Development of an innovative and cross sectoral European education proGRam to strEngthEN the training of TECHnicians in the field of renewable energy

The GREEN TECH project addresses the challenges of the energy transition, in line with the European objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 to 95% by 2050. This transition requires a significant increase in the use of renewable energies, which pose complex challenges due to their intermittency and the management of energy networks. The project aims to train versatile technicians capable of addressing these issues and moving beyond the current educational curricula, which are often segmented by discipline. The renewable energy sector accounted for 1.5 million jobs in the EU in 2018, and the Paris Agreement could create an additional 18 million jobs by 2030. To meet this demand, 1.5 million skilled professionals will need to be trained annually in Europe. In France, an EDEC study estimates that 200,000 jobs will be created in the electricity sector by 2030 but highlights a shortage of technicians, particularly in maintenance and operations. In the Netherlands, a shortage of 20,000 technicians was already identified in 2018. Given these urgent needs, more advanced and tailored training programs are essential to prepare future technicians.

The main objective of the GREEN TECH project was to train a new generation of versatile technicians capable of meeting the growing needs of the energy sector. It aimed to go beyond the limitations of current training programs, which are often siloed by discipline, to develop essential cross-disciplinary skills in a context where interconnections between energy systems—such as electricity, gas, and heat—are becoming strategically important. The project sought to design an innovative modular program comprising training units on key topics: solar energy, wind energy, hydrogen, grid management, energy storage, and energy use. These modules, developed in collaboration with industry professionals, were tailored to meet the expectations for technicians capable of addressing multi-sectoral challenges. Additionally, the project promoted European collaboration by enabling partners to share and integrate these modules into their respective programs. It also strengthened the skills of educators through mutual exchanges. To ensure wide dissemination, a MOOC was created, aimed at students, teachers, and professionals in continuing education.

The GREEN TECH project has made several concrete achievements and significant results, contributing to both enhancing technicians' skills and supporting the energy transition in Europe. One of the main outcomes was the creation of a training program consisting of modules on key topics: solar energy, wind energy, hydrogen, network management, energy storage, and energy uses. These modules were tested in real-life contexts, involving students and teachers from partner institutions. Another major result was the development of a MOOC, enabling the distribution of these modules to a wider audience with additional resources (videos, activities, fun facts). This MOOC is accessible to a broad audience and shares educational content with other higher education institutions, vocational training centers, and companies. The project also produced a survey on energy transition strategies in partner countries, a map of key sector actors, and a report on the implementation of training courses. These efforts provide a deep understanding of current and future skill needs.