On April 1, Kuressaare Ametikool opened new safety training centre and workshop to train electric wind turbine blade technicians and wind turbine technicians.
"With funding from the European Union and the support of partners, we have built new workshops. We have the capability to conduct safety trainings based on the international standards of GWO and IRATA, and train blade technicians," said Mairold Vaik, the project manager for the development of wind technician education. "In these new rooms, we will also introduce wind energy specialties to future students and other interested parties."
Opening ceremony was attended by the minister of education and research, Kristina Kallas, chancellor of the ministry, Triin Laasi-Õige, several members of parliament, representatives of the Estonian wind energy sector, local municipality and education sector.
The workshops were established in the Tehnoloogiamajakas’ building located in Upa village. The reconstruction project and construction was conducted by INV Konsult OÜ. The total contract price, including VAT, is 430,380 euros.
The safety training centre also houses an electric wind turbine generator, supplied to the school by Meritreid OÜ. Enefit Green AS donated two used wind turbine blades, which will be used in teaching the material processing of blade maintenance.
The training of blade technicians is planned to start in September 2025, with the first group of students expected to enter the job market in the summer of 2026.
The curriculum for electric wind turbine blade technicians was developed in consultation with the Ministry of Education and Research and entrepreneurs in the field.
In January 2024, Kuressaare Ametikool received a positive funding decision from the PEEK programme totalling 1.98 million euros to create conditions for training wind energy specialists based on the Saaremaa county's development strategy.
The European cohesion funds are supporting the project with 1.5 million euros. The Ministry of Education and Research is contributing 400,000 euros. Larger procurements are organized by the Riigi Tugiteenuste Keskus, a government agency. The project will last until August 2026.
The project partner, the Estonian Wind Energy Association (ETEA), which is a professional association of wind energy entrepreneurs, is contributing an additional 21,000 euros to the project activities.
Together with ETEA, the vocational school will introduce wind energy specialties and the entire field to the public and potential future students. Saare Wind Energy, Meritreid, and 3D Wind Service are also contributing to the project. Tallinn University of Technology's Kuressaare College is also a cooperation partner.
More photos of the opening ceremony (by Valmar Voolaid)link opens on new page
