With eyes on an emerging wind hydrogen industry, N.L. trade schools gear up to train the workforce

As wind hydrogen projects are winding their way through provincial government approval process, the question remains — who's going to fill all those jobs?

In late August, Energy Minister Andrew Parsons announced four companies — EverWind Fuels, the Exploits Valley Renewable Energy Corporation, Toqlukuti'k Wind and Hydrogen (ABO Wind) and World Energy GH2 —  would be moving on through the next stage of the province's approval process for wind hydrogen projects.

Based on the information the companies provided the government, Parsons said peak full-time employment could be 11,694 jobs.

Several post-secondary institutions are pivoting to meet that demand, including launching two new programs.

Class in session

While none of these wind hydrogen programs have gotten the provincial government's green light, the College of the North Atlantic has launched two new programs to feed into the industry.

Earlier this month, CNA started training students for a new one-year wind turbine technician program at its Stephenville campus and a two-year hydrogen technician diploma at its Corner Brook campus.

Last week, World Energy GH2 announced it would be providing financial assistance to some students, helping to supply skilled workers for its project. According to a statement, the company is investing about $160,000 in scholarships for students in the new programs and has promised to hire CNA graduates. There are currently 21 students enrolled in the two programs.

"It will take a lot of people to get this new industry off the ground, and to establish Newfoundland and Labrador as a global leader in the fight against climate change," World Energy GH2 chair John Risley said in a statement.

"Project Nujio'qonik will be the first of its kind, and these students will be the first graduates of their kind — it's a natural fit."

However there are questions about where these students will go once they graduate — which will be next year for students in the one-year program — because there won't be any wind hydrogen programs up and running in the province yet.

In August, Parsons said some of the companies had already been in touch with post-secondary institutions to discuss their needs.

Ready to pivot

Steven Taylor, Keyin College's co-owner and executive vice-president, says his private college is well positioned to meet the emerging industry's need for skilled workers.

Keyin's programs are designed to meet industry needs and offer "micro-credentials" suites, he added, which are shorter courses that people can take to update their skills, including workers looking to get out of the oil and gas industry.

"That's the thing with the new industry. There's a lot of unknowns, but they're exciting unknowns because they become opportunities," Taylor told CBC News in a recent interview.

"And therefore we're positioning to really be able to work closely with the industry and continue to grow and adapt with the needs. So we feel very confident about how we're positioned and how we can work with our other partners in the space."

If any of the four wind hydrogen projects are approved, they will take several years to get off the ground and will have life expectancy of decades.

Taylor said his college will be able to quickly alter their courses when the need arises. It takes about four months, or one semester, to adapt the curriculum, he said.

"We're an industry-driven private college and industry-driven is absolutely key, and that's why we stay very close."

Taylor said he had been in contact with a number of the wind hydrogen proponents regarding skilled workers, something he explained was important to do as a private college.

"Staying close to industry — making sure they're aware of what we offer, also of our approach to being very adaptive and flexible and flowing to where the skills gaps are — that's crucially important as well for us."

Need for construction

Academy Canada is looking at the trades training program it already offers and how it can meet the needs of future wind hydrogen projects.

Academic vice-president and chief operating officer Lisa Lovelady said the school has been in contact with some of the four wind hydrogen proponents, though she declined to specify their identities.

"In addition to wind hydrogen-specific occupations, there will also be an increased need for construction trades," Lovelady wrote in an email to CBC News.

"This is important to keep in mind because these trades are already in demand due to the impact of other projects and increased retirements reducing the number of available workers."

Academy Canada has a trades training program that includes construction, which has an umbrella of different disciplines, including carpentry, welding, electrical and roofing.

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