Clean Energy National Centre of Excellence proposed in Western Australia

Western Australia

clean energy, renewable energy, renewables, sustainability, Western Australia,

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The WA Government has lodged a proposal with the Australian Government to establish a Clean Energy National Centre of Excellence.

The Cook Government has lodged a proposal with the Commonwealth Government to establish a Clean Energy National Centre of Excellence in Western Australia, as it works to position the State at the forefront of the global clean energy transition.

The clean energy investment pipeline in Western Australia is in the vicinity of $200 billion, and projections show the clean energy sector is expected to generate around 350,000 jobs from 2025 to 2050.

Increasing the number of apprentices, particularly in trades such as electricians, engineers, motor mechanics, plumbers, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics, metal fitters and machinists will be vital to ensure we have the skills needed for WA to reach its target of net zero by 2050.

Because of the size, scale and diversity of projects being developed right across WA, across solar, wind, hydrogen and batteries, the proposed Centre of Excellence would consist of a network of WA TAFEs.

“We want Western Australia to be a global renewable energy powerhouse, and are working to position this State at the forefront of Australia’s clean energy future,” says Premier Roger Cook.

“Investment in clean energy plays to WA’s economic strengths, skills profile, training capability and natural assets,” says Premier Roger Cook.

“Our proposed TAFE Clean Energy National Centre of Excellence initiative is an excellent opportunity to use the entire network of WA TAFE colleges to deliver the advanced skills base needed for the State’s energy transition,” says Premier Roger Cook.

“We will collaborate with other states and territories, the Commonwealth and industry stakeholders to join up with other nationally networked Centres of Excellence to grow Australia’s clean energy skills and workforce capability,” says Premier Roger Cook.

The proposal, to be negotiated with the Commonwealth, will lead development of training and workforce initiatives in collaboration with industry, unions, TAFE, universities, and key training stakeholders. It will also support more Western Australians, including Aboriginal students and women, into clean energy jobs.

The State Government has also submitted an application to access part of the Commonwealth’s $31.6 million in turbocharging funding to fast-track development of clean energy training and workforce initiatives.

“The Clean Energy National Centre of Excellence will help ensure Western Australians have the skills they need for jobs in clean energy,” says Training and Workforce Development Minister Simone McGurk.

“Jobs such as supervisory control and data acquisition engineers, wind turbine technicians, and metering technicians will form part of the skills landscape as we move to distributed electricity generation, and more niche occupations will emerge as technology evolves,” says Training and Workforce Development Minister Simone McGurk.

“The centre will partner with industry to drive skill development and support participation of more Western Australians – including Aboriginal students and women – in clean energy jobs,” says Training and Workforce Development Minister Simone McGurk.

WA’s proposal for a Clean Energy National Centre of Excellence will leverage off a $2.8 billion package announced in the State Budget for new wind, solar and storage capacity to upgrade the grid to power opportunities in green hydrogen, critical minerals and other green industries.

The historic five-year National Skills Agreement, which commenced in January this year, is a $1.34 billion investment between the Albanese and Cook Governments to expand and transform access to WA’s vocational education and training (VET) sector, support quality training and implement reforms to address critical skills needs in WA.

Source: © Government of Western Australia 2017 to 2024

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