Education and training implications of biomass energy system use

Direct observations of 189 biomass-related operations combined with existing reports, feasibility studies, and expert opinion serve as the basis for this assessment of the education and training implications of biomass energy system use. The number of permanent jobs in activities related to biomass energy production could easily reach the hundreds of thousands by the end of the century. However, national employment related to biomass energy will represent only a very small portion of the employment in any major occupational category. In addition, an analysis of occupational skill requirements suggests that the impacts on education and training institutions are likely to be minimal. Regional shortages could develop for foresters, forestry technicians, chemists, laboratory technicians, process operators, and certain engineers; but these are likely to be in response to economy-wide growth rather than biomass energy-related activity alone.