The Energy and Utilities
Industries
Energy and Utilities Industries
Module 1
2013
Which industries?
• The energy and utilities sector
employs over 530,000 people
in more than 60,000
businesses in the UK.
• Career opportunities are
exciting and growing.
• Skilled engineers and
technicians, scientists,
operatives and customer care
staff are much in demand.
*As defined by www.euskills.co.uk
The Energy and Utilities*
Industries are:
• Power Industry
• Low Carbon Industry
• Gas Industry
• Waste Management Industry
• Water Industry
The Power Industry
This sector is fundamental
to the well-being of the UK
economy
• There are 2,000+ UK generating
stations, in gas, oil, coal-fired,
nuclear or hydro-electric power
stations and wind farms, plus
renewable energy sources.
• Jobs in the power industry are
highly skilled and there’s a huge
and sustained demand for
competent staff over the next
decade.
To address this problem, the National Skills Academy for Power
www.power.nsacademy.co.uk has been established.
Gas
142, 200 gas workers are either in the transportation
and distribution of gas supplies, or the gas
utilisation industry.
Gas is transported through the National Transmission
pipeline to local Gas Distribution Networks then to the
premises being supplied. Along with the storage and regasification of Liquefied Natural Gas and the
manufacture and distribution of Liquefied Petroleum
Gas (LPG).
Gas Utilisation includes the installation and
maintenance of gas-fired appliances in homes,
commercial and industrial premises.
New technology such as flue gas analysers ensure
appliances reach maximum performance and the drive
for fuel efficiency is increasing demand for combined
heat and power units, ground and air source heat pumps,
solar heating and hot water.
There are
opportunities in the
gas industry for those
who are ambitious,
enthusiastic and enjoy
hands-on work.
Waste Management
Core Activities
• Waste collection
and transport
• Household waste
& recycling centres
• Energy from waste
e.g. thermal
recovery processes
• Recycling,
processing &
specialist
operations
• Landfill
We look after the environment
and make it a better place, so
why not choose a career where
you can make our world a
cleaner and greener place?
The industry is evolving
quickly in response to the
green/ carbon agendas
which increase its reliance
on technology and
mechanisation.
Skilled operators and
technical experts are
badly needed as the sector
continues to expand.
Water
The UK has a world
class multi million
pound water industry.
There is an on-going
programme of
construction, operation
and maintenance of the
water infrastructure.
Maintaining a drinking
water quality of 99.5%
compliant with
regulatory standards
requires a very high
level of technical
knowledge and
expertise.
• Waste Water
Waste water leaves
homes and businesses
and is carried by pipes
to sewage treatment
works, where harmful
substances are
removed.
• Water Distribution
Purified water is
pumped from the
water treatment works,
through the water
mains to houses and
industries.
Low Carbon Industry
Scientists are currently working on a
way of capturing carbon dioxide and
injecting it underground, to prevent it
escaping into the atmosphere. The
sheer amount of human resource
required for a project like this is vast.
The low carbon industry sector needs
scientists, technicians, engineers and
maths professionals.
The great thing about a career in low
carbon is that this technology is being
developed and used across all sectors
thereby increasing job opportunities.
Low carbon technology benefits
the power, gas, water and waste
& recycling industries with the
simple aim of lowering the
carbon footprint through, for
example; wind farms
recycling, transport
infrastructure and marine (wave
and tidal) industry.