Agreement with University of Highlands and Islands 'shows commitment to skills development' in renewables
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Offshore wind companies have said that a new agreement with the University of Highlands and Islands demonstrates their firm commitment to skills development in renewable energy.
The ScotWind partnership involving SSE Renewables, Japanese conglomerate Marubeni Corporation and Danish fund management company Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) signed a memorandum of understanding with the university to deliver targeted education, research and employability initiatives.
The partners, who are jointly bidding for the upcoming ScotWind offshore energy seabed leasing process being managed by Crown Estate Scotland, intend to work with the university to help create the skills required to develop, construct and operate future offshore wind farms in Scotland.
This work would include the promotion of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in primary and secondary schools as well as the development of the university’s curriculum to support the changing needs of the industry and the provision of academic capability to support industry research.
SSE Renewables' director of capital projects, Paul Cooley, said: “We are delighted that our ScotWind partnership has signed this memorandum of understanding with the University of the Highlands and Islands which demonstrates our firm commitment to skills development.
"SSE has already supported the work of the university for many years and this new partnership will allow us to inspire school pupils to choose a STEM career within the offshore wind industry and provide the right curriculum to meet the emerging needs of the sector, including areas such as floating wind and green hydrogen roll-out. These skills will be vital for the delivery of ScotWind projects to help meet our net-zero obligations.”
Professor Todd Walker, principal and vice-chancellor of the University of the Highlands and Islands, said: “Our mission is to have a transformational impact on the prospects of our region, its economy, its people and its communities.
"The latest ScotWind offshore leasing round presents a significant opportunity to help realise Scotland’s ambitions towards net-zero targets. It also offers huge potential for the communities in which our university is rooted, with a requirement for skills, infrastructure and facilities to support the production of green energy.”
The partnership is working together on joint applications for the ScotWind seabed leasing process being managed by Crown Estate Scotland which could allow the future development of around 10GW of offshore wind in Scottish waters.
