Skills: Energy Professionals Spain
Professional skills
What is Skills: Energy Professionals?
Since 2021, EDP has been running the Skills: Energy Professionals program in Spain, an initiative that was originally launched under the name Keep it Local with a clear objective: to boost youth employability in rural areas.
Program objective
To train new wind farm operation and maintenance technicians through an accredited technical course offered free of charge to young people living in municipalities at risk of depopulation and with high unemployment rates, where EDP operates wind farms.
For example, in its latest edition, the Wind Farm Operation and Maintenance Technician course was offered in priority municipalities across Málaga, Cádiz, Zaragoza, Huesca, Teruel, Albacete, Cuenca, Burgos, Cantabria, Asturias, and Navarra.
Specialized technical training
The course, delivered by the AEE - Asociación Empresarial Eólica (Spanish Wind Energy Association) with the support of Vestas, combines theory and practice in a 180-hour hybrid format:
- Online theory: flexible and accessible learning
- On-site practical training at the Vestas Operation and Maintenance Center
- Basic health and safety certification (AEE)
- BST GWO certification (Global Wind Organization) working at heights and first aid
Results that speak for themselves
Wind energy is the leading source in Spain’s energy mix, and the demand for qualified professionals continues to grow:
- 1 in 3 students found a job within the first 6 months
- 50% employability one year after completing the course
A scalable model with global impact
Following its success in Spain, the program has been replicated in Brazil, Italy, and Portugal, demonstrating its ability to generate impact in:
- Rural development
- Knowledge
- Economic growth
- Energy transition
By offering professional opportunities close to the participants’ place of origin, we help them become active agents of economic development and sustainable growth within their rural communities.
Impact Results
students trained
average grade
average age
employability rate
About the global Skills Energy Professionals program
Get in touch to request additional information about our programs and projects, or apply for a contribution by filling out our form, and we'll get back to you.
