Building the people behind the wind industry

The wind industry is growing fast, but skilled people to build and operate it are not keeping pace. By 2030, an estimated 628,000 wind technicians will be needed globally, and the gap between ambition and available workforce has quietly become one of the biggest obstacles to the energy transition.

A day built around that challenge

‍On 11 March, more than 80 participants from across Europe gathered at Egersund Energy Hub to look this challenge squarely in the face. The Visiting Day was organised by Energy Innovation and T-shore Regional CoVE and brought together wind organisations, training providers, safety experts, recruitment specialists, and maritime technology companies for a day of live demonstrations, expert presentations, and industry exchange. The event was held in collaboration with the High Wind Conference in Stavanger the day prior, making it a natural two-day gathering for those following developments in the wind sector.

The day was opened and hosted by Frank Emil Moen, CEO of Energy Innovation - an ETN member developing practice-based training and education for the wind industry. Through international and public-private collaboration, the company is building the kind of training infrastructure the sector needs to grow safely and at scale.

Seeing it in practice

That mission was on full display at Energy Innovation's Training and Education Centre, where participants moved through a series of live demonstration stations. A 30-metre training tower provided the setting for realistic HSE scenarios and rescue operations. Elsewhere, participants got hands-on insight into blade repair, advanced rescue techniques, and enhanced first aid. The facility also showcased a 3D digital twin of the Hywind I floating wind turbine - a tool under development aimed at building understanding of offshore wind technology among the general public and decision-makers.

The Bigger Picture

The afternoon shifted from demonstrations to dialogue. Speakers from Wind Europe and the Global Wind Organisation opened with a sobering look at global workforce projections and what it will take to meet them, drawing on the latest Europe's Wind Energy Workforce Report and the Global Wind Workforce Outlook 2025–2030. Their presentations were followed by contributions from across the industry, covering recruitment challenges, cross-border training collaboration, safety culture, and the role of maritime technology in offshore wind operations.

One theme ran through the afternoon: the wind industry has the technology and the ambition. What it now needs is the people - trained to the right standards, in sufficient numbers, and ready to work safely in some of the world's most demanding environments.

About Egersund Energy Hub

Egersund Energy Hub is a centre for training, education, research and innovation supporting the onshore and offshore wind industry. Operated by Energy Innovation, the hub brings together industry, education providers and technology partners to develop future-ready competence and safer operations.

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