12 Heating & Ventilation
Clean heat to spur low carbon jobs growth by 2030 A large percentage of lower carbon employment opportunities expected to emerge by the end of the decade will require individuals skilled in supporting green heat and power, says new research A majority of the low-carbon jobs available in the UK by 2030 are expected to involve providing cleaner electricity and heat, a new report has found. Research compiled by Ecuity Consulting for the Local Government Association (LGA) has considered the likely employments impacts of the emergence of a number of low carbon industries. These professions are seen as being central to support the government’s ambition to have fully eliminated or offset national carbon emissions by 2050. The research considered the jobs likely to be created in the fields of low carbon heating, which will focus on areas such heat networks, Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems as well as installing technologies able to run on renewable energy. It has also factored in the likely skill requirements needed to sufficiently address demand for these systems and services. An anticipated reliance on alternative fuels such as bioenergy and hydrogen, and increased development of energy efficient products that includes insulation and monitoring and control solutions are also covered in the report. In England alone, efforts to move towards the government’s 2050 net-zero target are anticipated to see 690,000 low-carbon economy jobs exist by 2030. The figure is expected to rise to 1.18 million by 2050. Ecuity estimates that 46 per cent of these low carbon jobs by 2030 will be based around the supply of clean electricity and low-carbon heat technologies, such as providing heat pumps to homes and businesses. 21 per cent of the low-carbon employment opportunities will meanwhile be represented by work to developer-update.co.uk
introduce energy efficiency solutions such as insulation and controls, the report added. A “diverse” range of skills will be required to fill these potential employment opportunities, according to the research. Feedback from experts in the report identified immediate skills gaps in low carbon heat and power sectors. Another key finding of the research was the leading role local councils were looking to play to support net-zero transformation, particularly around funding for skills projects that can address local needs for new jobs. One such solution cited in the report would be the development of a pipeline of skilled individuals on a local level to fulfil lower carbon employment. Ecuity consulting added, “Councils and combined authorities could be supported to coordinate local education providers and businesses to bridge gaps in NVQ-related skills so that the workforce is equipped to meet emerging demand.” Robert Honeyman, economic analysis head with the consultancy group, said that a wide array of new technologies and workers would be needed for any viable national net-zero strategy. Mr Honeyman said that the shift to a low-carbon economy has been identified by researchers and economists as providing a clear route for economic recovery from Covid-19.
He said, “Local authorities can play an important role in identifying, allocating funding and supporting collaboration between local low carbon employers, education providers and the labour force.” “Through the implementation of ambitious reskilling schemes and emission reductions targets, local governments stand to gain not only by reducing their own carbon emissions, but also as promoters of strategic industries within their region and leaders within the net zero transition.” Cllr Sir Richard Leese, Chair of the LGA’s City Regions Board, said that a demand for ‘green jobs’ would “sky-rocket” in number towards 2050. He said that such a shift in the labour market would see local government having to play a vital role - based on each authority’s local knowledge and expertise - to fill these positions. He said “Localising and devolving skills investment, back to work support and any job guarantee will be critical to ensuring everyone benefits from new local jobs, including these one million new low carbon jobs.” “To help meet national climate change targets and capitalise on the green jobs revolution, councils need to be given long-term funding, devolved powers and easier access to complex government funding pots to help realise the government’s target of being carbon neutral by 2050.”
