UK wind energy training provider AIS Training has signed a deal with welding specialist Arcon to develop an offshore wind training centre in the US state of Maryland.
The new centre will be purpose-built at Arcon’s existing welding training school in Salisbury to train offshore wind workers in Global Wind Organisation (GWO) skills, such as working at height, manual handling, fire awareness, first aid and sea survival.
AIS Training said the centre will be developed in several phases over the next two years to include some of the more specialised GWO training courses, including BTT, enhanced first aid, advanced rescue training and slinger signaller.
The first courses are scheduled to run in April 2020.
Part of Arcon’s existing welding school will be converted for phase one of the centre, which will incorporate a seven-metre high training tower, climbing and rescue platforms, and a rope access area with capacity for lifting and rigging and fire training.
AIS Training will provide consultancy services to Arcon on the project, as well as leading on obtaining wind industry accreditation, course portfolio development, instructor training and ongoing operational support and business development
AIS Training business development manager Geoff Croft said: “We are very excited to be partnering with Arcon Training Services.
“The offshore wind industry in the US is growing rapidly with several large offshore wind farm projects currently being planned.
“The US east coast is earmarked as a key location for many of these projects such as the Skipjack wind farm off Maryland, which is planned to host the world’s largest turbines – GE Renewable Energy’s Haliade-X 12MW wind turbines.
“Maryland was therefore a natural choice to fully support our first US renewable energy training village.
“Studies predict that the US renewable energy sector will generate an estimated 40,000 new jobs nationally by 2030 but finding the right people with the right skills to fill these jobs will be a key challenge.
“As the UK’s largest wind training provider, AIS Training has an exceptional record of delivering highly skilled, competent and talented workers for the global wind sector.
“We also have vast experience of developing world-class training facilities and see enormous potential for Maryland to become a global leader in wind training.
“We are very excited to be working with Arcon to help put this area on the worldwide map for wind skills.”
Arcon Training Services chief executive Katarina Ennerfelt said: “Having been a resource already for welding and metal fabrication training, we are extremely excited to partner with AIS Training and begin the first GWO-accredited offshore wind training centre right here in Salisbury.
“The growth and positive impact that this opportunity will have for the Eastern Shore of Maryland is limitless.
“We have always pushed and advocated for jobs and continued education in the trade and labour market and to be part of something that will create thousands of jobs and opportunities for people in the Delmarva area is truly an amazing feeling.
“We have been a proponent of offshore wind for years and all the benefits renewable energy will bring not only to the state of Maryland but hopefully as a springboard to the rest of the country.
“We are looking forward to working with and learning from AIS Training to make this new wind training centre one of a kind.”