Solar energy is the term used to describe any energy that is generated by the sun. The most common form is the use of solar panels (or photovoltaic cells) to harvest energy and convert it into electricity.

Clearly, one of the main benefits of solar is the fact that it emits much less carbon than traditional options that rely on fossils fuels. However, the cost saving and potential earning benefits have recently led to an increase in attention for this renewable energy source.

Solar Energy Growth

As reported in a briefing by Solar Energy UK, in 2021, solar panels supplied more than 4% of the UK’s entire electricity demand, and this could treble by 2030. Additionally, solar can already produce as much as 30% of UK electricity at different points in the year.

The briefing details a strong growth forecast in the sector for the next decade, meaning that solar’s contribution to the UK’s clean electricity will increase. If the UK achieves 40GW of solar capacity by 2030, solar could meet 15% of the UK’s annual power needs.

As part of the UK government’s national target of reducing carbon emissions to Net Zero by 2050, they’ve committed to sustained growth in solar capacity.

Solar Panel Installations

With the BBC reporting at the end of August 2022, that amid the energy bills crisis, UK solar installations were up to 3,000 a week from 1,000 a week in July 2020, it seems that this form of renewable energy really is in the spotlight.

The main disadvantage of solar panels is that the initial investment can be costly, therefore, it can take a number of years to fully reap the monetary benefits, however, the recent and proposed upcoming energy price cap rises have knocked years off this figure, making them an even more attractive option.

Plus, according to research by Solar Energy UK, installation of solar panels on a typical home could increase its value by around £2,000.

Diversification of Farms to Solar Energy Production

With new UK Prime Minister Liz Truss having recently been quoted saying that “What we shouldn’t be doing is putting solar panels on productive agricultural land”, the diversification of farm land to solar energy production is a hot topic at the minute.

As the cost of renewable energy technology has decreased, this has created opportunities for farmers to reduce their own energy costs and create an additional income stream through the installation of solar panels on parts of their land.

UK government guidance to local authorities considering planning applications for solar farms is that they should avoid the use of best and most versatile cropland, therefore, there would be minimal impact on food production.

It can be argued that our changing climate, for example drought, is a huge risk to food security. Therefore, as renewable energy helps to address climate change, solar farms could actually help sustain food production.

Plus, where solar farms have been implemented and agricultural land is no longer managed so intensively, biodiversity has increased by way of variance and growth in plants, hedgerows, wetland habitats, pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.

What’s Next?

As we discussed in a recent news article about The Importance of Technology in the Energy Transition, as more renewables, such as solar, come online, the demand for storage increases so the improvement of battery solutions to expand capacity and lower costs is imperative.

With the UK’s residential, commercial and utility solar markets all performing extremely well, this can only be good news for jobs in the solar sector.

At Visuna, we understand that renewable energy projects can encompass complex objectives and deliverables. We can provide specialist contract and permanent personnel, or even full teams, to help you power forwards in the energy transition. Contact us today to find out more.

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During July 2022, the World Energy Council’s August World Energy Pulse polled 600 individuals from both public and private sector power and utility organisations across 90 countries. Amongst a great deal of valuable findings, the results detailed attitudes to technology in the energy transition and opportunity areas for innovation.

It was found that 48% of global respondents consider supply-side technologies including electricity storage, low-carbon hydrogen, smart grids, and carbon capture and storage, as the greatest untapped potential for innovation to accelerate energy transitions in all regions.

Electricity Storage

One of the biggest drawbacks of renewable energy, in the form of solar or wind, is that it’s available when daylight or wind is present, so energy storage is crucial in this sector to allow the electricity generated to be released on demand.

To further cement the importance of technology in the energy transition, the National Grid ESO cites the building of additional storage for excess electricity as part of its most ambitious pathway option for reaching Net Zero in Britain before 2050.

As more renewables come online, the demand for storage increases so the testing of new technologies and improvement of existing solutions to expand capacity and lower costs is imperative.

Carbon Capture and Storage

Suggested as being central to tackling global warming, the ability to capture and store carbon dioxide also reduces dependency on carbon emitting fuels such as oil or gas.

Zero-emission power is key to our future, but as it’s likely that traditional energy will be the dominate source for some time yet, carbon capture and storage could be the necessary solution, so it’s not surprising to see it specified in the Energy Pulse results as a mechanism to accelerate the energy transition.

Smart Grids

With their capability of shifting demand and balancing the system, it’s no shock that smart grids are within the group of technologies regarded in the survey as untapped potential for the energy transition.

Monitoring and controlling generation and demand in nearly real time will mean an efficient, timely transition to low carbon economies, whilst maintaining a more reliable, secure and cost effective supply as the complexity of our energy sources and requirements increases.

People Solutions

Visuna are committed to the energy transition, which means we are a leading choice for supporting organisations pushing forward into renewable sectors. Contact us today to see how our workforce solutions can help your business power forward.

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The rapid development of the sector will have a vast impact on the future of hydrogen jobs.

Hydrogen is the most abundant element on the planet. It is a clean fuel that produces only water, when consumed in a fuel cell. This, along with the fact that it can be provided from a variety of resources (natural gas, nuclear power, biomass, solar and wind), makes it a very attractive fuel option.

Hydrogen growth

Although hydrogen is widely used in some industries, a huge opportunity for future growth presents itself in the adoption of the practice across additional sectors. This will allow it to make a more significant contribution to the energy transition. Consequently, growth in this area is expected to lead to a huge range of employment opportunities in the sector.

Within a briefing produced by the World Energy Council in collaboration with EPRI and PwC to better understand hydrogen worldwide, it is suggested that the hydrogen economy could stimulate job creation and economic growth post COVID-19, with some national strategies highlighting jobs and workforce skills as a key driver for hydrogen development.

Hydrogen development globally

Low-carbon hydrogen is not currently cost competitive with other energy sources in most situations. However, the number of countries with policies that directly support investment in hydrogen technology appears to be on the rise. This gives real hope for development in the sector.

According to Deep Dive: Hydrogen, a World Energy Council report, hydrogen is becoming a high impact topic for energy leaders worldwide. This interest demonstrates signs of significant step changes globally.

Hydrogen jobs in the UK

If we look at the UK, August 2021 saw the launch of the UK’s first ever hydrogen strategy. This strategy focusses on how the UK can develop a thriving low carbon energy sector to meet ambitious plans of 10GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030.

It is hoped that success in this strategy would support 9,000 direct hydrogen jobs across the UK by 2030, with up to 100,000 supported directly by 2050.

Hydrogen jobs in Germany

BBC News recently questioned whether hydrogen can ease Germany’s reliance on Russian gas. The article included a quote from Veronika Grimm, an economics professor and special advisor to Germany’s federal government. She described how the country needs “to diversify and decarbonise our energy sources faster than initially planned”. Also to “ramp-up” its use of hydrogen”. This suggests a positive development for hydrogen jobs in the country.

Similar to the UK, Germany has a target for domestic production capacity of green hydrogen of 10GW by 2030. As this includes a recent increase brought about in January 2022, it’s likely hydrogen jobs in Germany could soon be on the rise, particularly as part of any plans for the reported hydrogen pipeline infrastructure.

The future

The ideal vision for the future is a net-zero world where all of our energy is produced by emission-free sources. This would require a green hydrogen industry on a global scale, meaning a huge increase in hydrogen sector jobs.

At Visuna, we are on a journey with you in the energy transition. We are here to work with you and to offer workforce support and people solutions at such a crucial and exciting time for the energy sector.

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A high-profile energy recruitment firm has rebranded and relocated to new offices in Washington, as it looks to position itself as an indispensable resource for companies navigating an exciting new era in their industry.

Washington Recruitment Consultancy

Oil Consultants Ltd, which employs more than 50 people on Wearside, has changed its name to Visuna and moved to more spacious office accommodation at Wynn House, on the Hertburn Estate in Washington, after outgrowing its previous premises at The Elms on Front Street.

Under the Visuna brand, the provider of world-class workforce solutions for global energy and tech sector clients aims to bring the best people from its global talent pool of specialists together with the right opportunities within forward-thinking organisations around the world.

The Energy Transition

Ford Garrard, CEO of Visuna, says this will enable client organisations to power the future sustainably, with Visuna at the forefront, supporting its clients with the energy transition.

“The energy industry and the world around us is transforming – and so are we, refocusing our services on supporting clients transitioning to sustainable energy markets,” he said.

“We are offering the best workforce solutions to meet the exciting new challenges and developments the energy transition is offering up head on.

“Our business has always thrived as a people-centric organisation and we are experts in the mobility of specialist energy and tech sectors talent globally.

“Together with our clients we will make a difference to the world around us, matching the best talent with the right opportunities.”

With the whole world focused on reducing carbon emissions and the need to find more sustainable, renewable sources of energy, Mr Garrard explains the talent requirements needed to achieve this have changed.

As a result, Visuna has diversified its organisation to meet the new and growing demands of the energy sector.

Our History and Growth

The Washington recruitment company, which has a 20-year history on Wearside, has been growing rapidly since the start of 2022 and continues to have ambitious growth plans.

Visuna has recently opened in Houston, Texas and plans to increase its team there.

Its new brand represents its vision and values of strength, force and power, as well as unity with its clients, as they navigate the exciting changes in their sector.

Mr Garrard said: “At Visuna, we are proud to be part of a crucial and exciting period for the energy sector and we look forward to supporting our clients on their journey through the energy transition.

“Our name may have changed, but our priority to deliver maximum value to our clients, by providing an honest, flexible and proactive service which delivers world-class recruitment solutions, remains the same.”

Throughout its 20-year history, Oil Consultants Ltd developed an excellent reputation as a strategic partner to its clients, thanks to its efficient, transparent and trustworthy approach.

Under the Visuna brand, this will be more important than ever, as the fast-paced, rapidly changing nature of the energy sector will require the recruitment firm to continue to provide immediate and effective people solutions across the globe.

Mr Garrard said: “We have been harnessing our skills and experience in the energy sector for more than 20 years, developing into a well-respected organisation that it is fit for the exciting future of the sector, as we enter a new era.

“Now, as Visuna, we are offering global energy and tech recruitment made easy, travelling with our clients on a journey of evolution and diversification and creating opportunities for highly skilled workers anywhere in the world.”

Our Brand

As well as strength, force and power, the new Visuna branding also represents nature, harmony and sustainability, with the sun symbol in the logo aimed at creating a sense of unity, movement and energy, as well as incorporating the V and the I from the brand name.

The three dots in the symbol create the look of people and also represent the ocean, land and air.

Visuna has welcomed Australia’s proposed development of six offshore wind energy zones, after they were given the green light by the country’s federal Government.

As a global specialist in renewable energy recruitment, with an international talent pool and an office in Australia, Visuna is well placed to support the development of Australia’s offshore wind zones, including the first of six off the Gippsland coast, in Victoria’s south-east.

The team at Visuna is pleased to learn that further offshore wind zones will follow in the country off the coast of the Hunter Valley and Illawarra in New South Wales, Portland in Victoria, Northern Tasmania, Perth and Bunbury in Western Australia. These developments will bring Australia, which has some of the best wind resources in the world, up to date with global progress in producing renewable energy in this sector.

Heather Burton Moore, Chief Executive for the Asia Pacific region at Visuna, said: “We welcome the developments in offshore wind in Australia and have a global talent pool of specialists ready to work in this sector anywhere in the world, with our support.
“Our Brisbane office would be delighted to support the Australian Federal Government with its aims to replace its ageing coal fired power stations with production of this renewable source of energy.

“Our excellent reputation of working with clients as their strategic partner enables us to bring the best talent together with global opportunities like this. We take care of payroll, tax and human resources functions, as well as immigration requirements for international staff.”

Recruitment Support

Visuna also offers relocation support to the right candidates, ensuring they settle into their roles quickly and efficiently. Visuna’s managed services offering could also benefit the offshore wind developments in Australia, as we evaluate company workforces, before developing, bespoke, whole-team solutions to contractor and supplier requirements to a defined budget.

We also offer a recruitment process outsourcing service, to help companies take the hassle out of recruiting the right candidates, first time.

Large Scale Projects

Ford Garrard, CEO at Visuna said: “At Visuna, we understand that large scale developments like those that will be happening in Australia involve complex supply chains and high construction costs.

“We are experts in supporting projects like this with their recruitment and supply chain needs in an efficient manner, whether you are looking for a whole team to support the project or a key individual for a high-level role.

“We look forward to being able to support Australia with its energy transition, as it begins to close its coal-fired power stations across the country and take advantage of its perfect sea depths and wind conditions for a cleaner, greener energy solution that will be sustainable for the future.”

The developments in Australia are said to be creating 2,000 construction jobs and 200 ongoing operator roles.

Next Steps in the Wind Energy Plans

A 60-day consultation period on the offshore wind development plans has now begun, led by the Australia federal Government’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

Mr Garrard said: “We look forward to following the progress of this consultation and seeing the developments in Australia take shape.”

Visuna has a proven track record when it comes to providing experts for both onshore and offshore wind projects, pulling from a worldwide network of specialist talent.

Some of the areas where it can support wind energy projects include alternative turbine planning, local ordinance planning, site maintenance, new site installations, research specialisms and transportation and deliverance planning.

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In 1999 a group of offshore workers identified the need for a company that would look after their needs as consultants whilst finding them the best positions in the industry.  The group formed Online Consultants with the website OC99 to deliver this service.

The company grew through the strength of its reputation in delivering quality and competent Well Testing personnel to clients around the world.  In 2003 the company changed its name to Oil Consultants Ltd and expanded the range of disciplines offered to include skills such as Slickline, Drilling and Coiled Tubing.

Over the following years we continued to grow steadily and achieved the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade in 2010, 2013, and 2015.  Relationships were also established with agents in key geographical areas to provide a more comprehensive global service.

In 2022, we identified a rapid change in the energy transition worldwide and we decided to evolve and diversify Oil Consultants to reflect this evolution. We made the decision to utilise our skills and experience in the Oil and Gas sector and apply it to the renewable energy sectors of; Renewable, Green and Clean.

With our new found purpose and vision we required an alignment more fitting to our name and brand. We therefore made a decision to rebrand Oil Consultants to our new name of Visuna.

Our name Visuna represents who we are and where we are in the world of global energy recruitment today. The meaning behind our name sits perfectly with our evolution into supporting renewables and the energy transition.

Visuna

Vis – Strength, Force and Power

Una – Together and As one

Whilst we will continue to work in the Oil and Gas sectors, Visuna are exceptionally proud to focus on the areas of renewable, clean and green energies & technologies. We have a vast history and experience of traditional energies, but we recognise that the world is moving in a different direction, and certainly for the better. Whilst we will of course still offer our services to the maintenance of those traditional energy sources, we are dedicated to helping bring about fully, the green revolution. This means bringing our specialism to bear upon new and existing renewable energy sectors, plus all of the technology and infrastructure that supports it.

Of course, we will maintain our world beating contractor services, as we believe each and every one of our candidates is worthy of the respect, dignity and support going forwards into new areas, as they have been entitled to since our foundation. This means that our contractors can continue to expect dedicated teams for their travels, insurance when on site, healthcare and emergency care, plus all of the other benefits that they have come to enjoy when working with us.

Together in Energy & Tech, Together in powering the future

We are now on a journey, which is a crucial and exciting period not only for Visuna, but for the energy sector as a whole. The world is changing around us, and we must focus our services on the renewable, green and clean energy transition sectors.

Through transparency & trust, we’re transforming our strength, together as one.

As always, we will continue to connect specialist talent with employment opportunities to provide world class workforce solutions in the energy & tech sector globally. We do this with the aim of delivering maximum value to our clients by providing an honest, flexible and proactive service. In doing this, Visuna will maintain that we always must find the right solutions for both our candidates and clients.

We are thankful to those who we have called a team since our very start, and are loyal to those joining us in this exciting journey into the future of green energy.

Connect with us on LinkedIn to follow our journey.

We’re pleased to announce the introduction of our Houston office in Texas to strengthen the presence of Visuna in the USA.

Luke Marshall has been appointed as Regional Director – USA, supported by Recruitment Consultant Nicola Olaya.

This additional support will allow Visuna to strengthen our key client relationships in the energy and technology sectors, whilst also allowing us to grow our offering within the renewables market in North America.

At this crucial and exciting time in the energy transition, it’s never been more important for Visuna to continue to grow our global recruitment services. Our priority remains harnessing our 20+ years of experience to deliver maximum value to our clients by providing an honest, flexible and proactive service.

Visuna’s global coverage means we understand both the legal and cultural requirements for projects in different locations. We are able to advise our clients on timescales and processes for mobility to ensure they can have the right personnel on their projects.

Our aim is always to work in partnership with your business to find a solution that delivers the required results. Whether you prefer us to run the entire recruitment process or support your internal HR teams with specialist technical support, we can provide a solution that fits.

The Houston office can be found at Suite 566, 16225 Park Ten Place, Houston, TX 77084