Closing the renewables skills gap.
Stronger collaborations needed between businesses and educational institutions
The rapid expansion of the domestic renewable energy industry has brought forth an exciting era of innovation and progress. However, this growth has also revealed a pressing issue: the widening gap between qualified workers and available positions in the sector. Here, Karthik Velayutham, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of greentech innovator Katrick Technologies, argues that collaborations between academia and industry are the key to success.
As reported by the Financial Times, the demand for skilled professionals in the renewable energy industry is surpassing the current supply. The challenge of attracting young talent to engineering companies is a prevalent issue across the industry.
One issue is that contemporary STEM graduates often prefer working for modern, clean, and exciting companies like Google rather than pursuing careers in more traditional engineering fields. According to a study conducted by Engineering UK, young people between the ages of 11 and 19 view engineering jobs as "difficult, complicated, and dirty” and profess to have very limited knowledge about the actual work carried out by engineers.
These patterns also manifest within education. Traditional engineering skills have been undervalued for quite some time, with educational institutions favouring courses related to software or web development.
What can be done to address these trends and draw more young individuals to the engineering industry? One crucial way is by fostering stronger collaboration between businesses and educational institutions. Experienced engineers in leadership positions (C-Level) should actively engage with educational establishments and share knowledge about the advantages of pursuing careers in engineering.
Practical applications
One example of such a partnership is Katrick Technologies’ collaboration with Edinburgh Airport and Heriot-Watt University to pioneer a groundbreaking wind-mapping software that promises to revolutionise the renewable energy sector. By focusing on ground-level winds, this innovative software will enable the efficient capture of green energy from untapped wind resources.
The development of this software is part of an ongoing wind mapping project carried out in partnership with Edinburgh Airport. Multiple sensors are being used to collect data on wind speeds and frequencies at the airport, which will inform the design and implementation of a revolutionary Wind Panel technology developed by Katrick Technologies.
Unlike traditional turbines, the Wind Panel is designed to capture wind energy at ground level, making it suitable for a wide range of locations including urban areas, roadsides, and airports for micro-generation. In collaboration with the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), Katrick Technologies is developing a prototype of its Wind Panel to present to potential investors and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
While existing wind turbines have software for data modelling, a bespoke platform is required to bring Katrick Technologies’ Wind Panels to market. Due to the panels' proximity to the ground and unique characteristics, a new program is needed to accurately measure wind energy. Heriot-Watt University provides expertise in formulating the quantification protocol, validating the software, and assessing energy production.
This collaboration will enable Katrick Technologies to make precise predictions regarding available wind resources, potential power generation, and associated costs.
The wind mapping is set to be the first of its kind in the market, with a specific focus on ground-level winds. The aim is to create a user-friendly platform that requires minimal expertise in wind resource analysis. The software will feature a simple interface that even individuals with no programming experience can use, allowing users to upload data and execute basic commands to conduct analyses and generate resource reports.
The project is currently in development, utilising valid data collected from four weather stations at Edinburgh Airport as a case study. Typically, a wind analysis project of this nature takes a minimum of 12 months to complete, and the current case study is expected to conclude in December 2023.
Professor Wolf with our engineers Lex and Ross who are working on our Wind Panel development and wind mapping projects.
Bridging the gap
Through this collaboration, Katrick Technologies gains access to the knowledge and skills of Heriot-Watt University's staff led by Dr. Wolf-Gerrit Fruh, Senior Lecturer in Energy Engineering, as well as its students. In return, the university benefits from real-world industry insights and the opportunity to contribute to the development and advancement of renewable energy technologies.
The partnership between Katrick Technologies and the university has been mutually beneficial, combining academic expertise with industry experience to drive innovation and address the skills gap. By combining academic expertise with industry experience through collaborations like this one, the engineering skills gap in the renewable energy industry can be bridged.
The renewables skills gap is a challenge that requires proactive solutions. Collaborations between industry and academia, exemplified by the partnership between Katrick Technologies and Heriot-Watt University, are vital for addressing this issue. By combining academic expertise with industry experience, we can bridge the gap, nurture talent, and drive the renewable energy sector forward towards a sustainable and prosperous future.