How to Master Renewables Training: A Guide for Oil & Gas Professionals

The IEA predicts unprecedented growth in renewable energy capacity over the next five years that will surpass the entire last century’s additions. This massive transformation revolutionizes our energy sector and creates millions of new jobs. The renewable energy industry will generate up to 43 million positions by 2050.

Oil and gas professionals face both challenges and new chances in this changing landscape. Clean energy jobs in the U.S. pay up to 19% more than the national average, while the fossil fuel industry employs only 1% of the global workforce. The successful career move to renewables demands strategic upskilling and proper training.

Many professionals find the move from oil and gas to renewables daunting. We created this complete guide to direct your energy retraining experience. You’ll learn how to identify your transferable skills and select suitable training courses that will help you succeed in your career transition.

Assessing Your Transferable Skills from Oil & Gas

The renewable energy sector opens up exciting career paths for oil and gas professionals. A newer study published by Robert Gordon University shows that all but one of these oil and gas workers have skills they can easily transfer to other roles. This makes them perfect candidates for jobs in offshore wind, hydrogen production, and carbon capture technology. Let’s look at the skills that make you valuable in the renewable energy world.

Technical skills that directly apply to renewables

Your technical expertise from oil and gas brings huge value to renewable energy projects. The offshore technology and processes used in renewables look a lot like those in oil and gas. Wind energy companies are always looking for professionals who know civil engineering and have worked with offshore structures.

Your experience with high-voltage electrical equipment fits right in, and you’ll need very little extra training. Running large utility-scale solar and wind plants needs the same technical know-how as traditional energy plants. One industry expert put it well: “The fundamentals between renewables and oil and gas are different, but the physics are the same”.

Management and leadership capabilities

The leadership skills you’ve built in oil and gas are worth their weight in gold for renewable energy projects. Supply chain management expertise transfers beautifully since both industries need people who can handle complex logistics networks. About 45% of hiring managers say commercial awareness is vital, which gives you an edge over other candidates.

Your background in managing big energy projects gives you the industry experience renewable employers really want. The core skills that make project managers successful – communication, scheduling, time management, and critical thinking – work just as well in both sectors.

Safety protocols and compliance knowledge

Safety knowledge might be the easiest skill to transfer. The renewable energy sector could learn some vital safety lessons from traditional energy. Laurence Pearlman, president of Safety And Consulting Associates, notes that many renewables operators are at the same stage oil and gas was 50 years ago when it comes to safety culture.

Renewable energy companies with utility and oil company owners consistently show better safety records. Your grasp of health and safety rules gives you a great foundation, though you might need some specific training for the sector. The British Safety Council stresses that renewable energy must keep the same high safety standards as oil and gas to avoid slowing down decarbonization goals.

Project management expertise

Project management skills are a vital part of success in renewable energy. About 83% of energy companies expect to see more large-scale, complex projects in the next decade. This makes your experience with big oil and gas initiatives incredibly valuable.

Oil and gas projects need careful planning and execution – skills that work perfectly for developing solar and wind farms. Risk management skills are especially valuable since good risk management in energy projects can boost ROI by up to 30%.

On top of that, your experience coordinating diverse teams helps direct the technical aspects of renewable projects. Oil and gas professionals can lead the way as energy moves toward Agile and hybrid project management, bringing fresh thinking to renewable energy initiatives.

Key Renewable Energy Sectors for Oil & Gas Professionals

Many renewable energy sectors provide great career paths for oil and gas professionals who want to switch careers. The energy landscape changes faster than ever, so finding the right sector that matches your skills should be your first step to retrain yourself.

Offshore wind opportunities

The offshore wind industry gives oil and gas professionals the smoothest path to switch careers. This sector will grow 50% more by 2025, which means thousands of new jobs that need the skills oil and gas workers already have.

Research shows that 80% of oil and gas workers want to move to other sectors, and 53% want to join offshore wind. These technical skills are valuable in offshore wind:

• Geotechnical engineering
• Marine engineering
• Foundation package management
• Fabrication oversight
• Installation management
• Cable installation expertise
• Subsea engineering

Both industries use similar offshore structures, which makes it easy for professionals with offshore experience to switch. An industry expert says, “We’ve seen a large number of oil and gas professionals make the transition over to the offshore wind market due to the alignment of the skills required for both industries”.

Solar energy transition paths

The solar energy sector keeps growing fast. It set another record in 2022 by adding 191.4 GW of capacity worldwide. China leads with 45% of installations, but countries like the United States, India, and Brazil also offer many opportunities.

Oil and gas professionals can find varied career paths in manufacturing, project development, and installation. The US Department of Energy reports that 1 GW of crystalline silicon module production capacity creates 1,085 to 2,020 direct jobs across the value chain. The solar PV sector had about 4.9 million workers worldwide in 2022.

Hydrogen production and infrastructure

Hydrogen has become a favorite path for many oil and gas companies that want to vary their energy mix. This creates great opportunities for professionals who have relevant experience.

Oil and gas professionals can use their knowledge in several ways:

• Oil and gas exploration experience helps with hydrogen production from subsurface natural hydrogen reservoirs
• Refining process expertise applies straight to hydrogen production
• Gas storage and transportation knowledge helps develop hydrogen infrastructure

Global hydrogen demand reached 113 million tons in 2022, making up 2.8% of final global energy use. A recent study shows 39% of green hydrogen industry workers came from the fossil fuel sector, which proves it’s a clear path to switch careers.

Energy storage systems

Energy storage solutions will grow beyond $1.7 trillion by 2032, creating huge demand for professionals with technical backgrounds. This field offers many career options for people with transferable skills from oil and gas.

Key roles include:

• Development engineers who design and boost storage systems
• Project managers who oversee implementation
• Quality engineers who ensure system reliability
• Asset management directors who handle operations
• Project financing specialists who check economic feasibility

Oil and gas professionals can use their experience with depleted reservoirs, which work well for underground hydrogen storage. Their knowledge of high-pressure systems, advanced control technologies, and large project management also fits various energy storage applications.

Essential Technical Training Programs

Professional training programs help bridge your oil and gas expertise to a career in renewable energy. The renewable energy field changes fast. You need specific certifications and skills to show employers what you know.

Engineering certifications for renewable technologies

The Certified Renewable Energy Professional (REP) certification stands out as a valuable credential for energy professionals moving to renewables. The Association of Energy Engineers offers this certification that focuses on renewable energy generation, production, and storage technologies. The REP program teaches everything about solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, geothermal energy, biomass energy, and waste-to-energy systems.

University certificate programs give you a more academic path with complete technical training. Graduate certificates in renewable energy systems engineering teach energy analysis and integration with renewable technologies. These programs blend practical engineering basics with a focus on solar and wind generation.

Digital skills for smart grid management

Smart grid management skills have become vital as power grids turn more digital. The IEEE Academy on Smart Grid teaches specialized skills in areas like microgrids. These microgrids link bulk power systems to smart distributed grids. Their courses teach the basics of microgrid definitions, design, and analysis. They also cover distribution automation, which forms the foundation of smart grid technology.

The Smart Grids Academy develops the talent needed for energy transition. It addresses how modern energy systems are becoming digital. They believe that smart grids drive energy transition and that trained professionals make smart grids possible.

Environmental compliance courses

Environmental compliance knowledge makes a big difference for renewable energy professionals. The EPA’s free training modules cover everything in renewable energy projects. You’ll learn about land use, connecting to the grid, electricity sales, community concerns, and project development.

Environmental compliance courses specific to the industry help professionals navigate through complex regulations. These programs teach key environmental rules that affect energy, impact assessments, and compliance with air, water, and waste regulations. Professionals learn national and international environmental laws first. Then, they develop practical skills to implement compliance systems for energy operations.

Finding the Right Renewables Training Courses

Your career goals, priorities, and available resources shape your path in renewable energy education. Success in moving from oil and gas to renewables depends on finding the right training option among many choices.

University programs vs. industry certifications

Academic programs and industry certifications play different roles in renewables training. University certificate programs combine complete theoretical knowledge with practical applications in renewable technologies. The Renewable Energy Professional (REP™) credential focuses on specific skills in renewable energy generation, project assessment, and sustainability goal development.

Your career objectives should guide your choice between these options. Academic programs build strong foundational knowledge. Industry certifications showcase specialized expertise that employers value. In fact, many professionals say certifications from the Association of Energy Engineers make a big difference in the job market.

Online learning platforms for energy professionals

Digital platforms have made renewable energy education accessible to more people. Coursera teaches core concepts like energy conversion, system design, and storage technologies. EdX helps students learn about renewable energy sources, technologies, and production methods.

Solar Energy International’s Online Campus gives students 24/7 access to their 25-year-old curriculum. Industry-certified instructors who actively work in solar energy teach these courses.

Company-sponsored training opportunities

Companies now help employees move into renewable energy roles. They offer tuition support and internal training programs or work with educational institutions. These programs line up with specific business needs and help develop relevant skills.

Getting a full picture of program quality and recognition

Here’s what matters most when checking program quality:

• Accreditation status – Programs need assessment against quality management standards
• Instructor qualifications – Teachers should have industry experience and certifications
• Practical components – Quality programs include hands-on labs and real-life applications
• Industry recognition – NABCEP or AEE certifications are respected industry-wide

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) uses the Institute for Sustainable Power Quality framework. This framework sets standards to compare content and quality between training programs. So, IREC-accredited programs often provide better training options for energy professionals who want trusted credentials.

Funding Your Energy Retraining Journey

Money can be the last obstacle when you want to switch to a green energy career. The good news is that oil and gas professionals have many ways to fund their renewable energy training.

Government subsidies and grants

The U.S. government provides substantial financial help through different agencies and new laws. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 stands as the biggest climate law in U.S. history. It sets aside billions to speed up clean energy adoption. This groundbreaking law has sections for workforce development, and the EPA, Department of Commerce, and Department of Energy manage the funds.

The Department of Energy launched a Clean Energy Careers for All program that gives nearly $3 million to non-profit educational organizations. These organizations support workforce development in renewable sectors. The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) gives you detailed information about federal, state, and local renewable energy incentives.

Industry scholarships for career changers

You’ll find several scholarships aimed at professionals moving into renewable energy. Solar Energy International has need-based scholarships that cover 25% to 100% of course costs for future solar professionals. The EnerTracks Scholarship Program takes a unique approach. It develops energy transition experts through hands-on lessons, academic training, and coaching.

Veterans and career-changers get special attention. The SEI Veterans Scholarship helps former military members get solar training funds. Special scholarships exist for underrepresented groups, too. The Powering Up scholarship gives $4,500 to people starting technical careers in energy.

Employer tuition assistance programs

Your employer might help pay for your education. Federal tax law lets companies offer up to $5,250 tax-free each year for educational help. This money can pay for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and student loan payments made after March 27, 2020.

Most companies have rules about who can get tuition help. They usually want you to be a full-time employee who has worked there for a while. Companies limit how much they give each year and might ask you to keep your grades up. Large funding amounts often come with a catch – you’ll need to stay with the company for some time or pay back the money.

Conclusion

Renewable energy offers great career growth opportunities for oil and gas professionals. Your technical expertise, management skills and safety knowledge make you valuable in this faster growing sector.

You have many paths to make a successful transition. University programs, industry certifications and company-sponsored training let you pick the learning path that fits your career goals. On top of that, government grants, industry scholarships and employer assistance programs make this switch financially possible.

Clean energy needs skilled professionals who understand complex energy systems. Your transferable skills and the right training prepare you to shape our clean energy future. Start learning about these opportunities now – your oil and gas experience could become your biggest asset in renewable energy.