The renewable energy industry is at a key point in its development. Whilst it is clear we need more of it to meet our emissions reductions targets, the coalition seems set on damaging and destabilising its growth.
The appointment this week of an energy minister who has spoken against the building of new wind turbines and an environment minister who is reported to be sceptical of climate science and who has a soft spot for shale gas only adds to the worries we already had about the government's commitment to renewable energy.
The fiasco that happened around the feed-in tariff earlier in the year demonstrates what an impact changes in political whims can have on our industry. While one week wind may be slated for aesthetic reasons, PV may be decreed unreasonably expensive the next; indeed, the only seeming consistency in the current administration’s energy policy is a lack of commitment to supporting the development of renewable technologies.
Yet these challenges also present opportunities for nimble, flexible companies. If you are trained to be able to work in one part of the renewable energy industry this is not a time to be resting on your laurels and waiting for work to come in. Renewable energy companies need to be able to adapt to these political changes, rapidly deploying their workforce to whichever technology is currently in favour. Rather than just specialising in one technology, companies need staff that know the developments in the industry and are able to adapt.
This is precisely what the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) renewable energy courses focus on. Renewable Energy and the Built environment – an MSc course at CAT – trains people to specify and design renewable energy systems for different scenarios. Importantly, it trains people about choosing the right system for each scenario. Students can pursue those topics they are interested in in depth, specialising in a range of renewable technologies.
Because CAT courses are designed to help those already in the buildings, energy and engineering industries develop their careers, the structure of the course is flexible and can be completed alongside full or part time working. Typically a module lasts for one month. Students spend an intense five days at CAT doing lectures, practicals and seminars; they then return home to complete their essay in their own time. Distance learning options are also available.
Just as important as the skills people learn on a masters course at CAT are the networks they develop. Devin Snider has just finished his course at CAT. He says, “I guess the other great thing about [the course] was that it had such a varied background of students that were coming to it. The connections I have made here are going to last for life. I end up working with maybe 20% of people that I meet here. We do stuff together outside that is usually work related but the knowledge base that you've got here is immense: you've got architects, you've got builders, you've got engineers, you've got such a varied background. It's amazing to build the friendships and you know you can call them in the future if you've got questions and stuff. I think it is a unique place for that.”
Responding to shoddy government policy by cutting back on our ambition for the renewable energy industry will damage our long term ability to ensure renewable energy takes its rightful place at the heart of any future energy mix. Using political turbulence to increase skills and develop networks will allow the renewable energy industry industry in the UK to come out stronger and better equipped to help solve the major challenges of the 21st Century.
[Inset: Vocal opponent of wind farms, John Hayes, who replaces Charles Hendry as Energy Minister in the reshuffle. Credit: Reuters/Toby Melville]
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