Smart Grid Job and Training Needs
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The technologies and systems introduced through smart grid initiatives will require a new highly-trained and flexible workforce to fully realize the smart grid promise. The future workforce will be vital to deploying and maintaining this national clean-energy smart grid infrastructure. Growing and training this smart grid workforce will only be possible if the industry commits to intensive, sophisticated, and integrated workforce-development initiatives.
Illinois Institute of Technology, in collaboration with West Monroe Partners, has commissioned a report to an initial step toward addressing the national workforce challenge. Research performed was able to:
- Identify the jobs impacted by the smart grid
- Capture the level of smart grid impact on these jobs
- Define critical smart grid skills requirements
- Evaluate current training opportunities available to address smart grid workforce
skill requirements
Our research revealed 98 specific skills related to smart grid technologies and processes, grouped under 12 major categories.
This skill category includes the skills and knowledge necessary to design, build, operate, and maintain components, controls, and key elements of the electrical system.
Skill deficiencies in this quadrant are grouped under the following three areas:
Skills associated with installing, operating, and maintaining smart grid devices are included in this area. Typically, device vendors provide training, but when selecting and specifying devices there should be a basic understanding of when and where to utilize such devices on the network. Additionally, users should understand economic considerations, including costs and benefits derived from installation of such devices.
Control methods associated with smart grid operations include both advances of current technologies and development of new applications as the smart grid grows more intelligent. These systems and technologies allow for remote feedback and control of devices and deliver decision support information for operator action.
Smart grid intelligent devices provide status information to decision makers and include equipment sensors and monitoring systems. This area also includes applications that notify operators and allow them to assess events properly. An outage management system (OMS) would fall into this category.
This skills category includes the skills and knowledge necessary to design, integrate, and operate the information systems and telecommunications systems necessary for safe, reliable, and continuous grid functionality. This quadrant embraces a wide range of current and emerging telecommunications platforms and technologies, software and information systems, and the critical standards necessary to protect and integrate new smart grid developments. Information regarding smart grid system integration, communication, and architecture was derived from a number of standard development, software design, and infrastructure pilot programs and initiatives
Skills deficiencies in this quadrant are grouped under the following areas:
The smart grid requires more extensive data flow and data manipulation than legacy systems. Integrating the data flow from discrete interfaces requires broader and more flexible approaches. For example, utilities are installing enterprise service buses rather than creating point-to-point interfaces between applications. The output from these new systems and networks will increase database management issues and create new jobs that require new skills.
Smart Grid components and systems will use a wide array of existing and new telecommunications approaches. People working in this sector of the smart grid economy will need to master both the technologies and the standards that allow for interoperability among the various devices on the smart grid system. This relates to standards associated both on the utility side and the customer side.
A critical aspect of the smart grid is protecting the information that passes through various and sundry communication systems. Additionally, with the implementation of new applications, moving data effectively between these applications provides significant value to utilities.
This skills category includes the skills and knowledge required to address business and organizational opportunities and risks that develop from smart grid initiatives. The skills required to transform utility industry companies, organizations, and suppliers are critical to successful smart grid implementation and integration. Information regarding organizational management in this new environment was derived from numerous academic, industry, and subject matter expert sources.
Skills deficiencies in this quadrant are grouped under the following three areas:
Implementation of smart grid technology within a utility will impact many areas of the organizational structure. Organizational change management techniques and business transformation strategies will need to be developed to manage these cultural and structural challenges.
Utilities and their regulators face many new challenges as smart grid investments are large and systems are complex. New and alternative rate structures require design regulatory approvals. In addition, as new smart grid devices and systems are marketed, there will be patent, manufacturing, and reliability issues that develop. New devices also bring with them also bring with them safety and health concerns. Additionally, data privacy issues continue to surface.
Smart grid information passes between and through various devices and systems. This information is used to control the network and individual devices. The information is also used for maintenance planning, workforce management, outage restoration, and planning future smart grid expansion or upgrades.
This skills category includes the skills and knowledge applicable to a wide range of stakeholder management, customer technologies, and alternative generation resources that occur when the smart grid is fully deployed and operating. These issues are occurring today in many areas across the country and the world as utilities plan for new customer relationships, new customer choices, and new customer control over their energy consumption in the smart grid economy. The skills include application of existing outreach and communications techniques, as well as the management and integration of new technologies beyond the meter and beyond the localized grid.
Skill deficiencies in this quadrant are grouped under the following three areas:
The smart grid will create more customer information and choices, requiring additional systems and skills to facilitate and manage new relationships. Utilities will need to develop strategies and channels to communicate essential information effectively to customers regarding program offerings, event occurrences, and other energy conservation initiatives. In addition, utilities will need more skilled customer marketing resources to maximize the value of new smart grid.
The smart grid standardizes and enables the integration of alternative and renewable energy resources added beyond the grid by customers. The planning, integration, dispatch, safety, and billing for these resources will require new systems and skills. In fact, there are entire new industries that have developed around these "green energy" opportunities. This research did not try to capture nor distill the dynamic growth in this market sector. Rather, these elements are included to provide a platform for skills development in managing their integration to the smart grid.
Beyond the utility meter, customers also seek control of their energy costs. This includes the ability to install and control renewable energy effectively on the grid as well as to control their energy consumption, timing of use, and choices of services. This area has attracted numerous entrants, including utilities that desire to offer competitive services beyond the meter in regulated and deregulated service territories.
For more information about findings (including Smart Grid job impacts, skill competencies, and training market opportunities)- view full PDF of "The Smart Grid Workforce of the Future," white paper produced by IIT and West Monroe Partners.
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