Information Bulletin
17 January 2006
Development of Networked Small Scale Renewable Energy Training Courses
Shetland College has just been awarded ESF funding of £55,750 to support this project involving a partnership of four Academic Partners within UHI. Shetland College is leading the project with Inverness, Lews Castle and Perth Colleges also providing contributions.
Within the renewable energy industry it is widely acknowledged that there is a shortage of trained staff and in the Highlands and Islands there are currently only six installers based in the region who are fully accredited and their accreditation only applies to one type of renewable energy out of five listed. It is perhaps of note that there are no full or provisionally accredited installers of small-scale hydro power based in the Highlands and Islands, despite the region having much greater resources for hydro power than the rest of the UK.
The proposal is to develop networked courses for installers, builders and householders in each of a range of renewable energy systems including photovoltaics, solar hot water heater, heat pumps, micro-hydro electric generation, and small scale domestic and small business wind power systems.
- The outputs will be as follows:
- Networked training courses in:
- photovoltaics
- solar hot water heating
- ground heat pumps
- micro hydroelectric generation
- small wind turbines
- introduction to renewable energy and energy management
The Highlands and Islands have the greatest potential renewable energy resources in western Europe. While large scale generation is a feasible option, the lack of any grid connection in Shetland and limited grid connections elsewhere will require considerable investment before those resources can be realised.
The benefits of small scale renewable energy can be gained in a very short time and not only has the potential to benefit the economy by reducing energy costs for the Highlands and Islands but there is the potential to develop a thriving small-scale renewable energy industry.
As well as benefiting the Highlands and Islands by reducing energy costs and creating local and national environmental benefits, a thriving industry could export expertise in small scale renewable energy to other remote regions of the world, particularly areas not reached by any national electricity distribution network.
Small businesses in the Highlands and Islands could develop a competitive advantage as they will not only have the experience of issues that confront remote regions, but they will be able to take on the smaller projects that are likely to be typical of remote regions than would be worthwhile for large businesses.
Finally, the courses will be piloted in Unst where the recently announced closure of the RAF base at Saxa Vord will have a major impact on the Unst economy. There is already the start of a renewables energy industry based on the PURE project and these courses will enable people in Unst to undertake the training that will enable a considerable expansion of the locally based the renewable energy industry.
Ends