STAFF WRITERS
JOB opportunities created by the rehabilitation and remediation of Latrobe Valley brown coal mines, and new energy employment opportunities associated with Australia’s energy transition were the focus of a visit by senior staff from TAFE Gippsland to the Hazelwood Rehabilitation Project.
The tour of Engie’s Hazelwood Rehabilitation Project and Battery Energy Storage System (HBESS) enabled TAFE Gippsland to see first-hand the significant progress made since the closure of the power station and mine.
Engie and venture partner Eku Energy’s HBESS also served as a backdrop for a discussion about the skills and capabilities needed for the Latrobe Valley workforce of the future.
Engie ANZ Chief Executive, Rik De Buyserie said Engie was open to sharing lessons to inform the future direction of adult education.
“We look forward to working with TAFE Gippsland as a key local partner in the energy transition, as we move away from coal-fired generation, into new energy technologies like large-scale storage, and further afield as we look to offshore wind opportunities for the region,” he said.
The Hazelwood Rehabilitation Project is a strong example of the employment opportunities created following the closure of coal-fired power generation and mines.
During peak decommissioning and demolition works from 2018 to 2022, between 400 and 500 people worked at Hazelwood and around 200 jobs continue on the site today. The skills required are primarily for major earthworks, engineering, environmental, and ongoing monitoring as well as management and administration.
With the announced closures of Yallourn and Loy Yang coal mines, also in the Latrobe Valley, such jobs are likely to be in high demand over the next 20 years.
The 150MW/150MWh Hazelwood Battery has been in operation for more than a year and was the first battery to be built at the site of a decommissioned coal-fired power station in Australia. It was designed and built with future expansion in mind using the existing grid connection point and dormant transmission capacity after closure of the Hazelwood Power Station in 2017.
TAFE Gippsland and other tertiary providers will have a role to play in providing appropriate training and education for rehabilitation and new energy jobs.
“TAFE Gippsland is at the forefront of developing training for energy workers wanting to upskill and transition into the new energy space,” TAFE Gippsland Chief Executive, Laura Macpherson said.
“Strong partnerships with new energy leaders such as Engie are essential for us to fully grasp their requirements and cultivate a workforce that is ready to drive the clean energy transition in Gippsland.
“By working together, we ensure that our community is well-prepared to meet the demands of this evolving industry and contribute to a sustainable future.”
