Workforce Pipeline and Pathways
NREL's workforce pipeline activities and pathways help attract and develop the clean energy workforce.
These activities develop scientific resources for educators, students, and other job seekers to engage and inform the next generation of clean energy workers. NREL also convenes and partners with industry, education and training programs, and job seekers to further strengthen pathways to clean energy careers.
Capabilities
Collegiate Competitions
NREL incentivizes innovation and helps develop the future clean energy workforce through collegiate competitions. NREL develops and administers these events to generate interest, expand knowledge, and connect the next generation with career opportunities for a range of clean energy technologies, including wind, solar, water power, and geothermal energy.
Career Maps
NREL supports U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) technology offices with the development of DOE career maps that inform job seekers of the skills and knowledge needed to support their entry into clean energy careers. In this work, NREL uses the latest data-mining approaches and applies its technology-specific knowledge and broad understanding of energy sector workforce needs to understand job types and requirements.
Accredited Training and Credentials
NREL administers programs that provide standardized resources to support quality work and develop a skilled, credentialed clean energy workforce. NREL develops curricula that define the necessary knowledge, skills, and training to prepare students and other job seekers for clean energy careers.
Educational Resources and Tools
NREL develops educational resources to help students, educators, energy executives, and the community understand and explore renewable energy technologies and careers. Educational resources, such as the DOE Spark Squad Comic Book series, and tools on specific energy technologies help students and educators engage with the latest knowledge and inspire the next generation of workers. NREL also provides technical expertise to support technology-specific curriculum development.
University and School Partnerships
NREL's University Partnerships Program connects academic institutions with NREL's high-caliber research capabilities, state-of-the art facilities, and a network of partners to create a clean energy future. NREL also offers internships, postdoctoral, and other workforce development opportunities to provide pathways for students, faculty, and others to work at NREL and further their knowledge of and careers in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Highlighted Projects
The DOE Office of Technology Transitions' American-Made EnergyTech University Prize aims to cultivate the next generation of energy innovators while accelerating the transfer of energy technologies to market. Students are challenged to successfully identify a promising energy technology, assess its market potential, and create a business plan for commercialization.
University faculty have the opportunity to create an implementation plan to integrate or expand energy technology commercialization or entrepreneurship activities at their home institution. Since its inception in 2022, more than 575 student teams have competed and more than 50 faculty entries were received.
NREL provides Guidelines for Home Energy Professionals universal resources to support quality work and a skilled, credentialed workforce for home energy professionals, focused on the Weatherization Assistance Program. NREL develops and maintains resources including Standard Work Specifications for the nationally accredited Guidelines for Home Energy Professionals credentials for energy auditors and quality control inspectors. NREL also developed the Retrofit Installer Technician Badges Toolkit to support clear and consistent skills development for weatherization installers and crew leaders.
NREL led the development of the Advanced Manufacturing Career Map for the former DOE Advanced Manufacturing Office, in partnership with Julius Education. NREL is also working with the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office and the Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office to adapt this map to reflect different energy-related aspects of the broader manufacturing industry.
NREL hosted a virtual career expo on Sept. 23, 2024, to connect career seekers to internship and apprenticeship programs across the wind industry. The multiday event highlighted wind career pathways and built connections across wind-related university, community college, union and nonunion affiliated registered apprenticeship programs, and high schools.
Contact
Interested in partnering with NREL on clean energy workforce initiatives? Contact us:
STEM Workforce Project Lead
Workforce Development Project Manager
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