Preparing the future workforce for advancing blade production technology

Workforce Foresighting is a strategic approach to anticipating future skills and capability needs associated with emerging technologies and government transformation targets. This initiative ensures that education and training systems are prepared to equip the workforce with the necessary skills to adopt new technologies and support future industrial growth.

Study Focus:

Advancing production technology for offshore wind turbine blades

This interim report presents findings from the latest workforce foresighting cycle focused on “Advancing Production of Blades for Offshore Wind Turbines.” Sponsored by RenewableUK and conducted by ORE Catapult in collaboration with the Workforce Foresighting Hub and the National Composite Centre, the study explores the organisational capabilities required for an alternative production methodology. This methodology involves augmenting or replacing the manual lay-up and preparation of wind turbine blades with robotics and automation.

Key findings

The workforce foresighting workshops and surveys identified 145 capabilities relevant to the topic.

These capabilities are categorised as follows:

• 64 capabilities were adopted from the Workforce Foresighting Data Cube
• 10 capabilities were adapted (modified) from the Workforce Foresighting Data Cube
• 71 capability statements were newly defined by the study and added to the Data Cube

These capabilities are grouped into fifteen future occupational profiles (FOPs) across various areas of practice:

• Direction and management of change
• Developing and designing blades suitable for automated/advanced production methods
• Implementation of equipment for automated production
• Operation of equipment and production of wind turbine blades
• Development of composite material systems suitable for automated production
• Supporting functions – ensuring the right resources are in the right place, at the correct quality

The FOPs serve as coherent groups of capabilities for skills analysis, job design, and education/training curricula. They are not job descriptions but can be used as a basis for understanding the skills needed for future roles.

Next steps

In the next phase of the foresighting cycle, ORE Catapult will collaborate with stakeholders to address potential future skills gaps identified through foresighting. This phase will include:

1. Issuing a preliminary survey for feedback on the ‘differentiating capabilities’ within each FOP [complete]
2. Incorporating feedback from industrial participants and other reviewers of the FOPs and capability sets
3. Developing forecasts to understand component volumes and expected role numbers.
4. Initiating a working group across UK-based blade manufacturers and their skills partners to focus on the future of advanced blade manufacturing, including:
• Working with further and higher education partners, as well as industry training organisations, to identify potential course module content – based on foresighting and forecasting, and relevant Knowledge, skills and behaviours.
• Encouraging a champion for development of skills in advanced wind turbine blade manufacture.
5. Evaluating opportunities for further foresighting studies in composites manufacture for offshore wind

The fourth Workforce Foresighting report by ORE Catapult marks a critical step in preparing the workforce for the future of offshore wind turbine blade production technology. By identifying and developing the necessary skills and capabilities, this initiative ensures that the UK remains at the forefront of renewable energy technology and industrial growth. The ongoing collaboration with stakeholders and educational institutions will be pivotal in closing future skills gaps and fostering innovation in the sector.