Wind energy is created through a wind turbine; a device that channels the power of the wind to generate electricity. Australia have committed to the use of this renewable form of power within their energy mix in order to meet their carbon cutting goals. Wind energy has allowed Australia’s renewable industry to hit a recent milestone. In 2022, they constructed over 5000 MW of wind energy projects. Alongside this, investment commitments to Australian Wind Energy Projects grew by 50%.

Here are 8 of the upcoming Australian wind energy projects due for completion in 2023 and 2024.

Dulacca Wind Farm, Queensland

Dulacca Wind Farm is currently under construction and will complete in late 2023. Octopus Investment, who are financing the project, have acknowledged and worked with a Barunggam representative to respect the culture heritage of the area.

The project will be able to effectively co-exist within the current use of the land; only occupying less than 2% of the total land area. Predicted energy production capacity will be 180 MW.

Clarke Creek Wind Farm, Queensland

Stage one of the wind farm is now under construction. Once operational, in Q4 of 2024, Clark Creek’s grid-scale generation capability will displace 2.7 million tonnes of carbon each year.

Clarke Creek will become one of the largest wind farms in the southern hemisphere. Predicted energy production capacity will be 800 MW.

Flat Rocks Wind Farm, Western Australia

Flat Rocks is a 130 MW onshore wind farm project, and is currently in the permitting stage. The project is set to be commissioned in 2023, and predicted energy capacity will be130 MW. At the farm, there will be 18 of the tallest wind turbines in Western Australia.

Golden Plains Wind Farm, Rokewood

Golden Plains is going to be Australia’s largest wind farm to date, once commissioning commences in Q4 of 2024. The wind farm is set to power more than 750,000 homes, with a predicted energy production capacity of 1330 MW.

Goyder South Wind Farm, Burra

The Goyder South wind power project is a 412 MW onshore wind farm that is anticipated to be complete in 2024. Stage 1 is the first stage of Neoen’s flagship project; the ‘Goyder Renewables Zone’. Within this project, there will be wind and solar farms, as well as storage.

MacIntyre Wind Farm, Queenland

Once operational in 2024, MacIntyre Wind Farm will be ACCIONA’s biggest renewable energy facility. Predicted energy production capacity will be 1026 MW.

The MacIntyre wind complex will help the state meet its decarbonisation commitments, and climate change mitigation strategies.

Rye Park Wind Farm, New South Wales

Rye Park Wind Farm is an onshore wind project under construction. Once fully commissioned in 2024, it will be the biggest wind farm in New South Wales. The predicted energy production capacity is set at 396 MW.

At Visuna, we’re here to support your wind energy recruitment in Australia. Our Brisbane office is available to help with your workforce requirements at this exciting time in the energy transition.

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Generating around 10% of the UK’s electricity, wind power is constantly growing and becoming a key source of renewable energy. Recently, funding of around £24 million has been announced to go towards green energy technology. Therefore, there is no denying the upcoming potential increase in wind turbine jobs – with prediction to increase 68.2% by 2030.

Trends in UK Wind Energy

Evidently, wind energy is becoming the most popular, and cheapest, source of renewable energy. Since 2015, there has been a ban on building new onshore windfarms, but current government are in discussion about changing this legislation. Greenpeace policy director, Dr Doug Parr, explains that “onshore wind could be designed as the perfect solution to the climate and energy crisis”.

Research conducted by Statista found that, as of 2021, onshore wind has amounted for roughly 2.5 million metric ton of oil equivalent. This has been increasing year on year, and the growth is set to continue.

Around 85% of wind turbine components are recyclable, but they are usually sent straight to landfills. Vestas, a sustainable energy solutions partner, has proposed a scheme to reclaim and reuse the materials. This opens a new era for the wind industry, and encourages the needed change for successful growth in employment.

Education for Wind Turbine Jobs

It is important that the next generation are educated on the exciting opportunities that are going to be available. Currently, there is a gap in knowledge as graduates are having to seek additional qualifications as present studies don’t meet the needs of modern economics.

Minister for Investment, Gerry Grimstone, expressed that “UK workers will be building the next generation of wind turbines that will help us meet our climate change commitments”. Therefore, working towards closing the educational gap is an important objective for our future. In order to get our economy back on track, the wind industry is going to be key in creating jobs.

Wind Turbine Technician

Due to the niche nature of being a wind turbine technician, there can be a lot of queries surrounding the responsibilities and requirements. Generally, their purpose is to ensure that the turbine is functionally properly, as well as conducting regular maintenance.

Some of the essential skills needed include; good engineering and mechanical skills, deep knowledge and understanding of a wind turbine, good hand-eye coordination – a more in-depth look can be found here on our website.

There is a lot of scope for employment to develop within the wind energy sector. At Visuna, we offer people solutions, wherever you need them. Talk to us today about your renewable energy recruitment needs.

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Low emissions and green energy are becoming innovative and exciting topics, as well as essential objectives for the current climate. Green energy job opportunities in this sector shouldn’t be missed as they are essential to meet social needs. For instance, The International Labor Organisation (ILO) has estimated that 24 million jobs could by created in the green economy by 2030.

Green Energy Jobs are Growing

As the majority of the world aims to become net-zero, the demand for green energy jobs continues. Recently, The Guardian reported that as sectors transition to low-carbon models within their daily work, each job holds potential to become ‘green’.

Now, you might be thinking, what is ‘green energy’? According to the Cambridge dictionary, it is “energy that can be produced in a way that protect and preserves the natural environment”. Highlighting how important it is for employment in the sector to expand and develop.

National Grid explain that whilst most green energy sources are renewable, not all renewable energy is considered to be entirely green. People argue that the building of dams for hydropower falls in this category as it is not ‘green’.

Adoption of Clean Energy in America

Since Joe Biden’s landmark climate bill became law, companies have announced more than 100,000 clean energy jobs in the US. His Inflation Reduction Act aims to cut climate emission by 40% by 2030, provide billions of dollars in incentives. In order to develop their green infrastructure and roles, the aim is for this to be reinvested into the economy.

At the end of 2022, American Clean Power Association (ACP) reported that the clean energy sources in the country had the capability to power the equivalent of 2 million homes. Likewise, battery storage had a record-breaking year with 4 GW warranted in 2022.

Seeking to Close Australia’s Clean Energy Skills Gap

Australian businesses operating in the clean energy sector are being called to complete the online Australian Energy Employment Report (AEER). As a result, this will identify which parts of the industry are in most need of funding for developing skills.

In order to grow this sector, the research identified essential skills to meet emission reduction targets. The only barrier is the lack of data to accurately forecast how the jobs are changing. Therefore, there is huge potential for more jobs within the country to help meet net zero by 2050.

UK Progress Towards Green Energy

In Britain, there is a huge focus on shifting energy generation to renewable sources. Express has recorded that, compared to EU, the UK’s energy supply is greener, harmful emissions are fewer, and targets are bolder.

In particular, wind energy is popular within the UK due to our weather conditions. Statista found that as of 2021, there was around 10,000 wind power plants in the UK. In fact, there has been steady growth year on year, and the market is becoming more saturated over time.

Visuna’s specialists can offer support with renewable energy recruitment, wherever in the world your project is located. Contact us to find your new opportunity.

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