Building a Workforce and Recruiting for Emerging Renewable Technologies
Emerging renewable energy technologies are reshaping the energy industry, demanding new expertise and skill sets. As the renewable energy sector continues to evolve, seeing advancements in energy storage, hydrogen production, carbon capture, and nuclear solutions, alongside developments in circular economy approaches such as recycling and material recovery, the renewable energy job market faces a significant talent shortage. This deficit makes it crucial for organisations to adapt their recruitment strategies to attract and retain professionals with the specialised renewable energy skills needed to support the sector's rapid expansion and technological innovation.
To meet this demand, employers must refine their hiring processes, understand the talent landscape, and position themselves as desirable workplaces for professionals looking to work on emerging technology projects. Below we explore the changing job market and how businesses can successfully recruit for roles in emerging renewable energy technologies.
The Growing Demand for Advanced Renewable Technology Expertise
The renewable energy sector is advancing rapidly, creating demand for expertise across several innovative technologies:
- Hydrogen production and utilisation – Green hydrogen is emerging as a crucial element in the UK’s energy transition strategy. Companies need specialists in electrolyser technology, hydrogen storage systems, and integration with existing energy infrastructure.
- Nuclear and fusion technologies – As the UK invests in small modular reactors and continues research into fusion energy, demand is growing for nuclear engineers, safety specialists, and professionals with experience in advanced reactor designs.
- Carbon capture and utilisation – As the UK pushes towards net-zero, projects that capture and repurpose carbon emissions are expanding. These initiatives require specialists in carbon capture process engineering, lifecycle assessment, and energy efficiency.
A circular economy aims to minimise waste and make the most of resources, ensuring that materials and energy sources remain in use for as long as possible. In the renewable energy sector, we are beginning to see this approach in action in several ways:
- Solar panel recycling – Solar panel installations in the UK only seriously began in the early 2010s. With an average lifespan of around 25 to 30 years, this means that the UK’s solar panels are coming up to halfway through their useful lives. This, combined with improvements in photovoltaic technology has led to concerns around the disposal of ageing panels. However, recycling panels could be a source of valuable materials like silicon, silver and aluminium and companies are developing methods to recover them cost-effectively from end-of-life panels.
- Energy storage and battery technology – With grid connection and reliability becoming a major challenge, battery storage solutions are critical to the successful integration of renewable energy sources. New innovations in lithium recycling and alternative battery chemistries are also impacting the future of renewable energy grid solutions. The government has recently announced a new scheme to encourage investment in this area.
- Biomass sustainability – The UK government has invested heavily in biomass-to-electricity plants, many of which are now incorporating carbon capture technology. Companies need experts in biochemical engineering, feedstock optimisation, and sustainable supply chain management.
These diverse technology areas offer promising career opportunities, but recruiting for them presents unique challenges.
Challenges in Recruiting for Emerging Renewable Technologies
While demand for professionals with renewable energy skills is at an all-time high, employers in the renewable energy job market face key hiring challenges:
- Specialist skills shortages – Roles in emerging renewable technologies require niche expertise in material recovery, energy efficiency, and waste reduction. All areas where trained professionals are scarce.
- Competition from other industries – Sectors such as electric vehicles (EVs) and advanced manufacturing are also hiring sustainability specialists, intensifying the talent race.
- Lack of formal education pathways – Many skills in emerging renewable energy technologies are developed through industry experience rather than formal degree programmes, making it harder to identify qualified candidates.
To attract and retain top talent, companies must rethink their recruitment strategies.
Strategies for Attracting and Retaining Talent in Emerging Renewable Energy Technologies
Recruiting the right professionals in for emerging renewable technologies requires a strategic approach. Here’s how companies can enhance their hiring efforts:
1. Target Critical Skills
To build a workforce capable of driving renewable energy and circular economy projects, employers must focus on securing talent with the appropriate skill sets. By aligning job descriptions with these skills, employers can better attract professionals who will drive emerging renewable energy technologies.
Solar and Wind Technology Expertise
- Advanced knowledge of photovoltaic technologies and efficiency improvements
- Experience in wind turbine design, maintenance, and optimisation
- Understanding of grid integration challenges for intermittent renewables
Energy Storage and Smart Grid Skills
- Expertise in battery chemistry, energy density optimisation, and second-life battery applications
- Knowledge of grid connection standards and grid stability issues
- Proficiency in AI-driven battery management systems
Hydrogen Technology Skills
- Experience with electrolyser technology and green hydrogen production
- Knowledge of hydrogen storage solutions and safety protocols
- Expertise in integrating hydrogen systems with renewable generation
Nuclear and Advanced Power Systems
- Experience with small modular reactor designs
- Knowledge of nuclear safety protocols and regulatory requirements
- Expertise in advanced cooling systems and efficiency improvements
Carbon Capture and Utilisation
- Process engineering for carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies
- Lifecycle analysis of CO₂ emissions reduction strategies
- Experience in integrating carbon capture with industrial and energy systems
Materials Science and Recycling Expertise
- Advanced knowledge of solar panel recycling technologies
- Experience in recovering rare earth metals from energy storage systems
- Understanding of circular economy framework principles
Biomass and Bioenergy Sustainability
- Feedstock processing and biochemical engineering
- Sustainability assessment and compliance with environmental regulations
- Energy efficiency strategies for biomass power generation
2. Expand Hiring Beyond Traditional Backgrounds
Candidates with expertise in chemical engineering, materials science, AI, and sustainability consulting often have transferable skills suited for emerging renewable technologies. Employers should consider hiring from adjacent industries such as EV battery production, advanced manufacturing and waste management; partnering with universities to support research in battery technology, hydrogen systems, advanced renewable infrastructure, solar panel recycling, and carbon capture; and offering cross-training programmes to help professionals pivot into emerging renewable energy technologies.
3. Develop Competitive Employee Value Propositions
To attract top talent in a competitive renewable energy job market, companies must clearly communicate their sustainability impact by showing how roles contribute to net-zero and resource efficiency. Candidates are also particularly concerned about career growth opportunities. Offer structured pathways for progression in renewable technology development projects alongside attractive benefits packages.
4. Strengthen Employer Branding and Industry Presence
A strong reputation in renewable energy skills development can make a company more attractive to professionals. Companies should engage in industry events and publish thought leadership on best practices in energy storage, recycling, and carbon capture to increase their visibility. You can also use your employer brand to showcase employee success stories to highlight career progression opportunities and position yourself as an employer of choice in the market.
5. Partner with a Specialist Recruiter
Given the complexity of hiring in emerging renewable energy technologies, working with a specialist recruiter like Eleven can streamline the process. Eleven connects renewable energy companies with professionals skilled in battery technology, solar and wind engineering, hydrogen systems, nuclear power, grid connection strategies, sustainable innovation, and circular economy framework development.
Looking for expert market insights and support? Explore Eleven’s 2025 Renewables Salary Guide.
The Future of the Renewable Energy Workforce
As the UK accelerates its transition to a cleaner energy future, businesses must invest in attracting and retaining talent across the full spectrum of renewable technologies. From traditional areas like solar, wind and battery storage to emerging fields such as hydrogen, nuclear, carbon capture, and circular economy approaches, the renewable energy sector requires specialised expertise, making strategic recruitment essential.
Eleven offers expert recruitment solutions designed specifically for the energy and alternative technology sectors. Our industry insights, data-driven approach, and customised strategies are here to help you meet your talent needs across both established and emerging renewable technologies.
