EDP’s Skills Energy Professionals scholarships to help train young people for work at wind farms

EDP, a leading renewable energy company, has launched, in collaboration with global wind energy solutions company Vestas, the fifth edition of the Skills Energy Professionals programme, a free theoretical and practical training course for young people, which equips them to work in the wind energy sector in Spain.

This wind farm maintenance technician course is fully funded by EDP and supported by Vestas. This training is provided by the Wind Energy Business Association (AEE) and is aimed at young people aged between 18 and 30 who live in the areas where EDP's wind farms are located.

The programme consists of 24 scholarships and is now open for applications until 3 April. From that date onwards, the selection process will take place, taking into account academic criteria. On 22 April, training will begin that will provide students with a Certificate of Achievement from the AEE and EDP, and a GWO BST Certificate, enabling them to work in the wind energy sector.

In total, there are 176 hours of blended learning, with theory taught online and practical training delivered in person at the VESTAS operation and maintenance centre in Zaragoza (Centrovía). The wind farm internships will take place at the EDP-VESTAS wind farm closest to the place of residence of each student in the following autonomous communities: Andalusia, Aragon, Asturias, Castile-La Mancha, Castile and Leon, Cantabria, and Navarre.

Yolanda Fernández, Director of Stakeholder Management and Public Affairs at EDP, states that "the wind power sector is booming and is projected to double its current installed capacity by 2030. With these figures, the sector is looking for specialists capable of meeting the needs of wind farms, and this training programme is an opportunity to do so."

This initiative is part of EDP’s commitment to the local communities where it operates, enhancing young people’s employability and helping to address rural depopulation. To date, 100 young people have benefited from this training.

With over 650 GW installed worldwide, wind energy is a booming industry with excellent growth prospects. The sector offers good job opportunities, especially in activities such as the operation and maintenance of wind farms, which are present in much of the territory. The ongoing energy transition will therefore require a large number of professionals.