Thursday 12 November 2015

New energy training centre open in Somerset

A new national training centre for collaboration and innovation in energy has officially been opened in Somerset.

EDF Energy’s Cannington Court, located near the proposed new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point, has ground source heat pumps and solar panels which will provide more than 50% of the centre’s energy needs.

It is part of the Big Six company’s ‘Campus’ programme, which helps employees develop skills to work on areas such as smart metering, customer service, existing power stations and finance.

The facility will also allow academics and industry to work together on energy projects.

Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom said the training centre offers “a perfect synergy between the past, present and future”.

She added: “The new buildings dovetail neatly with the old; both combining to offer a first class learning experience for students looking to build a bright future - all of which underpins our ambitions for the future of our energy sector and our desire to prepare the ground for new nuclear builds in this country; facilities that will help deliver secure, low carbon and affordable energy.”

Last week Ms Leadsom insisted Hinkley Point is “good value for money” while former Energy Secretary Ed Davey slammed the government's new energy policies.