A Fife underground rescue specialist expects to move up in the world of renewable energy after installing a new high-level turbine training aid.
Scottish Government Enterprise, Energy and Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing officially opened Mines Rescue Service’s new facility during a visit to Crossgates.
The installation of a pre-used Senvion turbine, following a £200,000 investment, will allow the group to respond to the needs of the “rapidly growing wind power industry” north of the border.
Operations manager Errol Parish said the project, developed with the help of Scottish Enterprise, had opened up new opportunities for a firm which has historically operated well below the surface.
The company, which can trace its history back more than 100 years, was first formed to respond to emergencies including fires and calls to save people trapped in coal seams.
But the decline in mining led it to diversify into specialised health and safety training for blue-chip companies, including major names like Scottish Water and Scottish Power, and now into an industry which works well above ground.
“The vast majority of turbine training centres are located in England, so one of our core objectives is to help reduce travel and accommodation costs of Scottish based companies, by offering a first-class training facility within the central belt of Scotland,” Mr Parish said.
“We have also witnessed an increasing demand for premium training facilities from the burgeoning wind energy sector in this country, as Scotland heads towards its Government-set target of 100% electricity generated annually through renewable sources by 2020.
“These are exciting times for the renewable industry in Scotland and we aim to be at the fore front of training for the sector.”
The Crossgates-based company which employs more than 150 people across six bases throughout the UK and enjoyed revenues of more than £10m last year has been restructuring its Scottish operations since the closure of the country’s last deep mine, Longannet, in 2002.
Mr Ewing said the new move would allow Mines Rescue to deliver important training in the “ever-expanding” renewables industry.
“The continued growth in the sector offers a great opportunity for companies such as Mines Rescue Service to expand and diversify, and this is helping to support employment and training throughout Scotland,” the minister said.
“We have the resources and ambition to be a world leader in sustainable energy, however we must continue to develop a highly skilled workforce if we are to make the most of the opportunities available to us. Facilities such as this one will help to ensure that we fulfil that aim.”
The Senvion MD70 turbine will be used for practical skills training by engineers and safety officials, and is just one of a number of RenewableUK and Global Wind Organisation accredited courses to be delivered at the site.
Raymond Gilfedder, the turbine maker’s managing director for Northern Europe, said his firm was delighted to collaborate with Mines Rescue on the project.
“The MD70 machine is the platform from which the Senvion MM series has evolved to become a bestselling model, which makes it ideal for providing realistic training within a safe and controlled environment,” he said.