Energy
Energy Consultant, Wind Power Specialist, Renewable Energy Engineer, Energy Efficiency Manager, Energy Conservation Officer, Emissions Monitoring Specialist, Air Dispersion Modeller, Environmental Planner
The Sector
The energy industry provides electricity, heat and fuel to meet society’s energy needs. The sector’s activities include extracting, refining and distributing fossil fuels, operating power stations and distribution networks, developing new sources of energy and finding new ways to reduce energy demands.
A reliable and cost-effective energy supply is vital for industry, transport and domestic usage. However, all forms of energy production have environmental impacts. One of the major challenges is to find sustainable and secure ways of meeting demand that do not produce unacceptable environmental consequences.
Sector Profile
The energy sector employs several hundred thousand people in the UK and forms a substantial proportion of the overall economy, e.g. the electricity supply industry alone contributes over 1% of the total UK GDP. Although energy demands continue to grow, the energy sector has made reductions in employment levels.
Issues and Trends
The major issue is the need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. This will require a shift from the dominant traditional fossil fuels to ‘low carbon’ energy sources, such as wind and solar power. Renewable energy is set to grow rapidly in the next few decades, although the expansion may not be uniform across emerging technologies.
As climate change research intensifies, there will be increasing demand for those who understand its implications. Companies also need individuals who understand how to respond effectively to EU directives and national legislation. All the larger energy companies employ environmental experts at a senior management level. An increasing trend is that many specialists working for energy companies are employed from external consultancies to tackle specific issues.
Greatly increased energy efficiency will be an important element of any sustainable energy future so it will require contributions from disciplines such as product designers, vehicle designers, architects, planners and engineers.
Whatever the future, fossil fuels will be required through this century. As the more inaccessible and environmentally sensitive sources are extracted, there will be an increasing need for novel solutions to minimise the potentially environmental effects and provide a secure energy supply.
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