Kate Forbes opens 'critical' £1.2m renewable training facility in Inverness

Scotland’s deputy first minister has opened a “critical” renewable energy training centre in Inverness.

The £1.2m Aurora’s Renewable Energy Training Centre is the first of its kind to open in the Scottish Highlands, and it is expected to train more than 1,000 people in its first year of operation.

Eventually, it’s expected to train more than 2,000 workers in the wind energy industry annually, who will be central to the country’s renewable energy future.

The new facility will eliminate the need for prospective wind sector workers from the Highlands, Western Isles and Orkney to travel to Aberdeen, the central belt or north England for safety and technical training qualifications.

It’s one part of Scotland’s transition to net-zero plans.

“Wind energy project operators and developers are struggling to recruit staff with the prerequisite competency levels, and that’s even before many of the recent successful ScotWind bids for fixed and floating windfarms get up and running,” Doug Duguid, CEO of Aurora Energy Services, said.

“If Scotland is serious about meeting net-zero levels by 2045, we have to put in place the workforce to construct, maintain and service the vast wind-related infrastructure, and Aurora’s Inverness facility is playing a vital part in that process.”

He added that the training centre is also providing a “bridge between Scotland’s proud oil and gas energy heritage and our renewable energy future”.

Aurora Energy Services CEO Doug Duguid, DFM Kate Forbes and Drew Stevenson, Lead IRATA & WAH, Instructor, Aurora Energy Services. Aurora Energy Services Ltd press release

The training centre addresses a “critical skills shortage” identified by the Offshore Wind Industry Council, which predicted that by 2026, nearly 89,000 jobs will be needed in the UK offshore wind sector.

That’s an increase of 56,000 on the current workforce.

Aurora’s training programme will focus on retraining experienced oil and gas sector workers while preparing new entrants for deployment in renewable energy.

“Our transition to a net-zero and climate-resilient Scotland will put money in people’s pockets, improve health and wellbeing, lead to better public services and protect our planet for future generations,” the deputy first minister said.

“Workers are at the heart of Scotland’s just transition and it’s vital we plan for a multi-skilled workforce and enable offshore workers to carry their experience and expertise into different roles as the energy sector evolves.

“This is a great example of how the Scottish Government is supporting the energy sector to achieve this through our Green Freeports. We are also funding the college sector to establish an Offshore Wind Skills Programme.”

Forbes added: “We will continue to work with organisations like Aurora Energy, Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport and workers across the region to ensure communities thrive.”