The global energy transition is moving at pace, and the sheer speed of technological change and project expansion has left the workforce playing catch-up. As countries work to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, the energy industry is expected to create 30 million jobs that need to be filled by 2030. That’s easier said than done, and many companies are struggling to recruit and train the multitudes of wind turbine technicians, solar engineers, and digital specialists needed to support the rapid transition.
GE Vernova is working to close the global skills gap. In Vietnam, the GE Vernova Foundation has just launched the RENEW Skills Development Program, a three-year initiative to strengthen the country’s energy workforce. In collaboration with international nonprofit organization ASSIST, the RENEW Skills program is equipping more than 4,000 students and technicians with the practical skills needed to advance Vietnam toward its 2050 net-zero commitment. In the coming years, Vietnam’s workforce will need to be better prepared to support one of the fastest renewable energy transformations in the region.
The GE Vernova Foundation recently invested $750,000 to launch RENEW Skills. The grant will help establish five learning labs across Vietnam, including two centers of excellence. The state-of-the-art facilities, boasting modern renewables training equipment, will deliver hands-on, targeted training in wind energy project design, operations, and maintenance, grid integration and transmission, and occupational health and safety.
The initiative puts thousands of students on a pathway to well-paid jobs in the renewable energy sector, as well as empowering local communities and bolstering Vietnam’s economy. RENEW Skills advances the GE Vernova Foundation’s broader goal of training 30,000 students and learners globally by 2030.
Global renewable power capacity is set to increase by 4,600 GW by 2030, with emerging economies in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa spurring this growth. Investments in workforce development programs like RENEW Skills, which forges strong links with local universities and technical institutions, could be a template for other developing regions leaning into the energy transition.
Truong Minh Man, a first-year student from the Electrical and Electronic Engineering department, says, “At Cao Thang Technical College, what excites us most is that the job market is calling out for wind energy specialists. Through this program, we’re eager to dive into wind energy training and hands-on practice with the equipment.”
Find out more about how the GE Vernova Foundation is playing a key role in upskilling the Vietnamese workforce here and here.