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Almost one-in-three renewables professionals already use AI technologies, according to eighth instalment of annual Global Energy Talent Index
The renewable energy industry is "ahead of the curve" on AI adoption, highly optimistic about its future working relationship with the tech, and conscious of the need to develop AI-related skills, according to the eighth annual Global Energy Talent Index (GETI).
Produced by STEM workforce solutions provider Airswift, the 55-question survey of almost 12,000 energy professionals revealed 32 per cent of renewables professionals already use AI, putting the sectors well ahead of the industry average of 27 per cent.
Moreover, it revealed a further 13 per cent of renewables professionals are expecting to adopt AI within six months.
The survey also found nearly 90 per cent of energy professionals quizzed are optimistic about the future impact of AI, with 78 per cent anticipating the wider use of AI will lead to greater productivity, almost two thirds forecasting improved career progression opportunities, and just under half predicting increased salaries.
Nearly all respondents to the GETI 2024 report believe AI will increase demand for skills, with two thirds of renewables professionals expecting AI to increase personal pressure on them to acquire new skills - with demand highest in technical areas like IT, programming, software engineering, and machine learning.
When exploring the relationship between potential skills development opportunities and perceived future demand, the findings also highlight robotics and cyber security as areas the industry may need to proactively develop to shore up the industry's skills base.
The report also highlighted how the need for 'soft skills' like critical thinking, problem-solving, and creative thinking, is expected to increase, with respondents predicting human skills will be needed to complement AI capabilities.
Janette Marx, CEO of Airswift, said by its nature the renewables industry was at the cutting edge of AI adoption, with many companies exploring use cases and improving performance in a way that then inspires others to follow their lead.
"In this fast-paced sector, professionals are unafraid to vote with their feet to unlock AI-related career progression, job satisfaction and work-life balance; renewables companies will need to stay on the front foot with AI to retain talent," she said. "In parallel, those professionals who spend time learning new skills stand to improve their career prospects by differentiating themselves from other candidates.
"AI will create new challenges around data security and ownership, and questions remain over who owns the outputs. This is an opportunity for companies to reduce risks by harnessing AI's predictive capabilities to boost cyber security."
Airswift's findings come as a growing number of green businesses are exploring potential use cases for AI technologies.
For example, AI developer EQTY Lab recently launched ClimateGPT, a "first ever" AI platform designed to provide accurate and authenticated data on climate change, while in December "E.ON GPT" was launched to support the firm's 74,000 staff members as a so-called virtual consultant.
Concrete.ai recently launched a model trained on producer data to determine material mixes for best balancing performance, cost, supply chain considerations, and carbon reduction, while Metris Energy similarly launched a solar platform which uses AI to guide property owners through solar assessment, installation, and management processes.
Today's report also assessed salary trends across the renewables sector, confirming salaries have rebounded back above pre-pandemic levels with 51 per cent of professionals reporting a pay increase, up from 47 per cent last year.
Amid the global push for decarbonisation, companies are also increasingly offering overseas job transfers, now at 58 per cent versus 52 per cent in 2022.
And approximately 32 per cent of workers in the sector have been headhunted six or more times in the past year, with many receiving offers from outside the industry. Meanwhile, 88 per cent of workers said they were considering job switches in search of further career progression.
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