Work begins on green energy centre
CONSTRUCTION work has begun on a new £280,000 Green Energy Training Centre at Wirral International Business Park.
The centre, which will be the first in the region to offer recognised qualifications in green energy micro-generation technologies, is a partnership between the Skills Funding Agency, German-owned renewable energy products firm Stiebel Eltron (whose UK base is At Bromborough) and Birkenhead-based training provider Scientiam.
It will offer building industry qualifications on the maintenance and installation of micro-generation products such as heat pumps and solar photovoltaic panels. The courses are aimed at electricians, plumbers and engineers and the courses are due to begin once the centre completes in November.
“We are incredibly excited about the new GETC,” said Scientiam managing director Mandi O’Shea.
“At present there are no other centres in the region offering this depth of training and qualifications.
Stiebel Eltron managing director Mark McManus said it is now imperative for firms involved in construction to improve their green energy expertise.
“By 2016 all new homes built must be carbon neutral,” he said. “So there is massive pressure on the construction industry to ramp up its knowledge of, and expertise in, green energy.
“But there is carrot as well as stick. Green energy provides a real commercial opportunity for properly trained installers.”
He added that renewable energy currently accounts for less than 2% of energy production but government targets state that by 2020 renewable energy should account for 30% of electricity supply and 12% of heat supply.
