The key to increasing jobs in the UK energy supply chain lies in removing barriers to investment and in assessing different types of future energy scenarios with a whole-economy philosophy. In this way, the interactions between industrial sectors can be properly understood. Prof Simon H. Roberts (Institute of Energy Futures, Brunel University of London) and Dr Colin J. Axon (Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Brunel University of London) submitted written evidence to the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee's inquiry on Workforce planning to deliver clean, secure energy.
Key recommendations from their submission include:
- 'Green jobs' should be seen as a whole-economy issue due to energy system supply chains spanning multiple sectors.
- The Office for Clean Energy Jobs (OCEJ) should assess employment demands using National Accounts and other datasets.
- Policy and regulatory changes pose risks to energy security, investment, and job creation.
- The 2030 Clean Energy Mission is unachievable based on modeling.
- Construction, with the most to gain from the Clean Energy Mission, directly impacts UK jobs.
- The UK must plan for evolving manufacturing jobs to support energy sector construction.
- Tertiary education should prioritize vocational skills for emerging industries.
- Low heat pump installation rates may necessitate hydrogen as a transition fuel beyond 2050.
Read the entire written evidence here: committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/134014/html/