Support for Wind-Technician Training
TRAINING: The South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre will train South Africa’s future wind turbine service technicians
Tuesday, 21 May 2013
The German wind turbine manufacturer Nordex has pledged its support for the establishment of the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (SARETEC) at the CPUT Bellville Campus.
The centre is a collaboration between higher education institutions in the Western Cape and will be a national facility that will train wind turbine service technicians.
PARTNERSHIPS: SARETEC project team, representatives from Nordex, the German Consulate, Giz and other role-players in the renewable energy sector at the signing ceremony
SARETEC has received overwhelming support from the Department of Higher Education and Training, which has allocated R105 million for the construction of the facility. The project has also gained support from the German development agency GIZ, the South African National Energy Development Institute and Green Cape.
The latest entity to come on board is Nordex, who signed an agreement with CPUT and GIZ at the German Consulate in Cape Town.
SARETEC Project leader and CPUT representative, Howard Fawkes, says Nordex will supply the centre with wind turbine components.
These components are crucial for the successful roll-out of the technician training programmes, which are currently being developed by a team of local and international experts.
Anne Henschel, the Nordex South African Managing Director says they are looking forward to collaborating on this project.
Gudrun Kopp, German Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development also pledged his support for the project.
"By expanding its use of renewable energies, South Africa will not only be helping to protect the global climate, but is hoping to also create secure jobs for the future. Thanks to the close trade links between Germany and South Africa, both our countries will benefit from this cutting-edge development cooperation project."
Co-authored by Howard Fawkes
Written by Candes Keating
Email: keatingc@cput.ac.za
Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.
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