Theresa May has officially opened The Energy Centre at Berkshire College of Agriculture, Maidenhead – the UK’s first renewable energy training facility at a further education college.
The facility – pioneered by leading biomass company LC Energy in partnership with Berkshire College of Agriculture (BCA) and Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership – is an important first step in addressing the significant skills shortage in the renewable energy sector in the UK.
The opening of The Energy Centre at BCA will lead to courses which will enable students aged 16 to 19 to gain accredited technical qualifications in renewable energy, marking a key development in delivering the skills required by employers to help the UK meet its renewable energy targets.
With the high-energy demands of 24 hour heating in care homes and the number of care homes set to rise significantly in the coming years in response to demand, it’s vital that new provision is sustainable and renewable energy is pivotal to this. LC Energy has a number of customers within this sector and through this initiative is demonstrating its continuing commitment to help the care sector reduce its reliance on fossil fuels.
The UK has been allocated a target to increase the proportion of its renewable energy use to 15 per cent by 2020. There is currently a shortfall of 50 per cent in the 12 per cent target for the generation of heat from renewable sources and a shortfall of 18 per cent in the 30 per cent target for the generation of electricity from renewables.
Theresa May MP says: “I was very pleased to go back to Berkshire College of Agriculture to hear of the innovative work the college is doing and to open the new energy centre. It’s vital that young people have the education and skills to take on the jobs needed for the future. So I was pleased to be able to meet with students who, through using the new energy centre, will be given the training and opportunity to make a real difference to help protect our planet for future generations.”
Mark Lebus, managing director of LC Energy, says: “We are delighted to have collaborated with BCA and the Thames Valley Berkshire LEP to deliver the UK’s first biomass training facility at a further education college.”
“The renewable energy sector offers sustainable employment but currently lacks accredited training and skills. By widening access to training we can eliminate the skills shortage and play our part in creating a Britain fit for the future - outlined in the Government’s recent Industrial Strategy.
“Our thanks to Theresa May MP for kindly opening this facility and to our project partners for working with us to make this happen.”
