This is the second article looking at measures to foster skills needed to advance the expansion of wind power generation in Japan.
In the next five years, Japan’s preparedness for the expansion of offshore wind power generation will be put to the test with a number of large-scale projects set to come online that would account for an estimated 3-5 GW in capacity if built.
However, to realize the government’s clean energy goals for 2030 and beyond, the offshore wind sector is in dire need of attracting tens of thousands of qualified and motivated workers.
Recently, a growing number of private training centers have started offering programs for established technical workers, raising expectations that wind power projects already in the pipeline have a good chance of completion on time. But the lack of structured university programs to prepare a permanent wind power workforce is raising concerns about whether Japan is ready to build and maintain large-scale offshore wind projects for decades to come.
Private training centers can only partly fill the void. Japan must step up its game in terms of both fostering and securing top talent for a wide range of jobs, from technological innovators to on-site wind installation and maintenance technicians, as well as experts in industrial health, safety inspections, search and rescue operations, as well as maritime and shipping.
Japan NRG takes a look at recent initiatives aimed at rectifying the current deficit of essential skilled workers that could impede the growth of the nation’s wind energy industry.