Education

Students learn about offshore wind development and the jobs they could benefit from

Published

2 years ago

May 10, 2023

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

TEENAGERS Ethan Adams and Jack Hale said they barely knew anything about renewable energy when they signed up to a brand new course at Pembrokeshire College, but that has changed.

They now have a solid grasp of what is shaping up to be a significant source of jobs and investment in the Celtic Sea – the large body of water bordered by South West Wales, the South West of England and the south of Ireland.

Floating offshore wind farms in this marine expanse could be helping the UK decarbonise its power supply further in a few years’ time, and people will be needed to assemble, install and maintain the turbines, connect them to the grid, and refine and improve their design.

Staff will also be needed to research, build and maintain tidal energy projects – like a large electricity-generating lagoon and floating solar farm that has been proposed in Swansea Bay.

Mechanical engineering students Ethan and Jack were among the first intake of a pilot course called Destination Renewables at Pembrokeshire College. The industry-led programme is the first of what is expected to be several courses underpinned by a £1.2 billion city deal for the Swansea Bay region, which comprises Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.

The idea of the courses will be to equip students with some of the advanced manufacturing, technical and other skills which the jobs of tomorrow will need.

Ethan, 18, of Tenby, said he was interested in widening his horizons. “I knew nothing about renewable energy,” he said. “I thought, why not expand my knowledge and gain an interest in what’s going on around me.

“I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve found it really informative and interactive. It’s never the same thing twice.”

The students have done field trips and workshops, listened to renewable energy business leaders, and learned about the planning and consenting process, among other things.

Ethan said one example of what they’d explored was the different ways of “pegging down” offshore wind turbines, and the need to consider the impact on marine life – particular the vibrations associated with their installation.

“They were telling us that they can create a forcefield of bubbles to soak up the sound,” he said.

Ethan attended a conference held at the Port of Milford Haven where he spoke to Secretary of State for Wales David TC Davies. He and other students who have opted to carry on with the course will focus on a renewable energy project in the second year.

Ethan said he could see a future for himself in the renewable sector. “I feel like I would be quite suited to project management,” he said.

Jack, 17, who lives near Newgale, said: “I never really learned about renewable energy at school. I’ve definitely gained a wider perspective.

“We’ve had guest speakers coming in telling us about how much goes into these projects, and how many jobs there will be.”

Hayley Williams, the college’s curriculum development manager, said the course aimed to raise awareness both of the UK’s drive towards net zero – drastically cutting carbon emissions and offsetting the remainder – and the role Pembrokeshire could play in it.

Irish company DP Energy and French energy giant EDF Renewables have had a key role in delivering the pilot course.

“We started talking to DP Energy about 18 months ago,” said Mrs Williams. “What surfaced is that young people didn’t really know what net zero was and they didn’t know there was so much research and development taking place at the Milford Haven Waterway.

“The plan was to bring the whole renewable sector to life – from research and development, consenting, commissioning and connecting.”

She said around 60 students initially signed up but that this number had reduced. “Some students, say those doing doing construction, were not finding it was relevant to them,” she said. “The ones that have stayed on are thoroughly engaged. Other colleges in South West Wales are interested.”

Mrs Williams said there were around nine companies in the area developing marine energy technologies, and that a demonstration floating offshore wind project by a company called Blue Gem Wind could start being installed in the Celtic Sea next year.

Mrs Williams said she felt there was an element of “sea blindness” in Pembrokeshire about the natural resources just off the coastline. “All of a sudden it’s like somebody is opening the curtains,” she said.

DP Energy and EDF Renewables will provide mentoring opportunities to students in the second year.

Ffion Wright, of DP Energy, said: “We are working now to build on the success achieved to come back in September with a condensed programme that can be delivered to Pembrokeshire learners and rolled out to other interested colleges in Wales and the South West of England.

“A key ingredient of the programme has been the time given by industry partners to share their knowledge and expertise with students. The course fully embraces the ‘you have to see it to be it’ approach and it will continue to be central to Destination Renewables.”

UK ministers want to increase the installed capacity of offshore wind by fourfold by 2030. There are currently around 12 gigawatts (GW) of installed offshore wind in UK waters. The target is 50GW, with up to 5GW from floating rather than fixed turbines. To put it in context, the UK Government said 50GW of offshore wind would generate the equivalent electricity for approximately 75 million homes. But wind conditions aren’t perfect all the time.

DP Energy said a 1GW project it would like to develop in the Celtic Sea with EDF Renewables could generate the equivalent electricity used by 920,000 homes based on average wind yields.

All told, this would require a vast acceleration in projects coming on stream compared to now, and industry groups say the planning process needs to be shortened and environmental assessments streamlined. That in turn could concern those who worry about the impacts of offshore wind farms on busy waterways and the marine life they support.

The Welsh Affairs Committee has published a report saying that floating offshore wind, like the 1GW joint venture proposed by DP Energy and EDF Renewables, represented the “single biggest investment opportunity in Wales for decades”.

DP Energy said it hopes to secure a seabed lease for the project, called Gwnyt Glas – Welsh for blue wind – from the Crown Estate next year. The Crown Estate has identified five zones in the Celtic Sea which will be refined into potential project development areas. It expects to begin a seabed leasing tender process this year for companies looking to develop projects up to 1GW.

Meanwhile, the ports of Milford Haven and Port Talbot together form the newly-announced Celtic Freeport, which aims to speed up the roll-out of floating offshore wind among other things. Free ports have tax exemptions and aim to boost economic activity.

Another long-term project – part of the city deal programme – is the testing and development of zero-carbon marine energy in Pembrokeshire. Called Pembroke Dock Marine, the £60 million project comprises infrastructure improvements, an engineering centre of excellence, and a new test area and demonstration zone.

It appears that South West Wales could have a big part to play in solving the UK’s net zero puzzle. There will be significant upfront costs but also good job prospects for young engineers, scientists, welders and project managers.

“I think it’s definitely a big move and it will take time,” said Jack. “But, with climate change, I think it’s the way to go.”

Education

Pembrokeshire free school transport call to be heard at County Hall

Published

9 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to allow school pupils from Johnston and Tiers Cross access to free school transport to the nearby Haverfordwest high school is to be heard by councillors next week.

Due to a change in catchment areas the pupils are no longer able to access free transport to Haverfordwest, instead coming under the Milford Haven catchment area.

A petition calling for the reinstatement of the former catchment area to access free transport for pupils to Haverfordwest was recently started in the county.

The e-petition, which ran from September 18-November 1 on the council’s own website, attracted 351 signatures, meeting the threshold for a debate at the relevant Pembrokeshire County Council overview and scrutiny committee, in this case the Schools And Learning Overview And Scrutiny Committee meeting of November 28.

The petition, started by Kirsty Coaker, reads: “We call on Pembrokeshire County Council to change Johnston and Tiers Cross School Catchment back to Haverfordwest.

“Children of Johnston and Tiers Cross are now ineligible for free school transport to Haverfordwest High due to the areas no longer being in ‘catchment’.

“Both Johnston and Tiers Cross are Haverfordwest postal codes and are classed as Haverfordwest, yet the school catchment is Milford Haven.

“Please help our children access suitable transport to and from secondary school.”

The e-petition will now be considered at the November 28 meeting.

Education

Creative contributions in Operation Ivydene ASB poster competition

Published

1 day ago

November 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

STUDENTS from across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys have been recognised for their outstanding contributions to a poster competition run as part of the Dyfed-Powys Police Operation Ivydene initiative.

Over the past few months, primary and secondary schools across the four counties were invited to submit designs highlighting the impact of anti-social behaviour (ASB) and the importance of promoting safer neighbourhoods.

Last week, the posters were judged by a panel of police officers and crime prevention specialists to come up with the winners.

A special prize-giving ceremony was held on Monday 18^th November, where the five winning students were honoured for their outstanding contributions.

‘Antisocial behaviour’ is a broad term which includes behaviour that has caused or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to a member or members of the public. Criminal and non-criminal behaviours such as littering, vandalism, public drunkenness, aggressive dogs, or noise nuisance may also be considered ASB.

Caryl Griffiths, ASB Hotspot Co-ordinator for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “The goal of this competition was to engage students in understanding the effects of anti-social behaviour on their communities, and to inspire them to think about how they can contribute to a safer, more supportive environment.

“Judging the competition was challenging due to the high standard of entries, but we ultimately selected five winners who showed exceptional creativity and thoughtfulness.

“A special thanks to Bethan James, our Schools Service Manager, for her role in bringing all the schools together.

Until March 2025, ten of the areas worst hit by antisocial behaviour across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, and Powys will receive additional dedicated ‘Hotspot’ police patrols through Operation Ivydene, thanks to an injection of cash from the Home Office, secured for the force by Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn.

The patrols focus on tackling these types of issues in the following areas:

Carmarthenshire – Tyisha, Elli / Llanelli town centre, Carmarthen town and Ammanford.
Ceredigion – Aberystwyth and Aberaeron.
Pembrokeshire – Haverfordwest town centre and Tenby town centre.
Powys – east Newtown and Brecon.

Inspector Darren Crockford said: “Operation Ivydene is a targeted initiative that uses a ‘Hotspot’ policing approach to address and behaviour that constitutes ASB and causes harm and alarm in the community.

“Hotspots have been selected as the areas experiencing the highest volumes of violence and antisocial behaviour (ASB) offences and based on local intelligence.

“The patrols aim to provide a reassuring presence to help people feel safe while also proactively disrupting crime and acting as a deterrent.

“An important element of the overall Operation Ivydene approach will be to engage with our communities having meaningful discussions about how ASB impacts the community, and encourage them to take an active role in creating safe and positive places to live.”

Bethan James, Dyfed-Powys Police Schools Service Manger added: “Our Schools Service offers crime prevention sessions to children and young people on topics such as ASB where we use bespoke films and real-life examples to reflect victims’ experiences and explore the boundaries between fun and fear.

“Sessions delivered by our team of Schools Police Officers are specifically designed to challenge mindsets and attitudes in a safe and supportive learning environment.

“The discussions between the officers and the learners explore the long-lasting, harmful effects of ASB, about crimes and consequences and where children can find advice and support.”

During national Anti-Social Behaviour Week, Dyfed-Powys Police is sharing information to help members of the public recognise, report, and get support for anti-social behaviour. Follow them on Facebook for more information.

Charity

‘Grave concerns’ over national insurance hike

Published

1 day ago

November 21, 2024

Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter

SENEDD Members expressed grave concerns about the impact of the UK Government’s national insurance tax hike on GPs, universities and charities in Wales.

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth warned the rise in employer national insurance contributions from 13.8% to 15% in April will have a disproportionate impact in Wales.

He told the Senedd: “Labour are quick to accuse others of fantasy economics whilst their own plans represent nightmare economics for thousands of employers and employees.”

Raising concerns about the impact on job creation and wages, he said employment levels are at their lowest for almost a decade – lower than anywhere else in the UK.

He accused Labour of breaking a manifesto pledge as he pointed to an Office for Budgetary Responsibility (OBR) assessment that three quarters of the cost will be passed to workers.

Leading a debate on November 20, Mr ap Iorwerth called on the UK Treasury to fully cover the added cost to public sector employers in Wales.

He said: “It’s not the private sector only … bearing the brunt. Charities, GPs, universities – sectors already feeling the squeeze, to say the very least – have been taken to the brink.”

He pointed to “eye-watering” bills of £90,000 for some GPs, with the British Medical Association warning some surgeries could close as a consequence.

Mr ap Iorwerth said mental health charity Plattform faces a £250,000 annual bill and Welsh universities, “already crippled by financial challenges”, will face significant further pressures.

Plaid Cymru’s motion urged Welsh ministers to press the UK Government to apply a wider definition of the public sector workforce to include universities, GPs and charities.

Peter Fox, the Conservatives’ shadow finance secretary, similarly accused Labour of breaking a manifesto commitment not to raise tax on working people.

The former council leader said: “Time and time again – the chancellor went on TV and made the claim, only to u-turn after they got into power.”

Mr Fox, who represents Monmouth, said even a 1% rise in employer national insurance contributions for the public sector would cost Welsh taxpayers an extra £100m.

He told the Senedd: “The UK Government has said that it will provide funding to cover the cost of national insurance contributions for those workers.

“However, this will still come out of the taxpayer’s pocket … ultimately it is the taxpayers who are going to pay for the Chancellor’s tax increase.”

Luke Fletcher, Plaid Cymru’s shadow economy secretary, warned the national insurance rise will be a drag on an “already anaemic” Welsh jobs market.

His colleague Sioned Williams, who also represents South Wales West, described the chancellor’s “back-of-a-fag-packet” plans as senseless.

She raised concerns about six-figure increases in tax bills for charities including Tenovus, Marie Curie, Citizens Advice Cymru and the Wastesavers Charitable Trust.

Cefin Campbell, Plaid’ Cymru’s shadow education secretary, said the national insurance increase will cost Welsh universities an estimated extra £20m a year.

The Mid and West Wales MS warned: “Without a shadow of a doubt, these additional costs could push our higher education institutions over the precipice.”

Labour’s Hefin David said difficult decisions had to be made to fill a £22bn “black hole” left by the Tories but he rejected Plaid Cymru claims of a return to austerity.

Dr David told the Senedd: “Yes, tough decisions have to be made but I think that in the longer term, this is to everyone’s benefit.”

Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Conservative opposition, disputed the “incorrect” £22bn figure, saying the OBR found a £9bn gap.

Replying to the debate, Mark Drakeford stressed that neither he nor the Welsh Government has responsibility for national insurance contributions.

Wales’ finance secretary, who was appointed in September, criticised “fantasy economics” from opposition members on the Plaid Cymru and Conservative benches.

Deriding the “politics of the playground”, he said: “Both of them are willing to spend money on almost anything; neither of them are willing to raise the money necessary from anyone.”

Prof Drakeford said the chancellor returned national insurance broadly to where it had been as a share of gross domestic product for 13 of the 14 Conservative years.

The former First Minister pointed out that the UK Government offset national insurance rises on small employers by more than doubling the employment allowance.

He told the debating chamber or Siambr: “If you want to pay for things, you have to find the money to do so. That is what the chancellor had to do. That is how we will get the money that will come to public services here in Wales.”

Senedd Members voted 25-19 against Plaid Cymru’s motion.