The article presents the results of a study proving the lack of competencies of highly qualified personnel to modernize the industry on the base of progressive scientific and technological achievements in order to create a new model of electric power industry and achieve the transition to carbon-neutral production. It is shown that the solution to this problem requires a revision of the educational paradigm in terms of: 1) strengthening interdisciplinarity - the development of technical and economic thinking and relevant competencies; 2) increasing the role of fundamental knowledge required in innovative activities when making decisions in conditions of high risks and uncertainty; 3) organization of advanced training, which significantly activates the project and research work. A comparison of empirical data based on the results of expert assessments obtained by the authors in the period from 2013 to 2023 is made. It demonstrates significant changes in the understanding of the relevance of tasks, the emergence of new types of activities that determine the appropriate methods and content of training. In the "Discussion" section, attention is drawn to the issues of reviving engineering and economic faculties (departments) in universities, organizing the training of students on the basis of a specialist degree with an increased volume of practice and master's programs with an enhanced project and research component, and solving the problem of a shortage of qualified lecturers.