not only to build, but also to maintain the infrastructure necessary to achieve these goals. A major challenge we face today is the shortage of adequately trained workers, and it is critical that we invest in education and skill development to bridge this gap and ensure a sustainable future.

The COP29 session will result in IRENA and GWO’s publication of the Jobs4RE Workforce Training Guidelines planned for 2025, establishing recognised, industry-standard entry-level training to meet the specific needs of wind energy developers. This guidance will clarify how these standards can integrate with and give credit for existing skills, training certifications, and regulatory frameworks, providing governments with the tools to embed these global standards within technical and vocational education programmes.