The war in Ukraine triggers the search for expert talent in new energy technologies

The Green Hydrogen race is underway, but there is a lack of professionals

The demand for talent focuses on two areas, research centers and highly qualified professionals in the gas sector.

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The race of Green Hydrogen is underway, but there is a lack of professionals, according to the consulting firm Catenon. It is a new technology and a highly restricted talent market, since there are not enough experts to respond to the innovative projects that are beginning to be discussed and therefore, they are looking for “related” sectors.

The War in Ukraine has triggered interest in promoting this new renewable source of energy, by highlighting the Europe's gas dependence on Russia and the extra cost it is causing. Thus, today the European Union depends on Russia for about 40% of its natural gas. Furthermore, a significant part of the EU's oil imports in 2021 came from Russia.

 “This situation- signalto Ana Campos, Director of Energy and Utilities at Catenon– has highlighted plans to accelerate green hydrogen development, albeit in the long term. Major European energy companies, including Spanish ones, are working on initial projects in this field, as it represents both an important environmental solution and a significant challenge to reduce dependence on major gas producers like Russia, thus contributing substantially to decarbonization. Green Hydrogen is without a doubt a key elementbecause it releases energy without emitting polluting gases, but at the same time it poses a major structural challenge."

A highly scarce talent

The sun and the wind, which provide the renewable photovoltaic and wind energy necessary for the production of green hydrogen, local technical advances, and its distribution capacity, place Spain on the front line in this race. “The problem is that talent is scarce, as it is a totally new technology within the sector. Hence, we look for gas distribution experts and professionals capable of closing highly sophisticated and future-oriented alliances, as well as relationships to formalize consortia with joint investments,” says Campos.

 

The aim is to hybridize the projects and in this sense, Spain has a great opportunity, thanks to the greater use of photovoltaic generation, the largest in Europe.

 

The goal is for green hydrogen to be a high-value alternative renewable energy in 2050. Its production is expensive and lack of knowledge is great, but no one doubts that it will be a great source of energy in the future. Hydrogen surrounds us, but its transformation requires a lot of energy and this must come from 100% renewable sources. It also needs to be transported and at the moment, the use of gas networks in Spain is being studied, which could be vital in its promotion, facilitating its supply, initially, to large consumers.

The energy behavior of green hydrogen is not 100% known, but large companies are beginning to work on the subject. The objective is to develop initiatives that allow its distribution, marketing and guarantee safety in its transportation and use.

The demand for talent focuses on two areas, research centers and highly qualified professionals in the gas sector. “A necessary talent for Green Hydrogen to be viable and competitive. The aim is to hybridize projects with green hydrogen and to do so, highly qualified professionals and experts in the field are needed,” says Campos.

The European Union's green hydrogen route

According to the Green Hydrogen roadmap, in 2030 we will see the first commercial operations and in 2050 it will be a full energy industry. The European Union contemplates Green Hydrogen in the REPower plan for 2025-2030 to end dependence on Russia before 2027 and thus quickly adapt industry and infrastructure to different energy sources and suppliers. In Spain, according to the NECP (National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan) an initial framework has been established that indicates the GW that renewables have to contribute and the percentage that corresponds to Green Hydrogen. 

According to the PNIEC, modernization towards a decarbonized economy will mobilize around 236.000 billion euros between 2021 and 2030. 80% of these investments will be made by the private sector. The remaining 20%, about 47.000 million, will be investments from the different public administrations (national, regional, local and community), which will act as a lever for the important private financing and which will focus, fundamentally, on aid for energy savings and efficiency. -especially, the energy rehabilitation of homes- and in actions associated with sustainable mobility.

These initiatives, according to the PNIEC, will generate between 250.000 and 364.000 new jobs, an increase of 1,7% in 2030. Investments in renewable energies will be the main driver of job creation: between 102.000 and 182.000 net new jobs per year. This is followed by actions linked to energy savings and efficiency, especially rehabilitation, which will generate between 42.000 and 80.000 new jobs per year. By sectors, the greatest growth will occur in trade and repair (52.700 jobs in 2030); followed by the manufacturing industry (52.000 jobs in 2030) and construction (41.700 jobs in 2030).