Building the skilled workforce for Ireland's renewable energy future
Skillnet Offshore Wind Academy, the national initiative of Skillnet Ireland in partnership with Wind Energy Ireland, was established to help create a pipeline of skilled professionals for the sector.
, chief executive, Skillnet Ireland, outlines the vital role innovative training is playing in supporting Ireland's clean energy sector
Irish businesses are operating in an environment of unprecedented change. The transitions to a more sustainable, low-carbon economy and an increasingly digital and AI-enabled future are reshaping how organisations compete, innovate and grow. For businesses across every sector, access to the right skills is now one of the most important factors in successfully navigating this transformation.
As Ireland's national workforce development agency, Skillnet Ireland works with enterprise to build the talent and capabilities needed to respond to these evolving challenges and opportunities. Through our enterprise-led model, we support businesses to develop future-ready skills in sustainability, digitalisation and artificial intelligence, helping them strengthen competitiveness, enhance productivity and drive sustainable growth.
Working in partnership with industry, we support businesses and workers across Ireland to build the workforce capabilities required to meet changing market demands, regulatory requirements and emerging opportunities.
The transition to renewable energy is one of the clearest examples of this transformation in action. Ireland has an extraordinary opportunity to become a leader in the offshore wind sector. Our natural resources, strategic location, maritime heritage and growing expertise provide a strong foundation for the development of this industry.
As Ireland develops its offshore wind capability, ensuring the workforce has the right skills will be critical to maximising the benefits for workers, businesses and communities. To support this need, Skillnet Offshore Wind Academy, the national initiative of Skillnet Ireland in partnership with Wind Energy Ireland, was established to help create a pipeline of skilled professionals for the sector.
Ireland already has a strong base of talent and experience across sectors such as onshore wind, utilities, engineering, construction, maritime services and project management. Many of the skills and capabilities already present in these industries can transfer into offshore wind. The opportunity exists to help people recognise that potential, understand what additional training or qualifications they might need, and to see a clear pathway into this growing sector.
In 2024, Skillnet Ireland published the Building Our Potential: Ireland’s Offshore Wind Skills and Talent Needs report, which was developed in collaboration with Wind Energy Ireland and Green Tech Skillnet. This research was an important step in understanding what the industry will need as it grows.
It identified 42 critical job roles, highlighting the breadth of the skills challenge. Together with the Government’s Offshore Wind Skills Action Plan, it has helped establish a clear direction for developing the workforce Ireland will need.
Developed in collaboration with industry and education partners, Skillnet Offshore Wind Academy focuses on building workforce capability through targeted programmes designed to meet industry demand. The Academy delivers a suite of upskilling solutions covering areas such as Fundamentals of Offshore Wind Energy, Engineering for Offshore Renewables, Environmental Impact Assessment for Marine Renewable Energy Developments and Coastal and Marine Governance.
These programmes are designed to support capability development across project planning, engineering, development and marine operations.
A key focus of Skillnet Offshore Wind Academy is making it easier for experienced professionals from related industries to move into offshore wind, building on the knowledge and experience they already have. The Academy also recognises that people need flexibility when it comes to developing new skills. Many are already working and cannot simply step away from their careers to undertake further education.
To address this challenge, in 2025, it launched 12 university-accredited micro-credential courses specifically targeted at mid-career professionals seeking to transition into roles within offshore renewable energy.
As the offshore wind sector develops, workforce requirements will continue to evolve, moving from development, environmental and consenting expertise towards construction, installation and commissioning skills before transitioning into long-term operations and maintenance activities. This means workforce development must anticipate future needs while preparing workers and businesses for the next stages of industry growth.
For Skillnet Offshore Wind Academy, the next phase of its mission will be the launch of the Skillnet Offshore Wind Hub in November 2026. Building on the foundations established by the Academy, the new national platform will bring together skills intelligence, career pathways and learning opportunities in a single location, helping to make offshore wind careers, transferable skills and training routes more visible as Ireland develops the workforce required for its renewable energy future.
As Ireland's offshore wind sector continues to mature, collaboration between Skillnet Ireland, Wind Energy Ireland and Skillnet Offshore Wind Academy will remain focused on connecting people and businesses with emerging opportunities. By investing in workforce capability today, Ireland can build a resilient talent pipeline that supports both its renewable energy ambitions and long-term economic competitiveness.
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