North east plans UK’s first turbine training tower

The project is part of Northumberland College’s Wind Training Course and its backers say the initiative is necessary if the UK is to get the maximum economic benefit from the wind industry in years to come.

The tower will train the 1000s of technicians in construction, long-term operations and maintenance jobs that will be needed by 2020 for the new offshore wind industry.

In addition to expanding Northumberland College’s Wind Technician Training Course, the tower will also signify the next stage in the development of a UK Centre for Wind Skills, which the north east hopes will put the region at the forefront of the wind industry’s efforts to avoid a skills shortage.

Assistant principal of Northumberland College, Paul Cook said: “The tower will allow us to increase the number of technicians that can be trained and enhance our reputation as the leading provider of wind energy skills training in the UK.”

Narec (New and Renewable Energy Centre) and energy company Mainstream Renewable Power are contributing to the training partnership. The tower is also backed by regional development agency One North East.

Stephen Wilson, director of Wind and Marine at Narec said good training was vital to further establish the UK as the world leader in the wind sector and ensure maximum benefit for the country in terms of future jobs across the supply chain. “Narec provides the ideal environment for training providers to deliver and develop new courses which equip personnel for work offshore and the tower is the first piece of the jigsaw to enable industry to achieve our challenging targets for new generation,” he said.

Chris Hill, head of Offshore at Mainstream Renewable Power added: “Mainstream is fully committed to increasing the quality and quantity of skilled personnel qualified to work offshore and to drive the offshore wind sector. Our focus is on training for offshore construction, operations and maintenance jobs, ensuring the relevant and necessary mechanical, electrical, health and safety and offshore survival qualifications.”

The partnership is consulting with the local planning authority and stakeholders on project design and site option studies for the tower, which is yet to be built.