If you do or don’t know already, the EU has bound a target for its associate countries to produce 20% of its energy through renewable sources by 2020. Reports estimate that the energy target could mean that in just twelve years 34% of electricity may have to be provided by renewables. And with such realignments taking place, the government has already begun supporting private and public associations that can provide the training facilities for tradesmen alike to prepare them for the change.
Courses aim applicants to gain qualifications that will cover a syllabus concerned with the selection, design, installation and maintenance for the majority of microgenerational devices. Most of the same nationally recognized courses are also eligible to join the appropriate approved grant scheme. So don’t be scared off by the first sight of course fees, there is help available, just contact your local council for direction or visit www.therenewableenergycentre.co.uk/grants.
But for some, the opportunity to learn new skills and prepare for a forthcoming change is not enough of an incentive to sign up for the training. After all, if it doesn’t effect things now, will it ever? The truth is, the requisites that the EU have set are not only imminent but they are also very much domestic. For instance, all new domestic buildings from 2016 will have to have a microgeneration technology pre-built into them, and solar hot water heating is just one of those technologies – therefore on this one example – plumbers, electricians and heating engineers will need at least a base level of understanding about microgeneration and the maintenance or service issues that may arise after installation.
So if you need to start looking there are available organisations out there that already offer training courses. PPL Training Ltd offer the latest renewable energy courses. As an approved centre with Bpec and LOGIC Certification they only endorse nationally recognised qualifications (so they are also eligible for national grant schemes).
PPL’s are members of the Solar Trade Association (STA) and the Renewable Energy Association (REA) and their training is not like a manufacturers course – which commonly do not entitle the person to join a grant scheme – this is because manufacturer courses tend to be aimed at a single product and are not broad enough to meet requirements that a generic good may present. Their green energy training facilities have a wide range of purpose built demonstration apparatus, which currently host Bpec Solar Hot Water, Bpec Rainwater Harvesting, Bpec Ground source Heat Pumps, Bpec Biomass and NICEIC Solar PV courses throughout the year.
What is most attractive about a PPL course is that as a Bpec and LOGIC renewable training centre they are not tied to one specific manufacturer or product. Therefore they can offer impartial advice on green matters including Solar Hot Water, Ground Source Heat Pumps, Solar PV and other matters. They are also one of the few centres in the UK to offer a complete package of training for both new entrants into renewable energy and existing tradesmen who wish to extend their skills.
For new entrants they offer a ‘renewable engineer package’. This combines the City & Guilds NVQ2 in Plumbing with Bpec Part P Electrical, Bpec Solar Hot Water, Bpec Rainwater Harvesting and Bpec Ground Source Heat Pumps – which are all coordinated under LOGIC regulations. The courses overall offer a free placement (2 – 4 weeks) with a national green energy installer, and because of this combination of green energy training backed-up by professional experience, they can be seen to be at present unique and high quality qualifications within the industry.
There are many associations with a number of various courses available today that can help prepare you for the 2020 shift, and make you more renewable-aware for an eco-friendly future.
For further enquiries into the range of courses and prices that PPL Training Ltd offer, please visit their website at www.ppltraining.co.uk
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Posted under Articles, Building Services & Suppliers, Companies, Gas & Electricity, House & Home, Renewable Energy
This post was written by Ryan Whatley on July 16, 2008