Enabling a fair energy transition for workers and communities.

This area aims to understand the workforce needs for the energy transition, to enable sufficient training and skills programmes. This is needed so benefits can be shared with local and regional communities.

Our work here responds to questions such as: 

  • How many jobs are created by renewable energy and energy efficiency?
  • What are the employment implications of the energy transition?
  • How can a ‘just transition’ of jobs from fossil fuels to renewables be organised?
  • What skills are required for employment in the renewable energy sector
  • How can we energy policy maximise employment for local communities, and especially for First Nations and other under-represented groups within the energy sector? 

Hot water pathways for social housing

Housing providers need clearer guidance to make hot water systems more efficient and flexible.

The Australian Electricity Workforce for the 2024 Integrated System Plan Projections to 2050

With Australia's energy transition gaining pace, it's crucial that we have in place a sufficiently large and skilled workforce.

Glebe Energy Transitions: a place-based upgrade model for social housing

National and state governments have adopted a target of achieving net zero emissions by 2050, with NSW committed to an interim goal of 50% emissions reduction...

Powering First Nations jobs in clean energy

Increasing access to training, creating employment, and building career paths in clean energy is one of the key factors that will determine if the energy...

Energy efficiency definitions for the Australian Energy Employment Report

Energy efficiency and retrofit programmes will need to expand substantially if Australia is to achieve its climate targets. This makes energy efficiency,...

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How can coal workers benefit from a renewables jobs boom?

IMPACT STORY

An ISF study shows that while renewable energy can be a major source of jobs in the next 15 years, the outcomes for coal workers will depend on a clear transition strategy.

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Employment, Skills and Supply Chains: Renewable Energy in NSW

PROJECT | 2021 - 2022

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Developing the future energy workforce

PROJECT | 2021

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Climate change and the just transition: A guide for financial institutions

NEWS | DEC 2020

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Renewable Energy Employment in Australia

PROJECT | 2019-2020

Australia's rapidly growing renewable energy industry will create thousands of jobs over the next decade. To understand the scale and types of employment, the Clean Energy Council commissioned ISF to undertake the first large-scale survey of the Australian renewable energy industry..

In 2019, ISF conducted an industry-wide survey, taking in the Australian manufacture, installation, operation and supply chains for wind and solar farms, hydro and pumped hydro power, rooftop solar and batteries.

The results were then applied to the scenarios used by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) in its draft Integrated Systems Plan (ISP) to estimate the job creation. Job creation in renewable energy was compared to the coal sector to examine the scope for renewable energy to provide alternative employment.

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Location: Australia

Client: Clean Energy Council (CEC)

Researchers: Chris Briggs,  Jay Rutovitz,  Elsa Dominish,  Kriti Nagrath

Mapping Energy Efficiency Product Supply-Chains

PROJECT | 2019

ISF mapped the supply chain for four types of energy efficiency products:

- Residential Heating and Cooling

- Commercial Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC)

- Smart glazing

- Commercial and Industrial Water Heaters and Boilers

For each of the supply chains, the links, actors and influence was mapped for each of these products. The implications for the Victorian Energy Upgrade program was analysed with recommendations on how to interact with supply chains to increase the uptake of energy efficient products.

Client: Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP)

Researchers: Chris Briggs,  Scott Dwyer,  Alan Pears (RMIT),  Dani Alexander,  Fiona Berry

Beyond Coal: alternatives to extending the life of Liddell power station

PROJECT | 2017

ISF presented three possible scenarios for the future of a coal station, guiding the way for future energy transition.

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