From Grid to Green Hydrogen: The 2026 Outlook for Energy & Infrastructure Talent

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global electricity consumption increased by 4.3% in 2024, marking the largest single-year rise outside post-recession rebound periods. This translated into roughly 1,080 TWh of additional demand, nearly double the average annual increase over the past decade.  

Demand growth is driven by electrification of transport and heating, higher industrial use, and expanding digital infrastructure such as data centers. Professionals with expertise in conventional power systems, electrification, and operational optimisation should highlight these skills and measurable project outcomes to stand out. 

Key skills 

• Power systems & grid engineering: Grid integration, capacity planning, load forecasting, system optimisation 
• Electrification & low-carbon technologies: EV infrastructure, heat pumps, decarbonization strategies, hydrogen 
• Digital, data & analytics: Energy-management software, IoT, cybersecurity, predictive maintenance, operational optimisation 
• Conventional grid & power systems: Transmission, distribution, substations, load balancing, demand response 
• Industrial & commercial energy management: Efficiency projects, high-voltage systems, large-scale energy users 
• Project & regulatory expertise: Engineering, project management, compliance, ESG strategy 

Roles in demand 

• Engineers and technical specialists 
• Project managers and project developers 
• Data and digital infrastructure professionals 
• Electrification and low-carbon technology experts 
• Sustainability and policy advisors 
• Electrical and power engineers (grid, transmission, distribution) 
• Operational optimisation analysts and energy systems analysts 

The share of renewable energy is forecast to rise from 32% in 2024 to 43% by 2030, according to the IEA. Global renewable capacity is expected to expand by 4,600 GW over the same period, with solar and wind contributing nearly 80% of that growth. 

Falling costs, supportive policy, and rising investment are accelerating deployment. Professionals experienced in renewable project development, grid integration, or low-carbon technologies should emphasise measurable achievements on their CVs. 

Key skills 

• Renewable project development: Resource assessment, site selection, feasibility studies 
• Grid connection and permitting: Interconnection studies, compliance, technical due diligence 
• Energy systems & renewables: Grid integration, solar and wind, energy storage, smart grids 
• Electrification & low-carbon technologies: EV infrastructure, heat pumps, decarbonisation strategies, hydrogen 
• Project & regulatory expertise: Engineering, project management, compliance, ESG strategy 
• Digital, data & analytics: Energy management software, IoT, cybersecurity, predictive maintenance, operational optimisation 

Roles in demand 

• Renewable engineers and technical specialists (solar, wind, storage integration) 
• Project managers for utility-scale and distributed renewable projects 
• Grid integration engineers and smart-grid specialists 
• Electrification and low-carbon technology experts 
• Sustainability and policy advisors 

As renewable energy penetration increases and electricity demand grows, flexibility, resilience, and stability are becoming core system requirements. Energy-storage solutions, adaptable grid design, and digital controls are essential to managing variability and maintaining reliability. 

Storage now plays a central role in frequency regulation, peak-load management, and renewable integration. Smart-grid technologies allow operators to respond dynamically to system conditions, increasing demand for network engineers, storage specialists, and operational-planning experts. 

Specialists with expertise in energy storage, smart grids, or operational planning should emphasise these skills on their CVs and professional profiles. 

Key skills 

• Energy systems & renewables: Energy storage integration, demand response, grid stabilisation 
• Grid & power systems: Transmission and distribution, substation management, load balancing 
• Project & regulatory expertise: Engineering, project management, compliance, ESG strategy 
• Digital, data & analytics: Grid monitoring, forecasting, operational optimisation 

Roles in demand 

• Energy-storage engineers 
• Smart-grid and grid-resilience engineers 
• Dispatch and operations engineers 
• Electrical and power engineers for grid stability projects 

Digital twins, automation, advanced analytics, and AI-enabled optimisation are improving efficiency, reliability, and asset utilisation across networks and industrial systems. Organisations are scaling digital transformation, increasing demand for data-literate engineers, automation specialists, and digital-infrastructure professionals. 

Highlighting AI, predictive maintenance, and digital-twin experience can help professionals stand out to employers.  

Key skills 

• Digital, data & analytics: Predictive maintenance, AI and machine learning for operations, digital-twin software 
• Energy systems & renewables: Integration with smart grids and energy storage systems 
• Project & regulatory expertise: Engineering, project delivery, compliance oversight 
• Grid & power systems: Automation and control systems 

Roles in demand 

• Smart-grid and control-system engineers 
• Digital-twin modelling and simulation specialists 
• Data analysis and energy-management-system engineers 
• Infrastructure-automation engineers 

Strong global investment in clean energy and infrastructure continues to drive demand for project-delivery talent, including energy, procurement and construction (EPC) specialists, project-finance professionals, regulatory experts, and cross-border coordinators capable of managing complex programmes. 

Professionals should look to showcase experience in large-scale or cross-border projects. 

Key skills 

• Project & regulatory expertise: Engineering, project management, compliance, ESG strategy 
• Energy systems & renewables: Integration across generation, storage, and grid projects 
• Digital, data & analytics: Project monitoring, operational optimisation, predictive planning 

Roles in demand 

• Project-finance specialists 
• EPC project engineers and managers 
• Cross-border project and supply-chain coordinators 
• Regulatory, compliance and risk-management experts

In July 2025, Ofgem approved a £24 billion investment programme for Britain’s gas and electricity networks over 2026–2031, including £8.9 billion for high-voltage transmission and over £15 billion for gas infrastructure upgrades. The wider plan could reach £80 billion, supporting 4,400 km of modernised overhead lines and 3,500 km of new circuits, essential for connecting 126 GW of renewable power by 2030. 

Professionals with experience in transmission upgrades, substation design, or renewable integration who can demonstrate measurable project impact will stand out to employers. 

Implications for professionals 

Demand is building for engineers and project specialists in transmission, substations, grid connections, and renewable integration. The scope of planned work points to multi-year hiring needs across utilities, EPCs, OEMs, and grid consultancies. 

• Employers will prioritise candidates who can move projects through planning barriers and who understand the regulatory timelines that shape grid delivery. 
• Data skills will matter more as utilities use digital tools to track asset performance and plan upgrades, so candidates who can work with system models or asset-management platforms gain an advantage. 
• Project controls, cost management, and risk roles will expand because the scale of investment leaves little room for overruns. 
• Substation and overhead line specialists will see steady demand as asset replacement accelerates, which creates career paths across design, construction, and commissioning. 
• Renewable-integration experience will carry weight as grid operators seek people who can bridge generation, storage, and transmission requirements. 

Taken together, these factors give experienced candidates a rare chance to shape their next step. The investment cycle is long, so people who position themselves now can secure roles that offer progression, stability, and influence over major infrastructure upgrades. 

Key roles and skills include: 

• Transmission-line and high-voltage engineers 
• Substation-design and commissioning engineers 
• Grid-connection engineers 
• Renewable-integration specialists (wind, solar) 
• Project managers for network-upgrade projects 

Explore current roles and opportunities in the UK  

The European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB) is planning a hydrogen network spanning approximately 39,700 km, connecting 21 European countries by 2040.  

Roughly two-thirds will repurpose existing gas pipelines, while the remainder will require new construction, creating demand for pipeline, hydrogen systems, and regulatory specialists. This expansion underpins Europe’s 2030 hydrogen targets and the broader low-carbon transition. 

Low-carbon infrastructure investment is rising across grid modernisation, storage, and renewable integration.  

Candidates with expertise in hydrogen networks, pipeline engineering, or low-carbon infrastructure should highlight successful project delivery and technical achievements. 

Implications for professionals 

• Engineers, project managers, and regulatory specialists with hydrogen or pipeline experience will be in strong demand. The scale and cross-border nature of the EHB leads to several hiring implications. 
• Repurposing legacy gas assets will require people who understand material integrity, pipeline conversion, compression needs, and hydrogen embrittlement. Candidates with applied experience will move ahead of peers. 
• New build sections of the network will create steady demand for route selection, permitting, environmental review, and construction skills. Engineers who can manage multi-country interfaces will stand out. 
• Regulatory complexity will grow as countries align standards for hydrogen purity, safety, and cross-border capacity allocation. Professionals who can interpret regulatory frameworks and support compliance will gain an advantage. 
• Digitalisation will expand as operators use modelling tools for system planning, leak detection, and safety case development. Data fluency will become an asset for engineers and project specialists. 
• Growth in hydrogen storage and conversion facilities will widen the opportunity set, creating roles across plant design, compression, metering, and integration with industrial users. 
• The broader low-carbon shift means candidates with experience across grids, storage, and renewable integration can move into hydrogen infrastructure roles, which increases mobility across the sector. 
• Contractors and EPCs will scale teams to meet long project timelines. This opens room for mid-level engineers to step into senior delivery roles and for senior specialists to shape project strategy across multiple countries. 

Together, the EHB and low-carbon buildout create a long runway for hiring. Professionals who show clear technical depth, cross-border coordination skills, and strong delivery records will be well-positioned through the next decade of projects. 

Key roles and skills include: 

• Hydrogen / Pipeline Engineers 
• Process Engineers for hydrogen network design 
• Regulatory and Compliance Specialists (hydrogen and energy standards) 
• Project Managers overseeing hydrogen or low-carbon infrastructure projects 

Register your CV to be considered for roles across Europe.

S&P Global Market Intelligence forecasts capital expenditure for US investor-owned utilities to reach US $227.8 billion in 2026, up from about US $173 billion in 2024.  

Investment covers generation, transmission, distribution, and digital-infrastructure upgrades, alongside growing deployment of storage and smart-grid systems. 

Engineers and project managers experienced in transmission, storage, controls, or renewable integration should showcase relevant projects and quantifiable results on their CVs. 

Implications for professionals 

• Utilities are actively recruiting specialists across transmission, storage, controls, and renewable integration as grid modernisation programmes scale. Several implications follow. 
• Transmission expansion will continue to drive hiring for engineers and project managers who can handle routing, permitting, interconnection studies, and construction delivery. Experience with multi-state coordination will become more valuable as regional planning improves. 
• Storage deployment, driven by policy incentives and rising renewable penetration, will expand roles in battery system design, integration, controls engineering, safety analysis, and project execution. Candidates who have worked on utility scale storage will be well placed. 
• Smart grid upgrades will increase demand for skills in automation, protection, communications, and distribution management systems. Utilities will look for people who can link operational needs with digital tools. 
• Controls and SCADA specialists will see steady demand as utilities replace legacy systems and improve response capability, asset visibility, and cybersecurity posture. Candidates who can work across operations and IT teams will stand out. 
• Growth in distributed energy resources will widen hiring for engineers who understand the technical and commercial impact of rooftop solar, community solar, storage, and EV charging on distribution networks. 
• Project controls, scheduling, and cost specialists will be important across utility capital programmes, given the scale of simultaneous projects and pressure to deliver on time. 
• Regulatory and compliance roles will expand as utilities work through rate cases, planning requirements, and performance targets. Professionals with experience preparing technical filings or supporting stakeholder processes will have an edge. 
• Contractors, EPCs, and equipment suppliers will grow their teams to support utility programmes, which creates mobility for candidates moving between utility and vendor roles. 

Overall, the scale of US utility investment signals a long horizon of hiring. Professionals who demonstrate clear technical depth, delivery capability, and familiarity with digital and grid integration tools will be competitive across the sector. 

Key roles and skills include: 

• Transmission and distribution engineers 
• Renewable-integration engineers (solar, wind, storage) 
• Energy-storage / battery specialists 
• Smart-grid / SCADA / controls engineers 
• Project managers for utility and storage projects 

Explore current job opportunities in the US 

Infrastructure Australia reports a A$242 billion “Major Public Infrastructure Pipeline,” the highest level on record. Energy transmission alone accounts for A$36 billion over five years. 

Additional growth is driven by social infrastructure, transport projects, and large-scale construction programmes, supporting over 114,000 projected roles. 

Professionals with high-voltage, large-scale infrastructure, or renewable project experience should emphasise project outcomes, technical skills, and successful delivery. 

Implications for professionals 

• Engineers, project managers, and construction specialists with high voltage or large-scale delivery experience are in strong demand. Several implications follow as programmes ramp up. 
• Transmission buildout will create steady hiring for people who can manage route selection, environmental assessments, stakeholder engagement, and complex construction phases. Candidates who show experience with remote or regional delivery conditions will gain traction. 
• Large programme environments require strong project controls, scheduling, and risk skills. People who have worked on multi-year capital programmes or alliance delivery models will stand out. 
• Grid connection pressures linked to renewable growth will increase demand for engineers with experience in system studies, protection, commissioning, and interconnection processes. 
• Construction talent shortages will widen opportunities for supervisors, site managers, and package managers who can manage contractor interfaces and keep delivery on track across dispersed sites. 
• Infrastructure expansion will increase mobility across sectors. Professionals with experience in energy, transport, or water can often transition into transmission or renewable projects if they demonstrate strong delivery capability. 
• Digital skills will rise in value as project teams adopt modelling tools, remote monitoring, and data-driven reporting. Candidates who can interpret technical data or support digital workflows will differentiate themselves. 
• Regulatory and planning expertise will matter more as projects move through state-based approvals. Professionals who can translate technical requirements into clear documentation can support faster approvals and reduce delays. 

Together, Australia’s infrastructure pipeline offers a long window of opportunity. Professionals who show strong delivery records, technical depth, and the ability to operate in complex programme environments will be well-positioned for roles across the next decade of projects. 

Key roles and skills include: 

• Transmission-line design and construction engineers 
• Civil/electrical engineers for HV infrastructure 
• Renewable-project engineers (solar, wind, storage integration) 
• Construction/project managers 

Browse current job opportunities in Australia

Wood Mackenzie projects that natural gas demand in Southeast Asia will continue to rise, representing up to 30% of the region's primary energy mix by 2050. Gas-fired power capacity is expected to roughly double over the coming decades to meet growing electricity demand. 

The IEA forecasts APAC will be the key driver of global natural gas demand in 2026, led by Southeast Asia, China, and India. Investment is being directed toward pipeline construction, gas-fired power plants, storage facilities, and cross-border infrastructure. 

Specialists with experience in gas-fired generation, transmission, or cross-border energy projects should demonstrate project impact, technical expertise, and international collaboration. 

Implications for professionals 

• Demand is strong for engineers and project managers across gas, power generation, pipelines, and cross-border energy infrastructure. Several implications follow. 
• Expansion of gas-fired generation will increase hiring for people who can manage plant design, combined cycle systems, commissioning, and operational performance. Candidates with experience improving efficiency or capacity factors will have an advantage. 
• Pipeline development across Southeast Asia will create steady demand for routing, environmental review, permitting, integrity assessments, and construction delivery. Experience in tropical or offshore environments will carry weight. 
• Cross-border projects will require engineers and managers comfortable working with multiple regulatory systems, utility partners, and government agencies. Professionals who can coordinate across jurisdictions or manage multinational teams will stand out. 
• Gas storage development, including underground facilities and LNG terminals, will add roles in geotechnical engineering, process design, safety, and project controls. 
• Digital tools used for system planning, forecasting, and operations will raise demand for candidates with data skills, modelling experience, or exposure to control room operations. 
• Supply chain pressures will increase opportunities in procurement, contracting, and logistics, especially for large power or pipeline programmes. 
• As gas integrates with renewables in APAC markets, utilities will look for people who understand grid stability, ramping, and hybrid system design. Experience bridging thermal and renewable assets will become more valuable. 
• Firms delivering large programmes will seek mid-level talent ready to move into senior roles because of workload growth. This creates room for faster career progression for candidates who show strong delivery capability. 

Overall, rising gas demand across APAC signals a long pipeline of projects. Professionals who bring technical depth, international coordination skills, and clear delivery records will be well-positioned for sustained hiring needs across the region. 

Key roles and skills include: 

• Pipeline engineers for gas/LNG infrastructure 
• Power-plant/generation engineers (gas-fired or hybrid) 
• Transmission/grid-integration engineers 
• Project managers for cross-border delivery 

Register your CV to be considered for roles in APAC.