Climate protection and energy security require a rapid shift in our energy supply towards efficient and climate-neutral technologies. At the same time, the energy sector and the skilled trades are urgently looking for specialists who can master and implement this innovative technology. The Green Energy VR Campus aims to make career guidance in this area more efficient and motivating by utilising virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI).

Skilled labour gap is growing

The Federal Ministry of Economics’ KOFA Centre of Excellence for Securing Skilled Workers calculates a skills gap of over 13,000 vacancies in the plumbing, heating and air conditioning sector alone for 2023. The German Association for Building Technology (VdZ) expects this gap to be over 20,000 jobs by 2025 and anticipates an additional 20,000 skilled workers will be needed as a result of the energy transition. At the same time, every second company had unfilled training places in the 2021/2022 training year.

Digital career guidance is becoming more important

One of the ways in which companies are responding is by supplementing traditional career guidance measures with digital measures. At least half of the companies are already doing this (see KOFA “Potentials and limits of digital career guidance” 3/2023). However, the focus to date has mostly been on social media activities and digital information materials. Only 5 per cent of companies offer digital cooperation with schools, for example, although this would be a good way of meeting young people’s desire for direct contact with companies, for example by connecting them during lessons.

Lack of equipment and networking

Companies recognise the advantages of such digital activities. They want to present themselves as a “modern company” or “present professions independent of time and place”. Even after coronavirus, the vast majority of companies of all sizes want to expand their digital career guidance. The companies cite three main obstacles: Data protection requirements, insufficient digital networking opportunities with schools and poor digital equipment in schools.

Mobile in the Metaverse: Digital career guidance for all

This is precisely where our GREEN ENERGY AI VR CAMPUS project comes in. We design a VR environment as a virtual space for career guidance in energy professions. In this way, we relieve companies of data protection issues and at the same time organise access and exchange with schools. They are given VR glasses on loan to access the environment. Companies can present themselves and their professions in the neighbourhood. They will also be provided with VR goggles so that they can make direct contact with interested students in live sessions.

Artificial intelligence (AI) plays a decisive role here. AI-controlled avatars can provide young people with personalised information and answer their questions in real time. These avatars utilise advanced speech recognition and processing algorithms to ensure seamless and intuitive interaction.

In the VR environment, young people use 3D models to discover modern energy technology such as heat pumps, solar thermal systems, charging boxes for electric cars, battery storage systems, wind turbines, etc. and learn about details and how they work. Using 360-degree videos, they immerse themselves in the professional practice of various energy professions. Using avatars equipped with AI, they engage in live dialogue with representatives from companies and associations. This effectively supports both the fascination for modern energy technology and the transfer of expertise.

The “Green Energy AI VR Campus” is part of the “Education Metaverse” initiative of the Metaverse Europe Foundation.