Top 8 oil and gas transferable skills to take into the renewables industry
Many oil and gas companies are leading the charge in the growth of renewable and more sustainable energy resources. With this growth comes the need for an experienced workforce to cater for the number of new projects around the world. While renewable energy projects are still in their infancy compared to the traditional oil and gas and petrochemical industry, there is a real need for professional recruitment in the renewables sector.
With the increasing adoption of renewable energy technologies in solar, offshore and onshore wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and bioenergy, the workforce landscape in these sectors has been evolving rapidly. The renewable energy sector requires a varied range of skills and expertise to design, construct, operate and maintain these new sustainable energy systems. Anyone with expertise from the oil and gas industry across the project lifecycle, such as design engineering, process engineering, and project management, to production and health and safety, will be highly sought after in the renewable industry.
Research shows that 90% per cent of oil and gas industry workers have skills which can be transferred to new offshore jobs in renewable energy [1]. There are a number of transferable skills the renewable industry is looking for that you may possess and can utilise in a new career:
Technical/Engineering Expertise – Within the oil and gas industry, there are many variations when it comes to technical and engineering disciplines. These range from instrumentation, mechanical and process engineering, to electrical engineering and geology. These and many more are highly sought after in new energy projects as the skills can be applied right away. Having a solid understanding of technical systems, mechanical processes, and health and safety standards can go a long way to add credibility to an exciting new role during the energy transition.
Project Management – Project management skills are in high demand due to many renewable projects still in the early stages of the lifecycle. Project managers coming from an oil and gas background need to be able to coordinate or direct environmental studies, engineering or construction activities, permitting, and proposals for oil and gas projects. They create plans, including scope of work, schedules, and costs. These skills can be directly applied to any energy project, where collaboration with multiple stakeholders, joint ventures, and diverse teams is essential.
HSE – Like any large project or facility, such as a refinery or an offshore platform, health and safety is paramount to ensure safe and continuous operation, and first and foremost, the health and safety of its workforce. This knowledge is just as important to the renewable industry as to traditional oil and gas projects. For example, onshore and offshore windfarms are situated in remote locations and sometimes inhospitable environments, so ensuring all safety measures are in place and carried out is essential.
Regulatory compliance – Oil and gas projects have always been highly regulated to ensure the safety of its workforce and the environment they operate in. The same can also be said for any offshore wind project, typically carried out during the planning phase. To remain compliant and reduce any impact on the environment, companies would need experienced personnel to work in and with groups related to geology, wildlife conservation, ecology, air quality, and noise, to name but a few, as well as adhering to multiple governing bodies and regional standards.
Production – As mentioned earlier, an energy project needs health and safety professionals to ensure safe operation, whereas asset/portfolio managers, production managers, process engineers, and production engineers are responsible for overseeing the day-to-day running of the operation in terms of technical performance, maintenance, and optimization of their assets. This also applies to any new renewable operation. Offshore wind farms, hydroelectric dams, and solar farms can contain hundreds of individual assets and equipment which need to be monitored continuously. Any experience in roles that involve inspections, reliability, inventory, safety, and spare parts management of the physical assets can be directly applied to renewables to ensure the efficient and safe running of the project.
Financial and accounting – Every energy project, from a hydroelectric dam to new photovoltaic system, has a cost associated to it. This could include land acquisition, workforce placement, construction and operational costs, etc., so being commercially aware and making financial decisions can be applied across sectors.
Soft skills – There are several transferable qualities or general traits that are identified through work which are highly desirable in any industry, which helps employees set themselves apart as being essential for professional success. Having leadership qualities such as thinking strategically and having the ability to help others grow and motivate your team to achieve business goals can go a long way in any industry. Other obvious characteristics to make you more prominent would be examples of:
Critical thinking and problem solving
Effective communication
Collaboration and teamwork
Adaptability and flexibility
Scheduling and time management
While some roles from oil and gas to renewables won’t be a natural match, there may be a requirement to adapt, learn new technologies, and learn new skills. Whatever the role you are currently in, and you are thinking of transitioning to the renewable industry, be assured that the knowledge and experience you have will almost certainly bring value and multiple benefits to new potential energy companies.
To learn more about renewable opportunities within Orion Group, please search our current vacancies, or contact your local area recruiter.
