Mel Noble, Senior Recruitment Partner for Astute’s Renewables desk, recently had an engaging conversation with Ian Curry, Technical Director at Wind2 & Solar2.
They explored the evolving landscape of renewable energy, its challenges, and the opportunities ahead. Below is their conversation, where Ian shares his expertise and insights into the sector.
How do you see the renewable energy market evolving in the next 5 to 10 years?
If we look at the UK market, there are two opposing forces at play.
On one hand, the opening up of England and Wales with the new government policies is a positive step, particularly for onshore wind.
We are actively working to grow this market by securing viable sites to develop our renewable energy projects further. On the other hand, there are massive grid reforms taking place.
NESO’s approach to reducing the grid queue is creating significant challenges, not just in terms of legal requirements but also the associated costs.
These grid issues aren’t being matched by necessary changes in planning legislation, creating a complex landscape.
Despite these challenges, the UK’s ambition for clean power by 2030 is driving the market forward. While there’s a lot of uncertainty, I believe the wind energy market will continue to grow, especially given the UK’s excellent wind resources.
What does the industry need to overcome to meet the 2030 net-zero goals?
To me the answer is quite simple: grid infrastructure.
We need a lot more of it.
Building the necessary grid infrastructure in just five years seems unlikely, especially with current planning constraints.
The public wants clean energy, but nobody wants power lines, wind turbines, solar farms or energy parks near them.
Overcoming this “not-in-my-backyard” mentality and addressing planning issues is crucial.
With advancements in turbine technology, how does this impact your development strategy?
It’s been fortuitous that turbine manufacturers are enhancing technology to suit lower wind speed areas, which aligns perfectly with our focus on England’s market.
It takes a lot of work, and it takes a lot of time going through all the certification processes that are required. But they’ve been sensible, recognising that in the markets where they are mainly active, the high wind resource areas are already populated with turbines.
High wind resource areas like Scotland are largely developed, so adapting turbines for lower wind speeds is a smart move.
This shift fits well with our strategy and reflects how manufacturers are responding to market forces.
AI is a hot topic these days. How do you see it shaping the future of renewable energy? Is it something Wind2 & Solar2 is adopting?
At Wind2 & Solar2, we’re leveraging modern technologies, not strictly AI, to streamline and optimise workflows.
It takes a lot of work and a significant amount of time to go through the certification processes required for these technologies, but the results are worth it.
Machine learning and advanced software allow us to process opportunities and assess potential projects faster and in greater detail.
While AI has a role, the broader advancements in technology are a significant change for us, enabling us to better adapt to the challenges of the renewable energy market.
What are the biggest recruitment challenges you face at Wind2 & Solar2?
The key challenge is finding candidates who are the right cultural fit.
For once, I can say I’m in a sector that’s quite trendy at the moment, which is great, but it doesn’t mean finding the right people is easy.
In the UK, the employment market is very much employee-driven, and that was a valuable lesson for me.
Coming from a country where employers typically have the upper hand, I had to adapt quickly.
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is how crucial it is to partner with a recruitment company that truly understands your organisation. Astute taught me this lesson.
It’s not about throwing every CV with “renewable energy” on it at us.
It’s about filtering for candidates who are likely to have a good fit with our culture. This approach has been invaluable for us at Wind2 & Solar2.
What advice would you give to candidates looking to enter the renewable energy sector?
The renewable energy industry is incredibly diverse.
There’s room for everyone, whether you’re a graphic designer or an aerodynamicist.
What I’ve learned is that to stand out, you have to be courageous and genuine. Stick your head up, and don’t be afraid of being noticed. It’s so important to get close to knowledgeable people in the industry and to learn from them.
What you learn at university is great, but everyone has that. Sincerity and self-awareness are far more impactful. Be honest about who you are, and don’t try to be more than what you really are.
What excites you most about the future of renewable energy?
There’s a real stampede in development right now, but what excites me most is optimising operational assets.
As the demand for energy continues to grow, it’s crucial to ensure these assets perform sustainably and efficiently, both from a financial and environmental perspective.
A key area that is often overlooked is the end-of-life schemes for turbines.
What do we do with old turbines?
It’s a significant challenge, but it also presents untapped opportunities for innovation. For example, Vestas has started experimenting by repurposing turbine components into housing materials, but there’s so much more potential to explore.
The exciting advancements in electricity management and storage, however, are what I believe hold the key to the future.
Just as we’ve seen rapid innovation in information technology, I think we’re on the brink of similar leaps in how we manage electricity networks.
It’s about rethinking the way we generate, store, and consume electricity, moving beyond the traditional monopolistic structures that have dominated since privatisation in the 1990s.
Breaking these barriers and embracing new approaches could revolutionise the industry. It’s an incredibly exciting time to be involved in wind energy.
What advice would you give to companies looking to expand into the renewable energy sector?
The UK, skills shortages and supply chain challenges present significant opportunities for innovative companies.
I would love to see more companies coming into the UK market who are prepared to do things differently and take the market on head-on.
But my advice is this: don’t try to do it alone. Partner with like-minded local firms who understand the nuances of the UK market.
There’s a clear need for change in the way things are done here. Many practices are quite old-fashioned and should be improved for the benefit of the country and what we’re trying to achieve in renewable energy.
If we can shake up the planning system, which remains a significant hurdle, it could drive down energy costs faster and make a real impact.
