The renewable energy sector is growing - fast. From solar and wind to hydrogen and battery storage, new projects are launching all the time. It’s exciting but it also comes with pressure: pressure to scale up, deliver on time, and build something that lasts.

And while the technologies may be new, the challenges aren’t.

That’s why more and more renewable energy projects are turning to an unexpected place for help: the oil and gas industry.

Decades of experience in engineering, procurement, and project management mean oil and gas professionals know how to get big, complex things done - and that’s exactly what the renewables sector needs right now.

Let’s take a closer look at why.

Engineers Who Thrive on Complexity

Working on renewable energy projects isn’t always as simple as putting up a few solar panels. These are major, often multinational builds - offshore wind farms, hydrogen facilities, grid-scale batteries. They demand smart, practical engineering that can adapt to tough conditions.

And who’s been doing that for decades? Oil and gas engineers.

From deep-sea drilling platforms to remote pipeline installations, they’ve seen it all. That ability to think on their feet, design under pressure, and solve problems in real-time is priceless in the fast-moving world of renewables.

Project Managers Who Keep It All Moving

Deadlines. Budgets. Logistics. Team dynamics. Every big project needs someone (or often several someones) keeping all the plates spinning.

The oil and gas industry has developed some of the best project managers in the business - people who’ve delivered massive, multi-year projects with huge budgets and high stakes.

Now, as renewable energy projects scale up, those same skills are proving essential. These are people who understand risk, who know how to manage cross-border teams, and who can lead complex operations from start to finish.

Procurement & Supply Chain Experts That Deliver

You can’t build wind turbines or solar farms without the parts - and getting them to the right place, at the right time, isn’t always straightforward.

Oil and gas professionals have spent their careers navigating complicated global supply chains. They’ve got the contacts, the process knowledge, and the experience to make procurement run smoothly - even when things don’t go to plan.

That kind of know-how is crucial for renewables, especially as projects ramp up and timelines get tighter.

Safety and Compliance? They’ve Got That Covered

Safety is a non-negotiable in energy - and oil and gas has one of the strongest safety cultures around. From HSE protocols to environmental regulations, professionals from the sector are used to working with high standards, and making sure those standards are met on every job.

As renewables grow - especially in offshore environments - this focus on safety is just as important. It’s one of the key reasons oil and gas talent is proving so valuable in the clean energy space.

A Skilled Workforce That’s Already Making the Shift

Perhaps the biggest asset oil and gas brings to renewables is its people.

Engineers, project managers, procurement specialists - people with deep technical knowledge and real-world experience are already moving into the renewable sector, and thriving in it.

Many of the challenges renewables face - remote builds, logistics, infrastructure, stakeholder management - are second nature to oil and gas professionals. They’re not just a good fit. In many cases, they’re the missing piece.

Looking for Your Next Role - or the Right People for Your Project?

At People with Energy, we’ve been helping professionals from oil and gas transition into renewables for years. We work with some of the UK’s most exciting clean energy companies, and we understand exactly what makes a great match.

Whether you’re looking to move your career into renewables or build a team that can take on your next project - we’re here to help.