Project fiche

RESkill4NetZero: Reskilling and Upskilling the workforce to thrive in a net-zero emissions future

Overview

Abstract

RESkill4NetZero is a co-funded Erasmus+ Blueprint project addressing workforce shortages in Europe’s renewable energy sector. It aims to identify key occupational profiles, skills needs and develop modular training programmes and certification pathways for high-demand roles.

Status

On-going

Duration

November 2024 - November 2028

Sector

Renewable Energy Industries (NACE codes relevant to the project include C.33.20 – Installation of industrial machinery and equipment, D.35.11 – Production of electricity, P.85.59 – Other education n.e.c., M.72.19 – Other research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering.

Countries

Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Romania, Sweden

Scope of the project

RESkill4NetZero aims to develop a European skills blueprint for renewable energy across technologies and countries. It translates labour market needs into practical training solutions for technicians, engineers, VET learners and adult learners, including career switchers.

Objectives

The main project objectives are to:

develop a European renewable energy skills blueprint;
define priority occupations and skills needs;
create modular VET training and certification pathways addressing those needs;
strengthen cooperation between industry and education;
support career access and mobility across Europe.

Short description

RESkill4NetZero supports Europe’s net-zero transition by addressing occupational and skills shortages within selected renewable energy sectors. Coordinated by the InnoEnergy Skills Institute and implemented by a broad European consortium representing industry, training providers and sectoral associations across multiple renewable energy technologies, the project identifies priority occupational profiles and skills needs across technologies, including solar, wind, bioenergy, geothermal energy and heat pumps. These findings are used to develop modular training programmes, certification pathways and tools that support reskilling, upskilling and career progression across Europe.

Key findings

During its initial implementation phase, RESkill4NetZero generated evidence based insights for workforce needs and skills gaps across Europe’s renewable energy sector, supporting the development of a coordinated European skills sectoral approach.

High demand for technical and engineering occupations
Strong demand was identified for energy engineers, renewable energy technicians, industrial engineers, electricians, HVAC technicians, health and safety professionals, planners and maintenance specialists, who are critical for designing, installing and maintaining renewable energy systems.

Expanding workforce needs beyond core technical roles
Additional occupations are increasingly needed, including project managers, offshore marine crew, welders, battery assemblers, retrofitting experts and digital specialists, showing that the renewable energy workforce extends beyond traditional energy occupations.

Persistent shortages of skilled technicians and engineers
Shortages remain acute for renewable energy technicians, energy engineers, electricians and HVAC specialists. The severity of these shortages varies across countries and renewable energy technologies but represents a major barrier to scaling renewable energy deployment.

Increasing importance of digital and interdisciplinary skills
Digital skills such as data analysis, modelling, programming, automation, SCADA systems and digital integration are becoming essential, but training provision remains limited.

Gaps in transversal and cross-sector competences
Project management, communication, leadership, problem-solving and systems thinking are widely required but are often underrepresented in training programmes and skills frameworks.

Uneven training provision and structural barriers
Training coverage is stronger in wind energy and energy storage, while heat pumps, bioenergy and geothermal technologies remain less covered. Workforce development is also held back by fragmented training systems, limited recognition of vocational pathways, difficulties in recognising qualifications across borders, limited access to modern equipment and restricted practical training capacity.

Barriers to scaling training capacity
Training providers reported shortages of trainers, limited access to modern equipment and restricted capacity for practical training as key obstacles to expanding renewable energy skills programmes.

European skills strategy and platform
Based on these findings, the project developed a coordinated skills strategy proposing stronger collaboration between industry, education providers and policymakers, increased investment in vocational training, and wider use of modular training formats such as microcredentials. It also created a European Renewable Energy Skills Platform to centralise renewable energy training opportunities, connect training providers and industry stakeholders, and support access to courses, learning materials and sector information across Europe.