by EWAN LAMB
The booming wind farm industry in the Scottish Borders will require approximately twice as many workers for construction and maintenance next year than the region's dwindling 'traditional' textile trades of spinning and knitting, according to skills forecasters.
But Scotland's wind energy sector is growing so rapidly that wind farm projects in the Borders and elsewhere may not be delivered on time unless there is a major influx of new well trained employees in the rest of the present decade.
It has been estimated the current textile industry workforce in the Borders totals about 1,000 individuals although more than 20 per cent of the posts are part-time.
Meanwhile, a report by Climate X Change, Scotland's centre of expertise connecting climate change and policy, based at Edinburgh University, has predicted wind farm construction and installation in the Borders will require 1,436 staff in 2025 plus a further 123 for operations and maintenance.
The numbers needed for construction in future years are: 2026 - 1,095; 2027 - 909; 2028 - 1,022; 2029 - 981; 2030 - 1,012. At the same time, full time equivalent (FTE) requirements to run developed projects will be: 2026 - 140; 2027 - 154; 2028 - 174; 2029 - 202; and 2030 - 218.
These figures compare to the 2024 numbers of 955 working in the construction of Borders wind farms, and 77 involved in maintenance.
So far as the national picture is concerned, the report states: "To meet the 2030 ambition, the workforce serving the onshore wind sector needs to increase from around 6,900 FTEs in 2024 to a peak of 20,500 in 2027. Over 90% of the roles will be in construction and installation of wind farms".
The report's authors claimed that overall, stakeholders in the industry felt that those working in the sector have the right skills, but there are skilled workforce shortages.
"In the short term, there is a need for more people to join the sector and for individuals from other sectors to be reskilled/ upskilled. Without this, the sector faces challenges in delivering new projects on time, maintaining existing wind farms and maximising economic and environmental benefits.
"Not addressing skill shortages is likely to have a severe impact on the ambition to install 20 GW of onshore wind by 2030. By 2027, our model predicts that, on average, four times more FTEs will be required for construction and installation than in 2024. Within this, five times more civil contractors will be required."
Climate X Change has recommended the Scottish Government along with other public agencies, industry and the education sector, take the opportunity to address expected skill shortages in relation to the 20 GW capacity ambition by 2030.
"Investing in skills development is not only essential for the success of individual onshore wind projects but also for Scotland's broader renewable energy goals. Addressing these shortages will require a comprehensive approach, including workforce development initiatives, training programmes and industry-academy collaborations. In this regard, collaboration between stakeholders from the public, private and education sectors will be crucial to bridge skills divides and unlock the full potential of Scotland's onshore wind resources."
According to the university team, the most pressing action is to raise awareness of the broad range of career opportunities directly or indirectly associated with the onshore wind energy sector, especially for regional workforces.
"There is scope for targeted campaigns in rural areas where the majority of the new installations will take place – to demonstrate well-paid, highly skilled jobs for local people. For example, according to UK Government statistics a wind turbine technician can expect a starting salary of £25,000 reaching £47,000 with experience. This could also help address population decline, due to younger people moving to more populated parts of the country."
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