As the energy industry quickly evolves due to decarbonization, digital advancements, and infrastructure updates, there is an urgent and complex need for workforce training.
Whether in oil and gas, nuclear, renewables, or utilities, safety-critical operations demand precision, compliance, and confidence in execution. Many companies are turning to Virtual Reality (VR) to bridge skill gaps and reduce training risks. But too often, the promise of immersive learning falls flat. The reason? Generic VR training doesn’t work in energy.
Ready-made VR training libraries provide an interesting option: they include pre-designed modules that cover typical subjects like using PPE, basic safety procedures, or awareness of general hazards. For low-risk, generalized industries, that might be sufficient. But for the energy sector, where every site, asset, and risk profile is different, generic simply isn’t good enough.
Consider a wind turbine technician 80 meters above the ground, or an oil refinery worker operating specialized valve systems under extreme pressure. A stock VR scenario built for broad industrial use is unlikely to replicate these environments accurately. When training for tasks where lives are at risk and millions of dollars in infrastructure are involved, "close enough" simply won't do.
Even worse, these libraries age quickly. When equipment updates, rules adjust, or processes get improved, relying on unchanging generic content can become a disadvantage. Updates require developer time and additional investment—if they’re possible at all.
To escape the limitations of generic libraries, many energy companies explore custom VR development. This often involves commissioning a specialized vendor to create tailored training experiences based on their facilities, procedures, and hazards. And while these experiences are highly effective when done right, they come at a steep cost.
Custom VR builds routinely start in the high five to six-figure range, according to industry estimates, and take months to develop. Each iteration or update—whether due to a policy shift, new asset, or a minor procedural change—requires going back to the vendor, incurring more cost and more delays. In a sector where operational agility is key, this model is slow, expensive, and unsustainable.
As a result, companies are left with a false choice: generic content that doesn’t fit, or bespoke content that breaks the budget. But there’s a third path—and it’s reshaping how energy companies think about immersive training.
Training in the energy industry isn’t just about conveying information—it’s about simulating reality. This is especially true for roles involving:
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, over 25% of the energy workforce will retire within the next decade, requiring rapid upskilling of new employees unfamiliar with legacy systems and modern technologies alike. At the same time, a 2023 PwC study showed that VR learners were 275% more confident to act on what they learned, with 75% retention rates a year after training—far exceeding traditional methods.
However, this impact only materializes when the content is relevant, realistic, and role-specific. That means tailored simulations that mirror the exact procedures, locations, and equipment that workers will encounter—not a generic environment that "resembles" an oil rig.
This is where no-code VR authoring platforms are changing the game.
Rather than rely on costly third-party developers or settle for one-size-fits-all modules, energy companies are now empowering their internal training teams to build immersive VR content themselves—without writing a single line of code. Learning & Development professionals, safety leads, and even subject matter experts in the field can create, modify, and deploy interactive scenarios in days, not months.
For example, a utility operator can build a VR simulation of a specific substation layout, complete with interactive fault isolation procedures and hazard zones. A wind farm trainer can rapidly create rescue drills from nacelles tailored to their turbine models. As new technologies (like battery storage or hydrogen handling) emerge, new modules can be spun up internally—without waiting on external timelines or budgets.
The results? Faster onboarding. Better safety. Lower cost. Higher ROI.
The future of energy training is agile, immersive, and customized. Here’s what L&D and safety leaders should prioritize:
Organizations that embrace site-specific, no-code VR training aren’t just improving compliance and safety—they’re building a competitive edge in workforce readiness.
Facilitate’s platform is built for this moment. It empowers energy sector teams to create precise, engaging, and evolving VR training scenarios—without the cost, delay, or limitations of traditional development or generic libraries.
In a high-stakes industry where no two sites are the same, it’s time to train like it.
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