Teenagers Ethan Adams and Jack Hale said they barely knew anything about renewable energy when they signed up to a brand new course at Pembrokeshire College, but that has changed. They now have a solid grasp of what is shaping up to be a significant source of jobs and investment in the Celtic Sea - the large body of water bordered by South West Wales, the South West of England and the south of Ireland.
Floating offshore wind farms in this marine expanse could be helping the UK decarbonise its power supply further in a few years' time, and people will be needed to assemble, install and maintain the turbines, connect them to the grid, and refine and improve their design. Staff will also be needed to research, build and maintain tidal energy projects - like a large electricity-generating lagoon and floating solar farm that has been proposed in Swansea Bay.
Mechanical engineering students Ethan and Jack were among the first intake of a pilot course called Destination Renewables at Pembrokeshire College. The industry-led programme is the first of what is expected to be several courses underpinned by a £1.2 billion city deal for the Swansea Bay region, which comprises Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea and Neath Port Talbot. The idea of the courses will be to equip students with some of the advanced manufacturing, technical and other skills which the jobs of tomorrow will need.
