What is a SAP - and why are they so hard to find?

The renewable energy sector has never had more projects waiting to be built. Across the UK and Europe, investment in solar, battery storage, grid infrastructure and offshore wind continues to grow. Yet there is one role that can quietly determine whether a project moves forward on schedule or sits waiting for weeks.

The Senior Authorised Person, more commonly known as a SAP.

For anyone outside the high voltage world, it is a title that often flies under the radar. For project directors, EPC contractors and asset owners, it is one of the most critical people on site.

The problem? There simply are not enough of them.

The person who makes energisation possible

A Senior Authorised Person is responsible for the safe operation of high voltage electrical systems.

That sounds straightforward. It is anything but.

SAPs oversee high voltage switching, isolate electrical equipment, apply earths, issue permits to work and ultimately control when systems can be safely energised. Their decisions directly affect the safety of everyone working on site and the successful commissioning of electrical infrastructure.

Whether the project is a 400MW battery storage facility, a solar farm connecting to the grid, or an offshore wind development, no energisation happens without somebody taking responsibility for high voltage safety.

As one commissioning manager recently put it:

"You can replace equipment. You can recover lost programme time. You cannot recover from one unsafe switching operation."

That responsibility explains why becoming a SAP takes years rather than months.

Why demand has exploded

Ten years ago, SAPs were already highly respected specialists.

Today, they are among the most sought-after professionals in renewable energy.

The reasons are easy to understand.

Every new renewable energy project eventually reaches the same milestone. It needs to connect safely to the electrical network.

That means more:

• Solar farms
• Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)
• Grid reinforcement projects
• Offshore wind farms
• Onshore substations
• Private wire networks

...all competing for exactly the same limited talent pool.

The UK's battery storage pipeline alone has grown dramatically, while investment in grid infrastructure continues to accelerate alongside ambitious Net Zero targets. Every one of those projects requires experienced high voltage professionals during commissioning and energisation.

You cannot train a SAP overnight

Perhaps the biggest misconception employers make is assuming the shortage can be solved through training.

It cannot.

A Senior Authorised Person is not simply someone who has completed a course.

They are someone who has accumulated years of practical experience working on live electrical systems under strict supervision before being formally authorised by their employer.

Typically, that journey includes:

• A strong electrical engineering background
• Years working as an Authorised Person (AP)
• Extensive site experience
• High voltage switching competence
• Formal assessment and authorisation
• Continuous reassessment throughout their career

Every company also operates its own safety rules and authorisation process.

That means a SAP authorised under one organisation's procedures does not automatically carry that authorisation into another business. Additional assessment is almost always required.

In other words, experience cannot be manufactured quickly.

The retirement challenge

There is another factor making recruitment even harder.

Many of today's experienced SAPs entered the industry decades ago through traditional utilities, transmission operators and power generation businesses.

A significant proportion are now approaching retirement.

At exactly the same time, renewable energy is demanding more high voltage expertise than ever before.

It creates a difficult equation:

• Growing project pipelines
• More commissioning work
• Increasing grid complexity
• Fewer experienced professionals entering the market than leaving it

The result is a genuine skills shortage rather than a temporary recruitment challenge. Industry forecasts also point to substantial workforce growth requirements across the wider UK energy sector through the end of the decade.

Why companies struggle to hire them

From a recruitment perspective, SAPs behave very differently to many engineering professionals.

Most are already employed.

Many have long-term relationships with employers or specialist contractors.

They rarely spend time applying for jobs on job boards.

Instead, they tend to move because of:

• Better project opportunities
• Strong leadership
• Interesting technologies
• Flexible working arrangements
• Long-term stability
• Trusted relationships with specialist recruiters

That means traditional recruitment methods often fall short.

Advertising a vacancy may generate applications, but not necessarily from candidates with the right authorisations, sector experience or availability.

Expert Thoughts

Josie Wade, Contract Recruitment Consultant at Hunter Philips, specialising in Senior Authorised Person (SAP) recruitment, believes the shortage reflects the pace of the energy transition itself:

"The shortage of Senior Authorised Persons isn't simply a recruitment challenge. It's a reflection of how quickly the renewable energy sector has grown compared to the time it takes to develop genuine high voltage expertise. You can't fast-track someone into becoming a trusted SAP. It takes years of practical experience, strong technical judgement and a proven commitment to safety. As more renewable energy projects move towards commissioning, the demand for these professionals will only increase. Companies that think strategically about workforce planning, rather than hiring reactively, will be in a far stronger position to keep projects on programme."

What candidates are looking for

The market has also changed.

Today's SAPs are increasingly selective.

Salary remains important, but conversations often move quickly towards:

• Which voltages will I be authorised for?
• What type of projects will I be working on?
• Is there a clear commissioning programme?
• How experienced is the project team?
• Is the safety culture genuine?
• What happens after this project finishes?

The strongest employers answer those questions confidently before discussing compensation.

The value of specialist recruitment

Because SAPs represent such a niche market, recruitment is often more about relationships than advertising.

Many of the strongest candidates are passive.

They are not searching job boards.

They are not uploading CVs.

They are delivering projects.

Accessing that market requires recruiters who understand:

• High voltage authorisations
• Commissioning structures
• Grid connections
• Renewable energy project lifecycles
• The difference between AP, SAP and Authorising Engineer responsibilities

It also requires credibility.

Experienced SAPs are unlikely to engage with recruiters who cannot speak confidently about switching schedules, energisation programmes or the realities of commissioning.

That is where specialist renewable energy recruiters make a significant difference.

Final thoughts

Senior Authorised Persons rarely attract headlines, but they are essential to delivering the energy transition safely.

Without experienced SAPs, projects cannot progress through commissioning, grid connections become delayed and energisation programmes slip.

As renewable energy investment continues to accelerate, demand for these specialists is only moving in one direction.

For employers, planning recruitment early and working with specialists who understand the high voltage market is becoming less of an advantage and more of a necessity.

At Hunter Philips, we work with clients and candidates across the renewable energy sector every day, helping connect organisations with the highly specialised professionals who keep projects moving safely from construction to commissioning.