THE developer of a windfarm to be located on a former opencast coal mine site has committed £2million to fund renewables-related apprentice training at Fife’s Adam Smith College.
The money will be used to fund 150 apprenticeships over a 25-year period, though it is reliant on Carbon Free Developments Ltd’s Earlseat wind project gaining planning permission.
Placements will be open to Fife residents over the age of 16 including school leavers and those who are unemployed or needing to retrain, ensuring local people can secure meaningful long-term careers in the renewable energy industry.
This is apparently the first time in the UK renewables industry that community benefits have been delivered in the form of long-term apprenticeship training, and the first scheme that uses a commercial project to enhance the ability of a specific region to attract investment.
The wind farm is expected to have an installed capacity of 20.7MW (megawatts).