UK Launches Strategy for Hydrogen Skills Academy to Support Clean Energy Growth
Key Ideas
- Empowering The Future report from the Hydrogen Skills Alliance calls for a national Hydrogen Skills Academy in the UK to address skills gaps and promote innovation.
- Around 29,000 jobs are projected to be needed in the hydrogen economy by 2030, a significant increase from the current 1,600 jobs, covering various sectors like production, transmission, transportation, and storage.
- Industry leaders and government officials emphasize the importance of a coordinated approach between skills providers, employers, and government to achieve the country's clean energy goals and create a world-leading hydrogen ecosystem.
- The establishment of the Hydrogen Skills Academy is seen as a crucial step in equipping the workforce with specialized skills essential for the energy transition, driving innovation, and building a resilient economy for the future.
Industry leaders in the clean energy economy have launched a strategic plan in the United Kingdom to ensure that the workforce is adequately skilled to leverage the potential of hydrogen in achieving growth and reaching net zero emissions. The report 'Empowering The Future' by the Hydrogen Skills Alliance (HSA) emphasizes the need for a national Hydrogen Skills Academy in partnership with employers to provide specialized skills required for hydrogen's increasing role in the energy transition. With projections indicating a need for 29,000 jobs in the hydrogen sector by 2030, up from 1,600 currently, the call for upskilling workforces is critical.
The HSA, formed by Cogent Skills and the National Composites Centre in 2023, unites over 50 organizations to address skills gaps and drive innovation. Hydrogen, as a versatile and abundant energy source, is key to the UK's clean energy ambitions. Government officials highlight the potential for hydrogen to decarbonize heavy industry, create jobs, and establish a leading hydrogen ecosystem.
Stakeholders stress the importance of collaboration between skills providers, employers, and the government to maximize the benefits of hydrogen. The establishment of the Hydrogen Skills Academy is viewed as a milestone in preparing the workforce for the rapid growth of the hydrogen economy, addressing skills gaps, and fostering cross-sector cooperation. The focus is not only on decarbonization but also on seizing opportunities, promoting innovation, and ensuring a resilient economy.
The efforts to invest in hydrogen skills aim to contribute to economic growth, support the journey to net zero, and position the UK as a leader in clean energy. By developing expertise in the workforce, the country can create high-quality jobs, drive innovation, and meet future energy demands sustainably and competitively.