ScottishPower Renewables has submitted an application for an extension at Harestanes Windfarm.
The firm has lodged plans for a seven-turbine extension to the farm in the Forest of Ae, near Dumfries.
As part of the original site, ScottishPower Renewables has completed the construction of 68 turbines and achieved the first electricity generation at the end of September 2013, three months ahead of schedule.
The planning application has been revealed as 18 students at the nearby Dumfries and Galloway College recently started a new course which is supported by the company and allows participants to gain industry-recognised qualifications and help them to become wind turbine technicians.
For more than two years, ScottishPower Renewables has been part of a working group seeking to develop an industry recognised Wind Turbine Technician training course in both Dumfries and Galloway and Ayr colleges. A similar course was launched in Ayr College earlier this year.
Commenting, Simon Christian, UK Managing Director at ScottishPower Renewables, said: "The renewable energy industry in Scotland continually needs qualified technicians who can help to maintain wind turbines. We have been working hard to ensure that colleges can offer courses that deliver exactly what the industry needs in terms of skills, which in turn helps participants get employed in the industry on completing their course.
"We are delighted to help both Dumfries and Galloway College and Ayr College develop their Turbine Technician course plans. The South West of Scotland is a key area of investment for ScottishPower Renewables.
"We have already developed a number of major windfarm projects in the area, such as the Harestanes development, and we anticipate that our future projects in the area will need many more technicians and engineers in the years ahead.
"The significant investment that is happening in renewable energy ensures that opportunities for employment and skills development in the sector is set to keep increasing, and we want to help local communities makes the most of these employment opportunities."
Carol Turnbull, Principal at Dumfries and Galloway College added: "Dumfries and Galloway College is delighted to be working in partnership to deliver an industry recognised qualification to learners in the south west of Scotland and Ayrshire to meet growing employer demand.
"It is an excellent example of what can be achieved when industry, colleges and sector representatives work together."
(JP/IT)
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Latest Construction News
15/11/2024
A major milestone has been reached in the UK's transition to a greener energy future. Ofgem has approved the Eastern Green Link 1 project, a £2.5 billion investment that will see the installation of a 196km subsea electricity cable between Scotland and England. The project, a joint venture between ...
15/11/2024
Falkirk Council has secured a £100 million Growth Deal that is expected to create 1,660 jobs and generate £628 million in economic benefits for the area. The Deal, signed by the UK and Scottish Governments, will fund 11 projects, including: • A Carbon Dioxide Utilisation Centre • A Bioeconomy ...
15/11/2024
The Scottish Plant Owners Association (SPOA) has raised concerns that the measures announced in the Autumn Budget could lead to the demise of the plant hire industry in Scotland. The association argues that the increased tax burden and other economic pressures will have a significant negative ...
15/11/2024
Maxi Construction has been awarded a £1.6 million contract by The City of Edinburgh Council to replace the Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) roof at Pentland Primary School. The phased project will involve the removal of existing roof coverings and ceilings, the replacement of RAAC ...
15/11/2024
Clark Contracts has been awarded a contract to retrofit Scotland's National Retrofit Centre at BE-ST's Innovation Campus. The project aims to transform the building into a living laboratory, showcasing best practices in non-domestic retrofit. The ambitious project will involve a range of ...
15/11/2024
The Scottish Government has announced plans to bypass the villages of Springholm and Crocketford on the A75, a key route linking Scotland to Ireland. Jacobs UK Ltd has been awarded a contract to undertake initial design and assessment work for the bypass. The project is funded by the UK ...
15/11/2024
Dundee City Council has secured a £693,383 grant from the Scottish Government's Recycling Improvement Fund to upgrade its recycling facilities at Baldovie and Riverside. The funding will be used to purchase new waste management equipment, such as roll packers and compactors, to improve efficiency ...
15/11/2024
Homes for Good and Glasgow Credit Union have formed a partnership to address housing inequality in Glasgow and neighbouring areas. Glasgow Credit Union has provided a £2.4 million loan to Homes for Good, which will be used to purchase up to 35 homes for low-income individuals and families. The ...
15/11/2024
The historic Troon station has reopened following a £5m restoration project. The station was extensively damaged by a fire in 2021. Network Rail, in partnership with AmcoGiffen and CPMS, undertook the rebuild, which included the restoration of the station's iconic façade while incorporating modern ...
15/11/2024
BEAR Scotland, on behalf of Transport Scotland, is undertaking emergency works on the A828 between Ledaig and Benderloch to address a safety concern related to a deteriorating rock face. Recent monitoring has identified a fractured rock mass 60 metres above the road, requiring urgent attention. To ...