Ian Lucas plugs in to the UK’s first solar-powered electric vehicle charging point

Business Minister Ian Lucas yesterday announced £8.4m funding for a new training centre for the low carbon vehicle industry, meeting students from Gateshead College who will be using it to learn new low carbon skills.

The new centre will train those already working in the sector, young people and adults, and students from age 14 upwards in manufacturing and maintenance for ultra low carbon vehicles. It will give learners access to the latest technology and production methods which already play an important role in the region, with companies including Nissan, Smith Electric Vehicles and AVID Vehicles all looking to the low carbon future. The project will create a 5,658m² national Skills Academy for Sustainable Manufacturing and Innovation in Sunderland.

Ian Lucas also switched on the UK’s first publicly-available solar-powered electric vehicle charging point at Gateshead Civic Centre, which has been funded by Regional Development Agency One North East. The canopies are manufactured through a partnership of Romag and Tegrel and are installed and distributed by British Gas.

He commented: "We know it is important to train and upskill young people as we move out of the downturn, especially in growth areas like low carbon technology. That is why we are supporting projects like this. It is a great example of the education sector and industry working together to provide the facilities and training people need to get on in their careers.

“Gateshead College already provides a range of great opportunities to hundreds of people who work and study here in the North East and today’s project will create up to 2,500 new places each year, helping the low carbon sector to grow, both here and across the country. We are investing in vital skills for the future to support the low carbon jobs of the future."

Switching on the charging point, the Minister added: “Innovative products like the PowerPark and innovative companies like Romag, Tegrel and British Gas are showing how knowledge and skills are putting the country in a prime position to benefit from global demand for low carbon technologies.”

The £8.4m National Training Centre for Sustainable Manufacturing will be part of Semta’s National Skills Academy for Manufacturing, and has been made possible thanks to the partnership between the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) Gateshead College, Semta, One North East and Nissan. The support for the programme includes £4.2m from LSC, £2.4m from One North East and £917,000 from Gateshead College.

Richard Thorold, principal of Gateshead College said: “This new training centre will be a major asset for the region. It will be a world class training facility for employers, apprentices and students, providing new skills for new jobs.”

Chris Roberts, Regional Director, LSC North East, said: “This revolutionary new training centre is becoming a reality thanks to the close partnership working between all the agencies involved. Gateshead College, Nissan and One North East have invested in the new facility to ensure that learners, employers and the region as a whole can benefit from Nissan’s state of the art production methods. Big changes are taking place with the transition to a low carbon economy. We need to lead the way in developing our future workforce to ensure that our people have the skills they need and that business has the backing it needs to be able take advantage of the opportunities that will emerge.”

Semta Chief Executive Philip Whiteman: “This is a major development for the National Skills Academy for Manufacturing, a true partnership initiative which will ensure that we focus on the strategic skills needs of leadership and management, Lean Production, maintenance, logistics, and the sustainability of manufacturing. The Skills Academy is making a signification contribution understanding the need to support renewable technologies critical to the future of the region. So the Academy will be working with Nissan and Gateshead College to develop leading edge products and services and to disseminate these across the regions from our centre of excellence.”

The ‘PowerPark’ at Gateshead Civic Centre is a solar car parking canopy made of PowerGlaz PV panels that can be used in car parks at airports, stations, supermarkets, shopping centres, offices and public buildings including sports and leisure facilities. The canopy generates electricity which can be sold into the national grid as well as charging electric vehicles.

Leader of Gateshead Council, Mick Henry said: “This is an inspiring example of how Gateshead and the North East are leading the way in sustainable transport. This solar charging point will be a powerful illustration that the electric vehicle revolution is here. It will be part of a rapidly expanding network of infrastructure at public buildings which will make electric vehicles a real option for people in Gateshead.

“We’re totally committed to playing a lead role in the rollout of electric vehicles and infrastructure and, in just weeks from now, the largest local authority fleet of electric vehicles in the region will be delivering key services to Gateshead residents, thereby reducing carbon emissions and saving money at the same time.”

Gateshead Council has ordered 10 electric and four hybrid vans which are due to start replacing diesel powered vehicles this spring and is also seriously investigating the potential to begin the replacement of its car fleet with electric models. It is also investing in a network of charging points at public buildings as part of the Plugged in Places scheme.

One North East, British Gas, Romag and Tegrel entered into a collaboration last year to support the development of low carbon vehicle infrastructure in North East England as part of the regional installation of 1,300 electric vehicle charging points.

Gearóid Lane, Director of Communities and New Energy, British Gas, said: “It’s fantastic to see our first solar canopy open to the public. This marks an important step towards creating a comprehensive recharging infrastructure which is crucial for driving the mass-market acceptance of electric vehicles. Our partnership with One North East is further evidence of our commitment to invest in low carbon technologies. We look forward to continuing this successful initiative to help reduce carbon emissions from transport and tackle climate change.”

Blaydon MP Dave Anderson, who joined the Minister for his visit, said: “I’m delighted the Minister is here today to see the renewal of the North East and its increasing contribution to the national economy of being in the vanguard of the green industrial revolution. This allows us to use our old skills and natural resources, tackle climate change and provide security of our energy supplies.”

Margaret Fay, Chairman of One North East, said: “This new national training facility is absolutely vital to our plans to develop the UK’s Low Carbon Economic Area for Ultra Low Carbon Vehicles, bringing together regional development, further education and private sector expertise. It will give 26,000 people in the North East’s automotive sector access to the skills training needed to work in the low carbon vehicle sector, and will serve the UK car industry for generations to come. The transition to the low carbon economy is happening here and now in North East England, and solar-powered charging points are just the latest example of how innovation is creating new economic opportunities for our region.”

After meeting Tegrel staff in Blaydon, Mr Lucas visited Newcastle-based electrical engineering company Houghton International to officially open a new 10,000 sq ft facility which is helping the firm to double production in its motor repairs business, servicing the renewable energy sector. The family-owned company is creating 40 jobs through the expansion of its operation in Walker Riverside, having been supported by a £200,000 Grant for Business and Industry from One North East.

Houghton International last year celebrated its 25th year in business, has doubled the size of its Tyneside headquarters and has enjoyed two record years of sales growth, with turnover set to break the £4m mark in 2010 and £5m in 2011, as part of a thriving renewable energy sector in North East England.

Opening the facility Mr Lucas said: “Houghton International represents all that is good about advanced manufacturing in the North East. I am delighted to be opening this new factory in Newcastle, which underlines the company’s commitment to the region and the opportunities that renewable energy offers for our economy.”

Author: Lee Sibbald, March 16, 2010
Filed under: Fleet news