As the clean energy sector gears up for rapid growth in the next few years, a major shortfall in skilled professionals could result in an industry-wide crisis, Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and CEO of Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), has warned.
Speaking at a panel session during the World Utilities Congress 2024 yesterday, Al Hammadi cautioned that if not addressed promptly, the widening talent gap could derail the industry’s momentum and undermine future clean energy developments globally.
Al Hammadi called for an urgent need to establish comprehensive talent development strategies that would address the industry’s current and future human resource challenges.
He noted that nearly 65 million people are currently employed across the energy value chain, including energy solutions and supply chain management, with an additional 10 million jobs expected in the clean energy sector alone.
“To address the challenges in these areas, we need a comprehensive and long-term plan for talent development and capacity building,” said Al Hammadi. “Without it, we will encounter significant obstacles along the way. Human resource leaders can play a crucial role in this effort, as they are tasked with building the necessary workforce.”
Reflecting on past experiences, Al Hammadi pointed to the UAE’s own efforts in the nuclear sector as a case in point. In 2008, the UAE embarked on an ambitious project to construct four nuclear reactors capable of generating 40 terawatt-hours of energy within a decade.
However, the country faced a severe shortage of qualified nuclear engineers at the time. “We had to make substantial investments in education and recruitment, sending individuals to college and transitioning professionals from other industries into nuclear roles,” Al Hammadi told the conference.
The development of a nuclear physicist to the level of a PhD, he noted, requires seven to eight years of rigorous education, including undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral studies.
Despite the challenges, today, the UAE is host to a cadre of skilled nuclear engineers and physicists as a result of long-term strategic investment. “The UAE’s success in this regard highlights the importance of forward-thinking planning and investment in human capital,” Al Hammadi added.
Earlier this month, ENEC announced the commercial operation of Unit 4 at the Barakah nuclear plant, bringing the plant to full operational capacity.
The World Nuclear Association (WNA) has recently reported that many countries are grappling with a dearth of qualified nuclear professionals. The shortage is compounded by the rapid expansion of clean energy projects and the increasing complexity of modern nuclear technologies.
In response to this challenge, Al Hammadi called for a collaborative approach among utilities and energy experts. “We must collectively focus on building the human capacity necessary to fill the existing 65 million jobs and the additional 10 million expected in the clean energy sector,” he urged.
“This effort involves not only recruiting and training new talent but also up-skilling current professionals to keep pace with technological advancements, such as artificial intelligence, operations, and predictive maintenance.”
“Our industry is evolving rapidly, and we need a diverse set of skills to meet these new demands,” he said. “This requires a concerted effort to identify and cultivate talent across multiple fields.”
To address this urgent need, Al Hammadi called on industry leaders and individuals to take proactive steps. “We must all contribute to accelerating progress and meeting the demands of this evolving industry,” he urged.
The focus on talent development is particularly timely, given the rapid advancements in clean energy technologies and the increasing emphasis on sustainability. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has also highlighted the importance of building a skilled workforce to support the growth of nuclear power and other clean energy solutions.
This generational trend poses a serious challenge for an industry recently recognized as a clean energy source at COP28 and experiencing a surge in new projects.
The 2022 Global Energy Talent Index reveals that 25% of the nuclear energy workforce is over 55, compared to 20% in oil and gas and just 10% in renewables. At the same time, 9% of nuclear employees are already eligible for retirement at age 65 and above.
In an earlier address, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Al Mazrouei announced that clean energy production contributed 27.83% of the UAE’s total energy mix last year, adding that this supports the government’s goal of reaching a 30% share of clean energy by 2030.
