Morson Projects’ Executive Director Chris Burke, and Associate Director, Andy Hassall were invited by NODE Magazine to further explore the technology trends that will shape the future of primary industries.

The expert panel explored key trends set to impact CIOs and industry leaders, including:

⚡ AI-powered energy forecasting for a more stable grid
🏗️ Automation and digitalisation in mining and energy
🔍 Data-first strategies to maximise new tech investments
🌱 Sustainable extraction and electrification to meet demand

Read the full insights here.
Or hear from Morson Projects’ Executive Director Chris Burke, and Associate Director, Andy Hassall below:

Digitalisation and automation are shaping the future of the energy industry to optimise assets, enabling more agile management and enhancing resilience.

The use of smart grids to control and manage electricity distribution more efficiently are improving reliability and flexibility, with sensors, meters, and other devices collecting data and adjusting electricity flow in real-time. Meanwhile, remote monitoring and control of energy generation assets is reducing the need for on-site personnel, improving overall safety and efficiency.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is also enhancing efficiency and optimising resources, with IoT devices increasingly being used to monitor equipment performance, manage energy usage, and optimise energy production. The sector is also benefitting from Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning too, with AI and machine learning algorithms being deployed to optimise operations, predict equipment failures, and improve overall efficiency. These technologies can analyse vast amounts of data to identify patterns and trends that can help operators make better decisions and the more we use them, the more adept they become in helping operators achieve optimisation goals.

Digitalisation and automation are also driving the development of energy storage solutions, enabling better integration of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind by storing excess power for later use when demand is high.

While the use of digital technologies and automation is unlocking huge potential for optimisation, sustainability and improved resilience, the skills gap in the renewables sector remains a significant challenge. As demand for renewables grows, there is a pressing need for skilled professionals to design, build, and maintain the infrastructure needed.

One of the main reasons we’re facing such skills shortage is the rapid pace of technological advancement. Many professionals with a background in traditional energy generation may not have the necessary skills or knowledge to work with renewables technologies. Add to this the lack of education and training programs specifically focusing on renewable energy, and its easy to see why we do not have a workforce with the necessary skills to meet the growing demand for renewable energy.

At Morson Group, our engineering businesses – Morson ProjectsWaldeck and Emantics – are putting a clear and urgent emphasis on developing skills for the energy generation sector, with a multi-faceted approach that includes a thriving early careers development programme (ECDP), along with cross-skilling and upskilling of experienced engineers.

Addressing the skills gaps requires a strategic focus to meeting the needs of the industry right now, and thinking about the longer term, too. That’s why we’re collaborating with educational institutions to promote careers in engineering and attract young talent to the field and help them really understand the breadth of opportunities in the energy sector. Our ECDP offers hands-on experience and mentorship to young engineers, enabling them to take an active role in projects while developing their competencies so that we’re leveraging and developing their potential at the same time from day one.

It’s also vital that we attract more diverse talent into the sector, so we’re partnering with industry organisations to support initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion in engineering, and we’ve also created the Morson STEM Foundation to support young people from all backgrounds to explore and pursue pathways into engineering.

It will take time for that future talent to come through. In the meantime, the sector needs to protect and develop the talent we already have. At Morson, we’re doing that by offering training and development opportunities for existing staff to upskill and stay competitive in the industry, as well as offering flexible work arrangements and career advancement opportunities to retain skilled employees.

We also need to tap into global talent to help bridge the UK skills gap in renewable energy. Countries around the world have been investing in renewable energy projects and initiatives, supported by skilled professionals to support these efforts. By recruiting talented individuals from different parts of the world, we can benefit from a diverse range of perspectives and renewables expertise and use knowledge sharing across borders to enhance the energy sector globally and maximise the potential of existing and emerging technologies.