THE Department of Energy (DoE) said it entered into a partnership with the US Agency for International Development to prepare workers who will staff the offshore wind (OSW) industry.
“We are happy to note that the training design was targeted to focus on the varying needs of skills building by stakeholders such as government agencies, RE (renewable energy) developers, banks, and other financial institutions,” Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla said at a ceremony for the program in Taguig City.
Mr. Lotilla said the workshops on OSW development will help the government “right-skill and upskill Filipino workers” to keep the industry competitive as the power industry shifts to alternative forms of energy.
“Through investing in the skills of our workforce, enhancing our energy security, and strengthening our resilience, we are positioning ourselves to excel in the global shift toward clean and sustainable energy solutions,” Mr. Lotilla said.
To date, the DoE has awarded 79 OSW service contracts this year with a potential capacity of 61.931 gigawatts. All are currently under development.
The DoE is also studying the repurposing of nine ports to service OSW projects with the technical assistance from the Asian Development Bank. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera