South Africa currently has a shortfall of trained and experienced wind energy technicians, after having lost much of its skilled capacity to advanced international markets and, like its international counterparts, it needs a growing pool of qualified candidates to draw from as demand for new power generation grows.

The shortfall is a direct result of the interrupted procurement that has plagued the sector since 2014, says onshore wind turbines manufacturer Nordex Energy South Africa people and culture head Zelrese Brair.

South Africa’s seven-year hiatus and subsequent failed renewable energy procurement rounds resulted in the industry losing hundreds of skilled people, including a large cohort of engineers, wind turbine technicians and general service personnel, who sought employment on the global market.

The industry is playing catch-up and working hard to attract talent back in order to rebuild the dwindling talent pool, given the direct effects on the manufacturing and services sector.

“While there is a keen focus on the challenges resulting from the constrained national power grid, it is not the only stumbling block to unlocking the economic power of the renewable energy industry, warn industry leaders,” Brair says.

If the sector is to shift from its current survival mode, policy certainty and a robust skills base geared towards services and renewable energy manufacturing is necessary, which will enable the sector to become dynamic and competitive.

“We stress that consistency, policy and market certainty are the bedrocks of unlocking the renewable energy sector’s enormous employment and investment potential,” says Brair.

The draft sectoral South African Renewable Energy Masterplan has identified nine key working areas that need support to create an enabling environment for the renewable energy value chain, specifically identifying skills.

The foundation of a clean energy workforce is rooted in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education; therefore, South Africa needs to look at government stakeholders to drive school and tertiary education, across all grade levels.

“The development and enhancement of STEM education and the addition of more training facilities will unlock greater job potential for our country in the renewables sector in the same way that it will provide a workforce fit for the industry. To this end, we need to prepare students for careers in renewable energy, and in order to do this, educators must emphasise the importance of STEM learning,” adds Brair.

The wind industry has a diverse skills requirement and needs a broad talent pool that focuses on engineering, including electrical, mechanical, industrial and civil; and focuses on natural sciences and mathematics, including physics, chemistry, mathematics, statistics and environmental sciences.

Further skills required include administration and management skills, including accounting, business administration, finance, procurement and human resource management; as well as social sciences and humanities, including economics, international relations, communication, population studies and law.

These required skills are in addition to other skills such as computer science, management information systems and software engineering, Brair says.