Ocean Winds has signed a partnership with Federation University to develop skills and training for Australia’s emerging offshore wind sector.

The collaboration, set out in a Memorandum of Understanding, combines the developer’s industry expertise with the university’s training capability to build a pipeline of skilled workers.

Ocean Winds holds a licence for the declared offshore wind zone in Gippsland, where it is progressing the 1.3GW High Sea Wind project. The development is expected to power one million Victorian homes and avoid up to 5.3 million tonnes of CO₂ a year.

Federation University, through its Asia Pacific Renewable Energy Training Centre, will act as a hub for skills and research in the region. More than 22,000 jobs are projected to be created by Gippsland’s offshore wind build-out over the next 10 to 15 years.

Professor Duncan Bentley, vice-chancellor and president of Federation University, said: “As a regional university embedded in the Gippsland community, we are proud to partner with Ocean Winds to meet the workforce needs of the emerging offshore wind sector and support the region to thrive as it transitions to renewable energy generation.”

Rafael Munilla, chief business development officer of Ocean Winds, said: “We are investing in clean energy but also in people who will drive it forward. Together, we are building the skills, knowledge and local opportunities needed to power a successful offshore wind industry in Australia.”

More information:https://renews.biz/103007/ocean-winds-partners-with-federation-university-on-training/