Five major energy projects could create thousands of jobs on Lolland. But even if the plans come to fruition, it is far from certain that there will be enough people to build and operate them. This is shown by an analysis from Rambøll.
It is the energy company European Energy that is planning three solar power plants, a wind turbine project, and a Power-to-X plant in Lolland Municipality. The projects - Solarpark Rødby Fjord, Solarpark Lidsø, Solarpark Arninge, Windpark Rødby, and a PtX plant at Rødby - are included in Rambøll's analysis as a single scenario.
Together, the projects are estimated to create 3,810 man-years - the majority in the construction phase, but also a smaller group of permanent positions in operation. But the big question is whether there is sufficient workforce with the right qualifications - whether they live in the area today or not.
Bottlenecks hinder progress
According to Rambøll, there is already high unsuccessful recruitment in sectors such as construction, engineering, electricity, plumbing, and industry. This applies both locally and in the rest of Region Zealand. Therefore, bottlenecks can quickly arise - and the risk that the projects become more expensive, delayed, or dependent on foreign work teams.
Five energy projects on Lolland
Who is behind it?
The energy company European Energy.
What is planned? Three large solar parks: Solarpark Rødby Fjord, Solarpark Lidsø, Solarpark Arninge. One onshore wind project: Windpark Rødby. One Power-to-X facility near Rødby
Total employment effect: 3,810 man-years in total - 3,630 in the construction phase - 180 in operation
Labour requirements: Both skilled and unskilled. Technicians, installers, electricians, plumbers, etc.
- Also a need for highly educated personnel in operation and administration
Challenge according to Rambøll:
- Large shortage of qualified labour
- High unsuccessful recruitment in Region Zealand
- Risk of bottlenecks and reliance on international labour
The construction phase accounts for 3,630 of the total man-years. Rambøll estimates that about 10 percent of the necessary workforce can be mobilised locally, based on experiences from similar projects. The rest must be sourced elsewhere - and this requires active effort and planning.
In the operational phase, two scenarios are outlined. In one, 75 percent of the 155 full-time equivalents are covered by local labour. In the other, it reaches 90 percent. But in both cases, it depends on the availability of skills - and whether people are willing to move to or commute to the area.
Supply creates demand
At European Energy, they are aware of the challenge.
- With the great ambitions in infrastructure, green transition, and tourism, there will be a high demand for labour in Lolland, says Thomas Beck Sørensen, Communications Director at European Energy.
He points out that both skilled and unskilled workers - and both highly and less educated - will be necessary to realise the plans.
- Instead of continuing to discuss whether it was the chicken or the egg that came first, we are happy to contribute to stimulating a labour supply in Lolland. We believe that a supply will also help create a demand, he says.
At the same time, the company expresses that it is open to cooperation.
- Furthermore, we are naturally happy to engage in cooperation with Business Lolland-Falster and Lolland Municipality on initiatives that can attract more labour, says Thomas Beck Sørensen.
BLF: We must succeed
At Business Lolland-Falster, the message is also that it can be done - if we work together.
- The Rambøll report shows that many jobs will be created both in the construction and operational phases, and we are convinced that in close cooperation with the municipalities and European Energy, we can succeed in finding the workforce, says director Mikkel Wesselhoff.
He points, among other things, to experiences with international recruitment and attraction from other regions. At the same time, he mentions that 5,000 citizens commute out of the region every day - a potential resource.
- We have attracted several thousand employees to the Femern project and other industrial companies on Lolland-Falster. Local companies are well geared for large projects, and we expect that they will play a significant role in the construction phase, he says.
Business Lolland-Falster supports Rambøll's recommendation for close cooperation - and emphasises that it is already underway.
None of the projects have yet been approved. Rambøll assesses them as technically and economically feasible to implement within a few years - but also makes it clear that access to qualified labour could become the biggest challenge.
