PwC Renewable Energy Skills Gap Analysis

Today we announce the release of the 普华永道 Renewable Energy Skills Gap Analysis.

I joined Di Farmer and Guy Chandler and his team along with representatives from the energy industry, unions, higher education, training organisations and peak bodies to launch it.

It was commissioned by the Department of Energy and Climate to support development of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, and it will be a tool that will serve as a valuable consultation mechanism for the development of the Future Energy Workforce Roadmap

The Department of Trade, Employment and Training is currently developing the Future Energy Workforce Roadmap, which will outline the steps to build and develop workforce capacity and capability, while ensuring the right training is available in the right location.

There’s so much that we’ve already done, we are on track but we can do more to fill some gaps.?

Action 3.3 under the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan commits to delivering a Future Energy Workforce Roadmap. We are delivering, and we are acting strategically, with urgency and ambition.

Today we examine the future skills requirements in the future clean energy sector in Queensland and ensure we have a plan for the huge number and type of jobs associated with State’s energy transformation.

And that’s so important because the world around us, both here and abroad, is changing. It’s changing fast.?

Everyone from households to supply chains, and on to companies in our biggest industries– Lion Nathan, Anglo American, Arnott’s, Fortescue, AMP Capital (just the last few moths

They all want cleaner and cheaper energy.

Boardrooms and consumers across the nation, and around the world, are demanding lower emissions products. And so, we are at great risk of losing out to our neighbours, domestically, and internationally. A great risk but we also have a tremendous opportunity.

The Queensland Energy Jobs Plan is all about a future of clean, reliable, and affordable energy for Queenslanders, powering good jobs in new regional industries and making most of that opportunity.

It’s an important plan to make sure Queensland isn’t left behind as the world changes to clean energy, and makes sure we have a secure energy for generations to come.

The plan will create 100,000 new jobs by 2040, most in regional Queensland – that’s a great number, but today is about making sure Queenslander’s have the right skills, in the right places.

The analysis that we’ll discuss today reveals these jobs will come from direct construction of renewable energy, to supply chains, and economic growth in regional towns and cities.

By working together through initiatives like today, we’ll build the workforce of the future.?

And because we kept energy assets in public hands, we have the control to ensure the transformation is delivered in an orderly way… one that supports job creation and skills development - this could be the greatest legacy of the energy transition.

We already have a landmark agreement with energy unions for a new Job Security Guarantee that will give energy workers certainty about their future. It enshrines an Energy Industry Council and Queensland Renewable Energy Jobs Advocate who will help create choices and opportunities for workers and their communities.?

There will be thousands of new jobs in the delivery of renewable energy projects, with the biggest opportunities are at two large scale pumped hydro energy storage projects.

That will provide a range of jobs in construction of the Borumba Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Scheme and the world’s biggest, Pioneer-Burdekin.

As a proud resources state, this plan will unleash a new wave of critical minerals extraction and processing for Queensland.

Cities like Townsville and Mount Isa will grow as demand for critical minerals like copper, zinc, nickel, and vanadium grows and that in turn will drive demand for more industrial and technical roles

As Alan Finkel said last week, we can position ourselves as an electrostate in the global shift from petrostates, one where we lead the world on critical minerals and renewable energy. Both new and existing manufacturing companies need cheaper and cleaner energy to meet the demands of their customers. Advanced manufacturing skills will be in high demand.

Our plan will also protect jobs like those in Gladstone’s aluminium industry, and kick start a battery manufacturing industry across regional Queensland.

There are also significant new export opportunities with green hydrogen–it will be the Ports of Townsville, Abbott Point, Hay Point and Gladstone, that will power modern global economies, including ours.

Our plan means we will invest in skills, training and support for both the energy sector workforce and new entrants.??

And we will invest in skilling the workforce by creating transmission training centres for apprentices in the regions.?Regional training hubs will produce 600 apprentices a year. Partnerships with industry associations like Hydrogen Centre of Excellence, ETU Renewable Energy Training Centre, our Universities and TAFE.

At its core, the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan is both about jobs and taking real action on climate change. It provides the largest single commitment to renewable energy in Australia’s history.

And it outlines how we’ll invest 95% of effort in the regions, with skills, jobs and re-industrialisation of our nation centred on Queensland.

So today marks another important milestone where we do what Queenslanders do best - and that’s work together.

We’ll work together through the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, to deliver a clean, reliable and affordable energy system that delivers the jobs now and delivers power for generations.