Tamworth Training Academy

As renewable energy reshapes Essential Energy’s network, the lack of skilled workers in regional and remote areas risks delaying critical infrastructure projects and undermining grid reliability. The Race for 2030 report underscores a looming shortfall of 10,000–19,000 skilled electricity workers annually through 2035, driven by renewable projects like the Central-West Orana and New England REZs. Complementing this, the NSW Electricity Supply and Reliability Check Up Report (2023) specifically recommends expanding Essential Energy’s apprenticeship program to address this gap, building a skilled workforce in regional NSW to support transition delivery and network reliability.

Essential Energy is in the early stages of developing a regionally-located training academy to provide technical training, safety education, and career pathways for electrical apprentices, trainees, and existing workers. Building on its proven ASP training model, the Academy will expand access to a broader suite of contestable training courses, targeting skills essential for renewable integration.

It will accomplish this through the establishment of training hubs in Parkes, Grafton, Orange, Wagga Wagga, Tamworth, and Goulburn— locations aligned with REZ developments—to upskill apprentices and workers for renewable projects and to meet the forecast needs for Essential Energy’s own workforce.

Set to launch fully in 2027 from a purpose-built facility in Tamworth, with interim courses starting in 2025, the Academy will assist to deliver the skilled workforce needed for the delivery of NSW’s 3GW REZ capacity, supporting the transition to a reliable, low-cost energy system.

Essential Energy must apply for a waiver to the current ring-fencing regulations through the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) in order to offer this training to the market. Interested stakeholders can provide a submission or input to the AER through their website here - Initiation | Australian Energy Regulator (AER)

Submissions should be sent electronically to AERringfencing@aer.gov.au and must be submitted by close of business, 5 September 2025.