Oct 19, 2026
Planned energy infrastructure projects in Klaipėda will create highly skilled jobs, but some of the competencies required for these technologies are still emerging in the labour market. The development of wind energy, CO₂ infrastructure and other new technologies in the region is prompting higher education institutions to reconsider how traditional engineering programmes can be adapted to changing skills requirements.
One such initiative is CCS Baltic Consortium, a project coordinated by KN Energies, with the planned CO₂ transshipment terminal in Klaipėda as its key component. The terminal is expected to become an important link in the Baltic region’s CO₂ capture and transport chain. CO₂ captured from industrial facilities in Lithuania and Latvia would be transported via Klaipėda by specialised vessels for permanent geological storage beneath the North Sea seabed.
Such infrastructure is particularly relevant to heavy industry, where certain emissions are difficult to eliminate through other means. The ability to capture and transport CO₂ is therefore also important for maintaining industrial competitiveness. The development and subsequent operation of the terminal will require highly qualified specialists from a range of disciplines. Rūta Tumėnienė, Head of New Energy at KN Energies, says that the range of skills required will evolve throughout the different stages of the project.
“During the development phase, expertise in project management, process engineering, energy, environmental protection, spatial planning, permitting and international regulation is particularly important. Once the terminal becomes operational, demand will increase for process engineers, automation and control systems specialists, maritime logistics experts, terminal operators, maintenance and safety specialists, as well as data analysts,” says Tumėnienė.
Education and training are still catching up with technology
Audrius Senulis, Associate Professor and Vice-Dean for Studies at the Faculty of Marine Technology and Natural Sciences at Klaipėda University (KU), acknowledges that some of the knowledge required for new energy projects has not previously been necessary in specialist training.
“There was little demand for such competencies in the past. However, we could adapt to training new specialists relatively smoothly, as universities already teach subjects covering the operation of pressure equipment, pipelines, terminal management and industrial process control,” says Dr Senulis.
According to him, as new infrastructure emerges, this existing foundation can be supplemented with new elective courses. Developing separate study programmes for every new technology is not necessarily practical. In many cases, the specialists needed will be mechanical, electrical, energy and control engineers, as well as IT professionals who are already being trained today, but who will need a broader range of competencies.
Gintvilė Šimkonienė, Vice-Dean for Research and International Relations at the Faculty of Marine Technology and Natural Sciences at Klaipėda University, also believes that the most significant changes are likely to occur in the skills and knowledge required within existing professions.
“Today, in addition to a solid foundation in their own field, engineers need to be able to analyse data, apply digital technologies, assess environmental impacts and manage projects. Specialists increasingly work in multidisciplinary teams, making it essential to understand how technical solutions affect energy, industry, logistics, the environment and the economy,” says Dr Šimkonienė.
Specialists will need to understand the entire value chain, not just individual technologies
According to Tumėnienė, demand for specialists is expected to grow most significantly in engineering, particularly in process, mechanical, electrical and automation engineering, as well as maritime infrastructure. At the same time, environmental and digital competencies will become increasingly important.
She explains that CO₂ infrastructure projects are closely linked to emissions accounting, environmental impact assessment, climate policy and international regulatory requirements. Modern energy infrastructure also increasingly relies on automation, data analytics and cybersecurity.
“Lithuania has a strong pool of professionals in the energy, industrial and maritime sectors, providing a solid foundation for projects involving new technologies. However, the CO₂ capture and storage value chain is still being developed in Lithuania, meaning that direct practical experience in this field remains limited. In the future, there will be a particular need for specialists who understand the entire value chain – from CO₂ capture at industrial facilities to its transport and permanent geological storage,” says Tumėnienė.
Preparing for future jobs must begin before they are created
Major energy infrastructure projects take many years to develop. According to Dr Šimkonienė, it is therefore important for universities to monitor technological developments well in advance and work together with businesses to assess which competencies will be needed in the future.
“Universities must look ahead and anticipate today what knowledge and skills future specialists will need. It is important to educate professionals not for a specific job, but to equip them with the ability to solve today’s engineering challenges and to develop, implement, assess and evaluate future technologies. This requires a solid foundation in fundamental sciences and engineering, digital competencies, project-based work and collaboration with industry,” says Dr Šimkonienė.
According to Tumėnienė, new energy projects will increase demand for highly qualified specialists not only within the energy sector itself, but also in engineering, technology, logistics and related service industries.
“New infrastructure creates direct employment opportunities and stimulates growth in related services, engineering, logistics and technology sectors. Cooperation between businesses, universities and vocational education institutions is also likely to strengthen. For the Klaipėda region, this will create additional opportunities to attract talent and generate high-value-added jobs,” says Tumėnienė.
