Irish Examiner

Asked what propels him forward in his work, he replies: “What really drives me, is the fact that I know that at some point in the next 15 years, Ireland will have a zero carbon electricity system and that we will be turning on our lights, cooking our dinners, watching TV, charging our cars and heating our homes, using 100% clean energy that we are producing in Ireland. Clean energy that is generating a return for our economy, while generating jobs right around the country and all around the coast of Ireland.

“Ours is, and will continue to be, an industry that is worth being part of. It is an industry that will provide thousands of high value jobs, many of which will be located outside of the major cities. For these reasons, there are real opportunities in rural and coastal communities, to get involved in this energy revolution.”

Given the enormity of the task at hand, it is not surprising that sourcing the right candidates to fill vacant roles, is one of the biggest challenges for the energy sector.

“We are trying to move at such a fast pace,” says Cunniffe. “All of the work we are doing needed to be done yesterday. As a result, there are lots of job opportunities and right now, we definitely don’t have enough people to meet all of our climate goals.”

Competition for good workers is always an issue: “We are definitely competing with some of the other big industries in Ireland — such as the tech and the pharma sectors — particularly for those in trade jobs and also for planners and engineers and others in skilled roles.”

Asked about the fields of work in which people are most urgently required, Cunniffe replies: “That would be in the planning, ecology and environmental areas. Sustainable planning is the first step in trying to deliver any big project — be that a wind or solar farm, an electricity grid infrastructure, or an upgrade to Ireland’s ports.

“As there is a huge shortage of the ecologists and environmental planners needed to prepare and assess planning applications, I would encourage anyone with an interest in geography and engineering, who has an interest in getting into a career, to think about becoming a planner.

“There are lots of jobs in this area to be had in the renewable-energy industry and also in the State bodies. So, it’s advisable to keep an eye on what positions may become available at organisations such as An Bord Pleananála and the National Parks & Wildlife Service.”

Wind Energy Ireland is working with Skillnet Ireland, through the Green Tech Skillnet partnership. Of this, Cunniffe says: “We are creating bridging programmes for people in their careers who might want to pivot away from the jobs they are doing and move into the renewable energy sector instead.”

One of those programmes is for mariners. Should they choose to be trained and upskilled for a future career in offshore wind energy, they could arrange their calendar so they fish in the sea during one part of the year, while working on an offshore wind farm in another.

“We run dozens of courses as part of Green Tech Skillnet every year. Some of those are part of the Work in Wind programme. No college qualification is required. It’s a good way to learn all about the electricity grid, planning, and wind farm operation. As part of that, we endeavour to arrange a work placement for people on the Work in Wind programme, with one of the 200 or so member companies of Wind Energy Ireland. That way they can get ‘real world’ experience at these organisations. Also, the vast majority of these placements lead to full time jobs in the sector.

“We have had some really phenomenal candidates coming out of that in recent years,” says Cunniffe, “and we in Wind Energy Ireland have hired several of them over the past year or two. There are lots of opportunities for electricians, welders and all sorts of trades people that are needed throughout the industry. So, again a college qualification is definitely not a requirement for entry into the energy sector.”

One of the many roles filled by Wind Energy Ireland, according to Cunniffe, is that of ‘coordinator for careers in the entire wind sector.’ “Throughout the year, there are plenty of jobs in the entire energy industry listed on our website’s Careers page,” he says. “Many of our member companies also run their own graduate programmes, which tend to start in September of every year. Hiring for jobs in the sector typically takes place twelve months in advance.”

Cunniffe says that there is never a bad time to think about finding a job in the wind energy sector. It’s never too late either, as many in their sixties, leave their careers in finance, tech or communications to work there. “They know the climate change issue is so fundamental to us as a species and they want to do something about it,” says Cunniffe.

“They transition into the sector, for what could be the final years of their careers, to try and do something about it and probably so they can tell their children or grandchildren that they were on the right side of history in that through their work, they made a positive difference in this area.”

Of the copious opportunities out there for those who can deliver sage advice on the practicalities of starting up a business and making it a success, he says: “The wind and solar industries have only been around for the past 20 years or so. Many of today’s startups will be future leaders in the sector. They might have a fantastic idea or concept. But they may need help getting off the ground, strategising about future business development, running a finance team or communicating effectively.”

For youngsters considering their futures, the Wind Energy Ireland CEO makes this heartfelt plea: “If you are starting out on your career, remember that in 30 years time you may be thinking about what you have done over the course of the last three decades. I think you will be working in an Ireland that is completely energy independent; an Ireland that is an example of what a small country on the western edge of Europe can do, to contribute not only to our own domestic energy supply, but also to the decarbonisation of the European energy supply.

“I think you will be living in a world that is cleaner, with completely clean transport and heating systems. A world that has less air pollution and a better standard of living for people, because we will be running our electricity off completely green, clean, wind and solar power. This is a world that is going to require thousands of people to get behind it and deliver it. It would be really great to play a part in it. So please do get involved.”

For more information see: https://windenergyireland.com/