Moving to a sustainable economy is a momentous task which will require a highly skilled, specialist and experienced green workforce. There is a huge volume of work to be done to deploy, deliver and operate the projects our society will need as we progress along the decarbonisation journey.
Renewable energy projects at home and abroad will create highly attractive sustainable employment opportunities including for those in the existing traditional energy workforce, who have a wealth of knowledge and experience that are transferable to offshore wind.
Employers looking to transition into Scotland’s offshore wind industry can explore opportunities across several key sectors. Each sector plays a crucial role in the development, construction, operation, and maintenance of offshore wind farms. Below is an overview of the key sectors with examples of how businesses from other industries such as oil & gas, engineering, manufacturing, and marine services can transition into offshore wind.
Engineering & Manufacturing
🔹 Opportunities:
- Fabrication of turbine components, foundations (fixed-bottom & floating), and substations.
- Advanced materials (composites, coatings) for turbine blades.
- Electrical systems and transformers for offshore power transmission.
🔹 Industries That Can Transition:
- Oil & gas fabrication yards.
- Aerospace & automotive manufacturers.
- Precision engineering & heavy industry.
Offshore Installation & Construction
🔹 Opportunities:
- Foundation and turbine installation using specialist vessels.
- Subsea cable laying and grid connection.
- Floating wind anchoring and mooring systems.
🔹 Industries That Can Transition:
- Oil & gas subsea engineering & construction.
- Civil engineering & marine construction.
- Heavy lift & crane operations.
Marine & Vessel Operations
🔹 Opportunities:
- Crew transfer vessel (CTV) and service operation vessel (SOV) services.
- Offshore logistics and marine coordination.
- Dynamic positioning (DP) and remote vessel operations.
🔹 Industries That Can Transition:
- Marine transport & shipping.
- Offshore oil & gas support vessels.
- Defence & naval operations.
Subsea & Cables
🔹 Opportunities:
- High-voltage (HV) subsea cable installation, maintenance, and repair.
- Subsea surveys and inspections using ROVs and AUVs.
- Offshore grid connection and interconnectors.
🔹 Industries That Can Transition:
- Oil & gas subsea infrastructure & cable laying.
- Telecommunications & power transmission.
- Robotics & remote inspection.
Operations & Maintenance (O&M)
🔹 Opportunities:
- Routine and predictive maintenance of wind turbines.
- Blade inspection & repairs using drones and rope access.
- Digital monitoring & SCADA systems for wind farm performance.
🔹 Industries That Can Transition:
- Oil & gas asset integrity & maintenance.
- Aviation & aerospace drone inspections.
- Electrical & mechanical engineering.
Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) Services
🔹 Opportunities:
- GWO-certified safety training for offshore wind technicians.
- Environmental impact assessments and marine ecology studies.
- Offshore emergency response & risk management.
🔹 Industries That Can Transition:
- Oil & gas HSE services & safety training.
- Environmental consultancy & marine biology.
- Emergency response & offshore medical services.
Digital & Data Analytics
🔹 Opportunities:
- AI-driven predictive maintenance & digital twins.
- GIS mapping & remote sensing for offshore site selection.
- Cybersecurity for offshore wind infrastructure.
🔹 Industries That Can Transition:
- Oil & gas data analytics & predictive maintenance.
- IT & cybersecurity.
- Satellite imaging & remote sensing.