SIX out of ten green energy companies in Scotland are struggling to fill job vacancies, new research has shown.
A survey seen by The Scotsman reveals the growing renewables sector in Scotland has been hit by a skills shortage.
Industry experts have warned that challenging climate change targets will not be met unless there is a huge increase in the availab
ility of workers for the wind, marine, solar and biomass industries.
The problem is highlighted in a report by the employers organisation Alliance of Sector Skills Councils Scotland, which surveyed 55 renewables employers north of the Border between January and March this year.
It found 57 per cent of green energy companies struggled to fill vacancies, that training for the sector was "fragmented" and that there was an ageing workforce. Most staff members were aged between 45 and 54.
Scotland has challenging targets of generating 50 per cent of electricity from renewables by 2020.
Jim Brown, skills director for Scotland at Energy and Utility Skills, said lack of workers with the required skills was a "huge problem".
"We need the people," he said. "If we don't get the people, we won't meet the targets."
Previous research has shown that in order to meet renewables targets, about 60,000 people must be employed in the sector by 2020 across the UK, compared with about 5,000 today.
Mr Brown said more needed to be done in schools and universities to highlight opportunities, and better training was required. "Awareness of renewables is out there but people don't necessarily understand how there can be career opportunities in it, partly because the sector is still in its infancy."
However, he said efforts were being made to improve the situation, with initiatives such as "The Path is Green", a campaign by Career Scotland to raise awareness of renewables jobs.
And he said the benefits for those who do end up employed in the renewables sector can be enormous, with salaries increasing rapidly over recent years due to competition for skilled staff.
Henning von Barsewisch, managing director of Edinburgh-based wind turbine company Repower UK, said: "These people need to come from somewhere. If we can't find them it will be critical. We will have businesses that are behind their potential and we wouldn't hit the environmental targets and the carbon reduction targets.
"They are not only safe jobs for the long term, but they also do something that is relevant for the future. It's fascinating to be part of changing something."
He added:"If you are in a growing industry, the opportunity is also there to go into management."
Wind turbine engineer Role: Applying fluid and solid mechanics, hydraulics, thermodynamics.
Qualifications: Engineering degree.
Salary: £27,500-£40,500.
Marine surveyorRole: Helping to build offshore structures.
Qualifications: Degree in marine and coastal resource management/oceanography/geology/geography.
Salary: £20,000-£39,500.
Wind resource analyst Role: Analysing meteorological data to estimate projected wind and energy output.
Qualifications: Experienced meteorologist/engineer or a degree in meteorology/maths/physics.
Salary: £23,000-£25,000.
