CAROLYN Thomas, MS for North Wales, visited the site of the new £12.2million engineering centre at Coleg Llandrillo’s campus in Rhyl.

Part-funded through Welsh Government’s “Sustainable Communities for Learning” scheme, the project will provide the people of the region with the opportunity to develop the skills needed to have successful careers within the engineering sector.

The new, three-floor 2,886m² facility will be packed with more than £2m worth of the latest highly specialised training equipment.

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This includes CAD computer design suites, 3D prototyping machines, and computer-controlled, large industrial-scale metal-cutting CNC machines.

Included within this exciting development will be a new “Institute for Renewable Energy Technology”, in partnership with international company RWE Renewables, which manages many renewable energy sites across the UK.

A stand-out feature of the building will be a three-floor-high industrial scale wind turbine servicing and maintenance hall which will be utilised by RWE’s employees and apprentices.

Work started on site following a major contract award to North Wales-based Wynne Construction, and the centre is expected to be occupied and open for teaching by 2024.

Lawrence Wood, principal of Coleg Llandrillo, said: “Impressive progress has been made on this important project - thanks to our contractors Wynne Construction.

“When complete, the new engineering centre will provide a real opportunity for the region to develop the green skills required for the future.”

Carolyn Thomas MS added: “It was fantastic to visit Coleg Llandrillo in Rhyl to see the fantastic new engineering centre of excellence under construction.

“This is a great example of Welsh Government investment and partnership working to deliver a facility that will provide local people and beyond with the relevant skills to work on renewable projects in North Wales and across the World at the forefront of the technology.

“I was particularly pleased to hear about the partnership with RWE regarding developing skills at the college to maintain the wind turbines here in North Wales, and RWE’s plan to create green hydrogen which could provide a base load when the wind turbines are not turning.”

Dafydd Roberts, who attended on behalf of RWE, said: “It was a privilege to be able to accompany Carolyn Thomas MS in visiting this new engineering facility, which is of vital importance for RWE as we seek to meet the needs of the drive to net zero with a highly-skilled workforce.

“This will include training all of our apprentice turbine technicians for the whole of the UK in partnership with Grŵp Llandrillo Menai here in Rhyl, to the highest possible standards.

“As well as existing sites like Gwynt y Môr, Clocaenog and others across the UK, this will include potential new sites, such as the Awel y Môr offshore wind farm and future developments in floating wind in the Celtic Sea, providing careers well into the middle of the century and beyond.”