Click here to register!
Technical Training for Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency in Brazil
The Brazilian renewable energy market is getting a boost. Skilled personnel along the whole value chain is required to maintain this upswing and to guarantee the quality of photovoltaic, wind power and solar thermal system installations and their maintenance. This article describes the approach of SENAI, the biggest Technical and Vocational Education and Training institution in Latin America - supported by GIZ[1] – in establishing standardized further training programs for renewable energy technologies as well as energy efficiency according to industry needs.
Introduction
Brazil is massively investing in renewable energy (RE). It is estimated that the installed capacity of wind energy will quadruple within 8 years from 5.4 GW in 2014 to 21,4 GW by 2022. The photovoltaic sector is less dynamic but gaining momentum as well with a projection of 3GW to be installed by 2022[2].
The Brazilian TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) system does not yet sufficiently provide graduates for the existing and upcoming demand. Renewable energy and energy efficiency are relatively new topics for the majority of training providers and need to be integrated systematically into the TVET system (initial training as well as further training). Curricula need to be developed and standardized, teachers to be trained, new workshops to be build and partnerships with industry established to perform high quality technical training.An important step was taken in this regard by the National Service for Industrial Training (port. Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial – SENAI), the biggest TVET institution in Latin America and closely linked to the Brazilian Industry Federation (port. Confederação Nacional da Indústria – CNI).
Training in Wind Power
Two SENAI institutions in the Northeast[3] are preparing to be the first training centers in Brazil to qualify specialized technicians for the wind energy sector. These training programs will focus on
- Operation and maintenance of wind power parks;
- Fabrication and assembly of wind power parks;
- Production and repair of rotor blades.
The cooperation of SENAI with GIZ analyses industry training needs, defines occupational standards and curricula, outlines training center infrastructure and prepares teachers and instructors for the courses that will consist of 20% theory and 80% practical training. The first training programs are supposed to start in 2015.
Implementation Requirements Wind Energy Training Centre - Resumo do Projeto Implementação do Centro de Treinamento Eólico (CTEO) (2013)
References
- ↑ GIZ is acting in Brazil on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (ger. Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung - BMZ) within the German Cooperation for Sustainable Development (ger. Zusammenarbeit für nachhaltige Entwicklung – ZnE). It offers technical and strategical advice to its Brazilian partners. The aim of the cooperation agreement is to achieve a sustainable growth of the Brazilian energy sector, promoting an increased use of renewable energies and energy efficiency.
- ↑ MME 2014: Plano Decenal de Expansão de Energia 2023. http://www.epe.gov.br/Estudos/Documents/PDE2023.pdf (Retrieved on 3-12-2015)
- ↑ The Brazilian Centre for Gas and Renewable Energy Technologies (port. Centro de Tecnologias do Gás e Energias Renováveis – CTGAS-ER), operated by SENAI and Petrobras, and the Centre of Wind Power Training (port. Centro de Treinamento Eólico – CTEO) in Fortaleza, operated by the SENAI department of Ceará state
