Helping to address the skills shortage in offshore wind and the energy sector.
RWE is Wales’ largest power producer and generator of renewable energy, creating enough electricity to power over 4 million homes, around three times the total number in Wales.
It has been at the forefront of Wales’ green industrial revolution, owning and operating a diverse portfolio of onshore wind, offshore wind, hydropower and gas. It directly employs around 300 people in Wales in dedicated offices in Baglan, Dolgarrog and the Port of Mostyn as well as on-site at its power stations.
Over the last decade, RWE and partners have invested more than £3 billion to deliver projects in Wales. Major investments include Pembroke Power Station and the £2 billion Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm.
During construction, the Gwynt y Môr site resulted in 700 jobs with a further 100 highly skilled jobs created for the longer-term. A further £250m was invested building onshore wind projects at Brechfa Forest West, Clocaenog Forest and Mynydd y Gwair. RWE also operates six hydro power stations in North Wales from its hub at Dolgarrog.
It is the intention that Awel Y Mor, RWE’s new offshore wind development project off the coast of North Wales (and sister project to Gwynt y Môr), will be operational by 2030. It has the potential to produce up to 1,100MW of clean renewable energy while offering further long-term employment opportunities.
Tom Glover, RWE’s UK Country Chair says:
The next stage of RWE’s journey in Wales is focussed on delivering Awel y Mor, one of the largest infrastructure investments in Wales in the last decade, and on innovative technologies such as hydrogen and floating wind projects.
Together with Associated British Ports and the Port of Milford Haven, we are investigating the vast potential of floating wind projects in the Celtic Sea, which we believe will provide not only a renewable and sustainable energy source but will also protect and create skilled jobs and careers.
And we’re also working with Tata Steel to identify the steel components that could be supplied to floating wind technologies so it’s a really joined-up approach to benefit Wales.
Additionally, RWE is bringing together the company’s decarbonisation expertise in the Pembroke Net Zero Centre in its bid to become carbon neutral:
Wales is set to be at the very forefront of the green energy transition as we look to transform the gas-fired Pembroke Power Station into the Pembroke Net Zero Centre. We’re exploring green hydrogen production, carbon capture and storage and floating offshore wind.
It is expected that the Net Zero Centre will unlock wider supply chain opportunities, helping to support existing and new industries, businesses and jobs.
Of course, as green energy evolves so too do skills and jobs. And the heart of RWE’s offshore training programme is based at Coleg Llandrillo in Colwyn Bay, North Wales:
Since 2012, our Offshore Wind Apprenticeship programme has been based at Coleg Llandrillo. We have trained over 40 apprentices to date with more to be offered training in the coming years. After the apprentices successfully complete two to three years of college-based and offshore training, they are able to put their learning into practice on offshore wind turbines, working with prospective employers and RWE’s projects in North Wales and beyond.
Alwyn Jones is the Programme Area Manager for Engineering and Renewables at Coleg Llandrillo:
We set up the RWE training programme at Coleg Llandrillo over ten years ago and it continues to evolve. As well as catering for on and offshore wind turbine apprentices, we’re now training hydro and blade repair apprentices.
The programme will undoubtedly develop further with work already starting on a £14m state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence for Engineering at Rhos-on-Sea. Together with RWE, we are building a bespoke wind turbine centre.
Of course, employment opportunities stretch far beyond engineering roles with expertise required in administration, HR, legal and so on.
Furthermore, Coleg Llandrillo is working with RWE to address the skills shortage in Offshore Wind and the energy sector.
We’re working with RWE so that we can deliver higher education to technicians via distant learning. It will mean that people in midlife can go back to college to learn new skills, gaining HNC and HND qualifications, which will be vital for a greener Wales.
Fiona McColgan is currently an RWE Offshore Wind Turbine Technician, having relocated from Brighton to North Wales:
I started the apprenticeship back in August 2021. I’ve long had a keen focus on sustainability and an interest in working in the renewable energy industry since my days at school and university.
Other RWE wind turbine technician apprentices from all over the UK, including Cumbria, Sussex, Lincolnshire, Suffolk, Northumberland and North Wales itself, have been attracted to the area for the apprenticeship. It involves studying at Coleg Llandrillo during term time for two years and working at RWE’s sites during non-term times too. We’re learning mechanical and electrical engineering theory, health & safety practices as well as maintenance and functioning of wind turbines with both classroom and workshop-based training.
For more information about Wind Turbine apprenticeships at Coleg Llandrillo, please call 01492 542 338 or email generalenquiries@gllm.ac.uk
For more information about recruiting an apprentice, visit 'Make a genius decision with apprenticeships' or call 03000 6 03000.