The German training centre for renewable energy BZEE, in cooperation with bfw Bremerhaven, recently completed the first training course consisting of 11 South African technicians. The three month programme leading to the qualification “wind turbine technician” was supported financially by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and SAGEN (South African German Energy Programme).
The majority of participants already had positions at leading companies in the industry that are in the process of stepping up their activities in South Africa before starting the training, such as Nordex, Eskom Holding SOC, Wind Prospect Africa Ltd or Obelisk Energy.
“This programme was a great achievement, not just for the trainees but for all of us as Eskom employees and foremost as South Africans,” says Frank Galant, Maintenance manager of Sere Windparks build by Eskom. “We are definitely looking forward to sending our next group of trainees to your facility and hope to build a good relationship with you in the future.”
South Africa is an interesting energy market with very large wind resources, particularly around the Cape of Good Hope. The South African government has set a goal of installing 18 GW of renewable energy by the year 2030. Wind energy in particular has been targeted to replace fossil fuels and many wind parks are currently being built throughout the country, and the demand for qualified personnel for service and maintenance is increasing rapidly.
Katharina Garus
Photovoltaic Feed