MORE than 2,200 commercial divers will be needed to help to build and develop Europe’s offshore-windpower sector as it expands rapidly, according to leading industry analysts.
A new report commissioned by subsea training provider the Underwater Centre, at Fort William, has studied the number of divers who will be needed to meet the renewable-energy targets set by governments throughout Europe.
The study, carried out by Douglas Westwood, focused on the installation and maintenance phases of offshore windfarm development over the next six years.
It concluded that 1,700 divers would be needed during the installation phase.
With a potential 3,800 turbines coming online in Europe by 2016, an additional 500 divers would be required during the operations and maintenance phase.
Underwater Centre general manager Steve Ham said the new report underlines the integral role that commercial divers will play in the offshore windfarm sector. He said: “This report from Douglas Westwood reinforces our message that there is a danger that demand will outstrip availability of trained subsea personnel which, in turn, could affect the progression of some of the windfarm projects.
“Training our students in a realistic and industry-relevant environment is key to our overall approach as this means, once they complete their course and leave the Underwater Centre, they are able to hit the ground running when they get employment in the renewables sector.”
Subsea UK chief executive Alistair Birnie said: “There is a growing and urgent need for skills right across the energy industry, which this report clearly underlines.
“Attracting new blood into the industry, combined with the energy industry working together to consolidate existing resources, is essential if we are to address the demand for skills now and in the future.”
The Underwater Centre, at the head of Loch Linnhe, is the only training centre in the world that offers the full range of Health and Safety Executive commercial diving qualifications in air and mixed-gas diver training.