Hydropower Workforce Transition Toolkit: NREL’s Guide to Knowledge Sharing & Succession Planning

The reliability of hydropower ensures its continued significance in the electrical grid, complementing variable renewable sources like solar and wind.

As the transition to 100% clean energy in the electricity sector progresses, both existing and new hydropower projects are poised to play a vital role. This anticipated growth could translate into a significant expansion of the hydropower workforce.

However, the hydropower industry is facing significant workforce transitions due to an increasing number of retirements.

The challenge lies not only in recruiting enough workers to fill essential roles but also in mitigating the loss of organizational knowledge that accompanies employee departures. This knowledge loss can lead to decreased productivity, increased pressure on existing staff, and potential further turnover.

To address these challenges, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office, has developed a valuable resource.

The Knowledge Sharing and Succession Planning Toolkit outlines a five-step process applicable to any hydropower organization, regardless of their stage in the workforce transition, to establish a culture of knowledge sharing.

Adam Kanter, the lead author of the toolkit and a workforce development researcher at NREL, emphasized the scarcity of hydropower-specific resources on succession planning and knowledge sharing. However, he stressed that hydropower is one of the industries most in need of such support.

Kanter spent months compiling expertise from various workforce development sources and sought feedback from hydropower associations and organizations. Input from both technical hydropower professionals and human resources personnel with experience in knowledge sharing and succession planning strengthened the toolkit’s content.

The toolkit focuses on two key concepts for successful workforce transitions: knowledge sharing (capturing and disseminating skills and information) and succession planning (identifying critical positions and preparing employees to fill them).

The toolkit’s step-by-step approach guides organizations through assessing, documenting, capturing, and sharing existing knowledge. It then assists in implementing necessary changes and developing a plan for regular review of each topic.

Each step includes downloadable tools, templates, and checklists to simplify the evaluation of organizational knowledge sharing practices.

Examples of completed worksheets offer guidance on the types of information to gather. The toolkit’s flexibility allows users to progress chronologically or jump to specific sections as needed.

Since its public release in April 2024, the toolkit has been shared with numerous hydropower industry partners, from whom Kanter continues to seek feedback.

The online format enables ongoing updates to address gaps and incorporate industry input. Hydropower industry partners can also schedule one-on-one sessions with Kanter for assistance, questions, or feedback.

The toolkit arrives at a crucial time for hydropower organizations, helping them ensure a skilled and knowledgeable workforce ready to contribute to the clean energy transition.

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