The Offshore wind sector in Ireland is rapidly growing, and with it comes the need for professionals to gain a better understanding of the industry. The Faculty of Engineering at SETU, along with the Engineering the South East Cluster, partnered with DOB-Academy to deliver a bespoke training program for those active in the Offshore wind sector in Ireland. The two one-day courses aimed to provide participants with an insight into the complete offshore wind energy playing field.
Day one of the training program provided an overview of the basics of offshore wind and its rapid developments. The morning lectures answered key questions about the sector’s development and its main drivers. In the afternoon, participants gained an understanding of the technical details and design considerations of an offshore wind farm. Additional practical cases put this fresh knowledge into practice.
Day two focused on power distribution and the need for a safe work environment. The afternoon delved deeper into the logistics involved in the installation of a wind farm and its maintenance during operation. Both days were interactive, welcoming open discussions on current events such as floating vs. fixed structures, port locations, ORE subsidies, and supply chain issues.
The training program was a success, held at the Waterford location of the SETU on the 5th and 6th of April 2023. Day one was tailored to professionals who are new to the industry, explaining the playing field’s basic facts and backgrounds for offshore wind. Companies and suppliers to the energy industry, including financial experts, marine contractors (technical and planning), government, and other stakeholders, benefited from this course. Day two focused on port logistics, and marine service providers, port authorities, and logistic service providers gained insights into port utilization and supply chain management.
The program was Initiated by the Knowledge Management & Training Centre (KMTC) Europort Business Park (EBP), Rosslare, Ireland, in collaboration with the DOB-Academy & SETU, the Engineering the South East Cluster. The program also received support from Sillnet Ireland.
The offshore wind sector in Ireland is poised for substantial growth, and the need for trained professionals to drive this growth is more crucial than ever. We look forward to future courses that provide participants with a better understanding of the offshore wind energy sector.