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Mail & Guardian
26-05-2025
- Business
- Mail & Guardian
The skills needed for a just energy transition can't be an afterthought
Preparing the workforce for a just energy transition requires a fundamental rethink of how education and training are approached. Photo:As South Africa marks Energy Month, we will once again hear the familiar refrains: load-shedding persists, investment is needed and policy certainty remains elusive. This year's Integrated Resource Plan, with its multiple scenarios and unclear direction, has added further uncertainty — both about our energy future and how we prepare for it. Yet amid the policy and planning debates, one question gets asked too narrowly, if at all: Are we truly preparing our people — all of them — for this transition? Even asking, 'What skills do we need for a just energy transition?' might be the wrong starting point. The speed of technological change, shaped by the fourth industrial revolution and a shifting global economy, means that the skills themselves are constantly evolving. The real question we must grapple with is: 'Are our education and training systems flexible and future-ready enough to respond to this transformation?' The just energy transition is not just about new technologies or job creation in green sectors. It is a structural transformation of our economy, society and everyday life — and that means skills development must be just as broad and integrated. We need skills and training not only for those who will work directly in renewable energy, electric vehicles and green hydrogen. We need to empower the average citizen to understand what these transitions mean for their daily lives, for the energy choices they make, for how their household budgets shift, for how communities organise around new infrastructure or adapt to new risks. The just transition is not something happening to people — it must happen with them. South Africa has taken promising steps in this direction. Among other examples, the Just Energy Transition Skills for Employment Programme (JET SEP) is helping align training with demand in emerging sectors. The AWEaP Skills Development Programme is building leadership capacity among women in the energy sector. Proposed skills development zones will focus on priority areas like renewables, electric mobility and green hydrogen value chains. These initiatives matter — but they are not yet enough. Preparing the workforce for a just energy transition requires a fundamental rethink of how education and training are approached. Training programmes should respond to the actual demands of emerging industries, rather than rely on outdated content. Local context must shape learning — what works in one community may not work in another. Inclusivity is essential — women, youth, people with disabilities and historically disadvantaged groups must have equal access to opportunities. No single institution or sector can drive this change alone; collaboration between government, business, academia and civil society is essential. And, finally, planning must become more forward-looking, anticipating future skills needs instead of reacting to shortages after they arise. Across the globe, the link between youth empowerment and the energy transition is gaining traction. The EU, for example, has South Africa must follow suit. Our youth are not just future workers in green industries — they are future homeowners, policymakers, voters and innovators. If we don't equip them now with the knowledge, tools and agency to shape a just energy transition, we risk designing a future that excludes the very people who will inherit it. South Africa's Yet, we cannot stop at acknowledging the need — we must deliver on it. A whole-of-society approach means embedding just transition thinking not only into technical training for new green industries, but also into schools, universities, public discourse and local government planning. The transition cannot be something only understood by experts — it must be lived and shaped by everyone. While we speak of education, inclusion and local empowerment, our national energy planning tells a more complicated story. The recently released Integrated Resource Plan 2025, though broader in scenario design, introduces uncertainty about which path South Africa will actually follow. It misses an opportunity to connect technical energy planning with the human and educational dimensions of a just transition. Without clear explanations of how 'best-cost' options weigh long-term risks — or how central planning aligns with the surge in private-sector and off-grid investment — we risk misaligning our training efforts with the realities of the energy market. As a result, universities, technical institutions, and other training providers, are left in a reactive position, trying to prepare graduates for an energy future even the government itself seems unsure about. This disconnect is not sustainable. Against this backdrop, my recent awarding of the SARChI Chair on Just Energy Transition at the University of Pretoria — in collaboration with RWTH Aachen University in Germany — marks a timely opportunity to rethink how education supports the transition. This initiative opens a new phase in advancing interdisciplinary teaching, research and engagement that responds directly to the complexity of South Africa's energy challenges. The focus is on breaking down silos, integrating diverse fields of expertise and fostering collaboration with communities and policymakers. While this is an important step, it represents only one part of the broader, systemic effort required across the country. The skills required for a just transition are more than only learning to code or operate a new machine. They involve systems thinking, adaptive planning, social dialogue and the capacity to navigate complexity and uncertainty — at all levels of society. If we treat skills development as an afterthought, something to retrofit once policy decisions are made, we risk deepening inequality and leaving too many people behind. The transition will not be just by default. It must be built — person by person, institution by institution. Energy Month and Youth Month should not merely be for reporting on progress. They should be a national checkpoint — are we building the human capabilities needed for the energy future we claim to want? Professor Roula Inglesi-Lotz heads the Energy Economics Research Unit and is the DSI-NRF Bilateral SARChI-Chair in Just Energy Transition, University of Pretoria.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Renewables in Spain: TotalEnergies Inaugurates its Largest Solar Field in Europe
TotalEnergies inaugurates 263 MW of solar projects in Spain near Sevilla This solar field is TotalEnergies' largest in Europe It is producing renewable electricity for over 150,000 Spanish households PARIS, May 22, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- TotalEnergies (Paris:TTE) (LSE:TTE) (NYSE:TTE) inaugurates its largest solar power plant cluster in Europe, near Sevilla in Spain. It consists of five solar projects with a total installed capacity of 263 MW. This solar field will produce 515 GWh per year of renewable electricity, equivalent to the consumption of over 150,000 Spanish households, and will avoid 245,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year. Most of the electricity produced will be sold through long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) and the rest will be sold on the wholesale market. Declared of strategic interest by the Junta de Andalucía, the installation of the 400,000 bifacial solar panels with trackers has provided a significant economic boost to the local economy, involving 14 companies of which more than a half are Sevillian and generating 800 direct and indirect jobs. "We warmly thank the Spanish authorities at both the regional and national levels for supporting this solar project that is contributing to Spain's ambition of 80% of renewables in its mix by 2030", stated Olivier Jouny, Senior Vice President Renewables at TotalEnergies. "With our 1,700 employees in Spain, we are building a competitive Integrated Power portfolio that combines renewables and flexible gas-fired power plants to deliver clean firm power to our customers. We are proud to be the 4th largest provider of electricity, gas, and related services in Spain, where we have more than 2 million residential and professional customers". TotalEnergies' profitable and differentiated Integrated Power business modelTotalEnergies is building a competitive portfolio that combines renewables (solar, onshore wind, offshore wind) and flexible assets (CCGT, storage) to deliver clean firm power to its of the end of March 2025, TotalEnergies has 28 GW of installed gross renewable electricity generation capacity and aims to reach 35 GW by the end of 2025, and more than 100 TWh of net electricity production by 2030. About TotalEnergies TotalEnergies is a global integrated energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas, biogas and low-carbon hydrogen, renewables and electricity. Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to provide as many people as possible with energy that is more reliable, more affordable and more sustainable. Active in about 120 countries, TotalEnergies places sustainability at the heart of its strategy, its projects and its operations. X @TotalEnergies LinkedIn TotalEnergies Facebook TotalEnergies Instagram TotalEnergies Cautionary Note The terms "TotalEnergies", "TotalEnergies company" or "Company" in this document are used to designate TotalEnergies SE and the consolidated entities that are directly or indirectly controlled by TotalEnergies SE. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" may also be used to refer to these entities or to their employees. The entities in which TotalEnergies SE directly or indirectly owns a shareholding are separate legal entities. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TotalEnergies SE nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information concerning risk factors, that may affect TotalEnergies' financial results or activities is provided in the most recent Universal Registration Document, the French-language version of which is filed by TotalEnergies SE with the French securities regulator Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), and in the Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). TotalEnergies Contacts Media Relations: +33 (0)1 47 44 46 99 l presse@ l @TotalEnergiesPR Investor Relations: +33 (0)1 47 44 46 46 l ir@ View source version on Contacts TotalEnergies SE
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Now even Greenpeace is worried about North Sea oil jobs
Even by the standards of Greenpeace and Unite it was a very odd protest. A coalition of 60-plus environmental and union groups staged a demonstration outside Parliament this week demanding a huge programme of government spending to help North Sea oil workers laid off by the closure of the fields. But hold on. Weren't we told there were going to be lots of well-paid green jobs? Surely the workers made redundant on the rigs can just get one of those? There is just one problem. It is becoming painfully clear that the green jobs revolution promised by Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, is a self-serving fantasy – and tens of thousands of genuinely well-paid jobs are being pointlessly sacrificed. In a week when the legislation to create Great British Energy, the Labour Government's state-owned renewables champion, was finally passed through Parliament, we should all be welcoming the wave of green jobs that are about to be created, along with the lower energy bills that should be coming our way very soon. 'As part of our Plan for Change, this will make us a clean energy superpower and help bring down energy bills for good,' argued Miliband as the legislation was passed. Well, perhaps. It seems, however, that no one got around to telling all the workers in the North Sea who will soon be losing their careers. As the bill was passing through Parliament, a group of protesters gathered outside to demand that as well as the £8bn being spent on GB Energy, another £1.9bn of taxpayers' money should be used to create new jobs for all the people about to be laid off from the oil and gas rigs in the North Sea. 'Offshore workers have risked life and limb and suffered long stints away from their families to keep this country moving and it's time the Government repaid their sacrifices with an industrial strategy that puts worker justice at its heart,' according to Greenpeace. Seriously? Green campaigners are worried about workers on oil rigs? For years now we have been lectured on how the transition to greener energy would create lots of jobs. Now we are being told that everyone laid off in the traditional energy industry will be unemployed if the Government doesn't step in to help them. In reality, the contradiction only makes sense when you realise one very simple point: these supposed well-paid green jobs don't actually exist. Sure, there are jobs that can be labelled as green if you don't mind twisting the definitions a little. The Office for National Statistics had a stab at calculating how many last year, and came up with what it admitted was an 'experimental' figure of 639,000 across the whole of the British economy, a surprisingly small number given there are 34m jobs in total. There are extra jobs being created putting up the wind turbines off the Yorkshire coast – at least when they are not cancelled, as the huge Hornsea 4 wind farm was earlier this month – plus installing solar panels in supermarket car parks and putting up all the extra pylons that will be needed to secure the grid against blackouts. But any reasonable calculation of the total has to factor in the job losses in the North Sea, as all the people who used to supply the country with conventional fuels. Even more importantly, it has to factor in all the job losses in manufacturing as whole industries get wiped out by sky-high energy prices. Even the climate change groups protesting this week agree that 227,000 jobs have been lost in the last decade in fossil fuels. Likewise, it is estimated that 600,000 jobs have been lost in manufacturing in the UK over the last decade, and if we attribute at least half of that total to energy costs (which, if we are being honest is probably an underestimate), that means another 300,000 have been sacrificed to net zero. Add the two figures together and more than 500,000 jobs have been lost, meaning that only a little over 100,000 net green jobs have been created. Even worse, many of those are simply installation work for technologies such as heat pumps. All they do is simply replace existing work in traditional engineering. If a plumber switches from installing gas boilers to heat pumps he might be classified as moving into a 'green job'. But that doesn't mean any extra employment has been created. The blunt reality is this. Ed Miliband, along with the climate commissars around him, have been peddling a lie. If there were genuinely lots of well-paid green jobs, we would have seen evidence of them by now. Instead, we are now in the absurd position where climate groups such as Greenpeace clamour for one round of subsidies for green energy and then another round to help all the people who lose their jobs as a result. It is a never-ending cycle of more and more government spending. We are lectured endlessly about how transitioning to net zero will create lots of employment. But there is no sign of it actually happening. Sure, we can all argue about whether climate change is an emergency, or whether it is a problem that can be solved fairly easily with better technology. We can also debate whether the UK really needs to be a world leader in reducing carbon emissions, given that we account for less than 1pc of the global total. But there is no point in kidding ourselves that the transition is going to make us richer. Right now it is becoming painfully clear that it is throwing lots of people out of work – and there are very few genuinely new jobs being created to compensate for that. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
17-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Now even Greenpeace is worried about North Sea oil jobs
Even by the standards of Greenpeace and Unite it was a very odd protest. A coalition of 60-plus environmental and union groups staged a demonstration outside Parliament this week demanding a huge programme of government spending to help North Sea oil workers laid off by the closure of the fields. But hold on. Weren't we told there were going to be lots of well-paid green jobs? Surely the workers made redundant on the rigs can just get one of those? There is just one problem. It is becoming painfully clear that the green jobs revolution promised by Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, is a self-serving fantasy – and tens of thousands of genuinely well-paid jobs are being pointlessly sacrificed. In a week when the legislation to create Great British Energy, the Labour Government's state-owned renewables champion, was finally passed through Parliament, we should all be welcoming the wave of green jobs that are about to be created, along with the lower energy bills that should be coming our way very soon. 'As part of our Plan for Change, this will make us a clean energy superpower and help bring down energy bills for good,' argued Miliband as the legislation was passed. Well, perhaps. It seems, however, that no one got around to telling all the workers in the North Sea who will soon be losing their careers. As the bill was passing through Parliament, a group of protesters gathered outside to demand that as well as the £8bn being spent on GB Energy, another £1.9bn of taxpayers' money should be used to create new jobs for all the people about to be laid off from the oil and gas rigs in the North Sea. 'Offshore workers have risked life and limb and suffered long stints away from their families to keep this country moving and it's time the Government repaid their sacrifices with an industrial strategy that puts worker justice at its heart,' according to Greenpeace. Seriously? Green campaigners are worried about workers on oil rigs? For years now we have been lectured on how the transition to greener energy would create lots of jobs. Now we are being told that everyone laid off in the traditional energy industry will be unemployed if the Government doesn't step in to help them. In reality, the contradiction only makes sense when you realise one very simple point: these supposed well-paid green jobs don't actually exist. Sure, there are jobs that can be labelled as green if you don't mind twisting the definitions a little. The Office for National Statistics had a stab at calculating how many last year, and came up with what it admitted was an 'experimental' figure of 639,000 across the whole of the British economy, a surprisingly small number given there are 34m jobs in total. There are extra jobs being created putting up the wind turbines off the Yorkshire coast – at least when they are not cancelled, as the huge Hornsea 4 wind farm was earlier this month – plus installing solar panels in supermarket car parks and putting up all the extra pylons that will be needed to secure the grid against blackouts. But any reasonable calculation of the total has to factor in the job losses in the North Sea, as all the people who used to supply the country with conventional fuels. Even more importantly, it has to factor in all the job losses in manufacturing as whole industries get wiped out by sky-high energy prices. Even the climate change groups protesting this week agree that 227,000 jobs have been lost in the last decade in fossil fuels. Likewise, it is estimated that 600,000 jobs have been lost in manufacturing in the UK over the last decade, and if we attribute at least half of that total to energy costs (which, if we are being honest is probably an underestimate), that means another 300,000 have been sacrificed to net zero. Add the two figures together and more than 500,000 jobs have been lost, meaning that only a little over 100,000 net green jobs have been created. Even worse, many of those are simply installation work for technologies such as heat pumps. All they do is simply replace existing work in traditional engineering. If a plumber switches from installing gas boilers to heat pumps he might be classified as moving into a 'green job'. But that doesn't mean any extra employment has been created. The blunt reality is this. Ed Miliband, along with the climate commissars around him, have been peddling a lie. If there were genuinely lots of well-paid green jobs, we would have seen evidence of them by now. Instead, we are now in the absurd position where climate groups such as Greenpeace clamour for one round of subsidies for green energy and then another round to help all the people who lose their jobs as a result. It is a never-ending cycle of more and more government spending. We are lectured endlessly about how transitioning to net zero will create lots of employment. But there is no sign of it actually happening. Sure, we can all argue about whether climate change is an emergency, or whether it is a problem that can be solved fairly easily with better technology. We can also debate whether the UK really needs to be a world leader in reducing carbon emissions, given that we account for less than 1pc of the global total. But there is no point in kidding ourselves that the transition is going to make us richer. Right now it is becoming painfully clear that it is throwing lots of people out of work – and there are very few genuinely new jobs being created to compensate for that.
Forbes
15-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Highest-Paying Green Jobs In 2025 Earning As Much As $165K
Discover the most lucrative green jobs that offer competitive salaries while contributing to ... More environmental sustainability efforts. Summer is just around the corner, and you may have noticed, depending on where you live, that your environment is turning greener. And speaking of summer and green, summer quick cash side hustles are available here. Eco-friendly green jobs also are becoming more and more popular, and they are offering lucrative salaries in six figures. The Resume Genius 2025 Highest-Paying Green Jobs Report has been updated from last year, with a new list of the 10 green jobs that offer competitive salaries while contributing to environmental sustainability efforts. Researchers at Resume Genius sought to identify the 10 best-paying green occupations, growing at a higher-than-average rate and expected to grow over the next decade. They sourced the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' median annual earnings and O*NET's Green Occupation's database. They then conducted an in-depth analysis and selection of jobs that are growing at a higher-than-average rate. For each of the 10 green occupations showcased here, the researchers included the latest 2023 median annual earnings, estimated job growth through 2033 and education requirements. Each entry is ranked from highest-to-lowest salary, although all ten yield six figure incomes. ($165,370), six percent estimated job growth, Bachelor's degree. ($157,740), eight percent estimated job growth, Bachelor's degree. (156,580), eight percent estimated job growth, Bachelor's degree. ($130,720), six percent job growth, Bachelor's degree. ($130,160), 17% estimated job growth, Bachelor's degree. ($116,970), three percent estimated job growth, Bachelor's degree. ($112,100), 10% estimated job growth, Bachelor's degree. ($109,010), nine percent estimated job growth, Bachelor's degree. ($104,900), nine percent estimated job growth, Bachelor's degree. ($103,690), five percent estimated job growth, Bachelor's degree. The Resume Genius researchers note that engineering, marketing and tech roles continue to top the list of six-figure salaries. They include four tips on how to secure positions in the green economy, as well as an analysis of trends in green jobs and green skills based on reports from LinkedIn and the World Economic Forum. You probably notice that all of the jobs on the list require at least a bachelor's degree, but do not require a specific degree or certification to enter the green job sector. Still, the experts at Resume Genius point out that having one can significantly enhance your qualifications and improve your chances of landing a job. As an example, they say that obtaining a Bachelor's or Master's in Environmental Science can greatly enhance your job prospects. If you have already have earned a degree or are making a career transition, professional certifications like the Certified Environmental Professional (CEP) or LEED Green Associate can demonstrate specialized knowledge and commitment to the field and help you build a qualified profile in the growing sustainability sector. The researchers cite the 2024 LinkedIn Global Green Skills Report that shows a sharp increase in demand for green skills, with 23.1% of job postings requiring them. However, they indicate that the supply of qualified candidates hasn't kept up. Instead, the demand for green talent is increasing twice as fast as the supply. They advise that to adapt to these job market changes, you should develop a combination of hard skills tied to their specific sustainable field, as well as transferable soft skills like analytical thinking, leadership and communication. 'Networking can lead to meeting more like-minded professionals, gaining access to valuable learning opportunities, and potentially even securing a green job,' the experts advise. 'Effective ways to network include joining professional associations, attending industry workshops and conferences and interacting with local green businesses.' They add that participating in online communities focused on green initiatives such as BSR, and Work on Climate can further support your career development in the sustainability industry. Resume Genius Career Expert Eva Chan recommends engaging with online communities focused on sustainable careers. 'Sustainability is a fast-growing field and many opportunities are emerging through communities of like-minded individuals,' she suggests. "For the best career growth, green upskilling is a must, and staying connected with others ensures you're always in the loop about the latest trends and new job possibilities." The researchers mention that platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X are great for learning about companies working in sustainability, as well as discovering job openings and making professional connections. To effectively use social media for job hunting, they suggest that you customize your profile with relevant keywords and hashtags such as #greenjobs, follow companies offering green jobs and engage with content in their desired career field by commenting and re-posting. They recommend that you connect with other employees and participate in climate-focused initiatives to boost your visibility and increase your chances of getting a job through employee referrals and professional networking. Nathan Soto, a career expert at Resume Genius, summarizes the 2025 report. 'Climate change remains a pressing global issue with significant implications across many career fields,' he explains. 'Companies and governments have set ambitious sustainability goals, which has created a huge need for workers with green skills.' He acknowledges that the green skill gap is accelerating. If you're looking for secure growth opportunities and some of the highest-paying green jobs,, you have the chance to up-skill and enter lucrative positions in various fields focused on creating a green future.
