Construction has commenced on Australia’s first wind turbine training tower at Federation University Australia’s campus in Ballarat.
A ‘sod turning’ event was held to mark the start of construction and to launch a new short course for tradespeople to retrain to work in the wind industry.
The tower is the first stage of the Asia Pacific Renewable Energy Training Centre (APRETC) – a partnership between Federation TAFE and the renewable energy industry.
The $1.8 million project is funded by Vestas, ACCIONA, GPG and Tilt Renewables to allow the renewable energy companies to train workers locally in Ballarat, the gateway to Victoria’s major wind farm projects in the state’s west.
The tower will be built by Ballarat builder SJ Weir and Keppel Prince Engineering. It will feature ladders and safety equipment to give students real-world experience when training to work in the wind industry, or other industries that require working at heights, such as construction and maintenance.
Once completed, Federation TAFE will be the only training provider in Australia able to deliver the Global Wind Organisation (GWO) basic safety training and refresher training courses from a simulated wind turbine tower. The GWO accreditation is required to work on wind turbines in Australia and around the world.
The sod-turning event was attended by Victorian Minister for Higher Education, Skills and Training, Gayle Tierney, who also launched Australia’s first short course for tradespeople to train as wind turbine technicians, which will be delivered by Federation TAFE from 2023.
Federation TAFE has signed an exclusive agreement with the BZEE Network in Germany to deliver the globally recognised post-trade turbine technician training course.
The six-month intensive course allows electricians, mechanical fitters and automotive technicians to gain the skills needed to work in Australia’s growing wind energy industry. It includes an internship with wind turbine manufacturers and service organisations, covering electrical, mechanical and hydraulic systems training.
Construction on the new wind turbine training tower is expected to be finished later this year, with stage two of APRETC forecast to get underway in 2022.