Co-Authored by - Kevin Gorhan, EPRI & Bill Meehan Esri
Net Zero decarbonization efforts are creating unprecedented change for the electric utility industry. This transition will take decades and trillions of dollars to build the needed infrastructure, connect vast quantities of new renewable energy resources, and absorb new load from the electrification of transportation, buildings, and industry. Electric utilities are preparing network capacity expansions to meet the significant increase in electric demand. There are growing shortages in many areas, from supply chain lines to financial resources to grid capacity.
The Net Zero transition to cleaner energy generation, delivery, and consumption is a huge shift from today’s reliance on fossil fuels. Large amounts of copper and aluminum are needed for electric transmission line expansions. The massive build-out of solar and wind farms will consume large tracts of land. The demand for storage will skyrocket. The transition to electric vehicles for transportation has created significant demand for critical minerals such as lithium, graphite, cobalt, and nickel. Green hydrogen demand is expected to grow rapidly as the technology develops. And, of course, green hydrogen requires significant electrical energy.
The scope of this challenge is dramatically shown in the graphic from NREL below.
Electric utilities have enormous challenges as part of this transition. Perhaps their biggest is the shortage of skilled workers for the industry. There are multiple factors contributing to this:
First, an estimated 50% of the utility workforce will retire within the next ten years.
Second, more workers are needed to build and manage the expansion of grid infrastructure. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that more than “10% of highly skilled employees working in infrastructure will retire each year for the next decade.” So, in addition to utilities, associated engineering, design, and construction firms must build, upgrade, and operate facilities at an unparalleled pace with fewer employees.
Third, the enormous growth in renewable energy resources will require a new workforce of specialized engineers and field workers that barely exists today.
Fourth, utilities compete with other industries to recruit and retain top talent. The technology sector has attracted top talent for decades by providing higher compensation packages.
Utilities will need thousands of new workers in several areas:
- Line workers
- Engineers
- Information Technology Specialists
- Cyber Security Specialists
- Drone/Robotics Specialists
- IoT Specialists
- Data Scientists and Analysts
- GIS Practitioners
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provide an essential technology for the grid of the future. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is conducting a survey to better understand the human resource needs of GIS systems at electric utilities. The primary goal of this survey is to create a staffing baseline necessary to maintain the utility GIS adequately.
The results of this 10-minute survey will be shared with anyone who responds to the survey. If you have any questions, please contact Kevin Gorham ([email protected]) or Christina Huff ([email protected]).
Survey Monkey Link: Survey