Students at North East Scotland College will benefit from an exciting new training opportunity after a generous donation by local partners.
Peterhead Power Station, operated by SSE Thermal, has gifted two engines to the college.
The equipment has been removed from the coastal facility by Bartech Marine Engineering, and is now installed in the engineering workshops at NESCol’s Fraserburgh Campus.
The Dorman V12 engines will be used by the college’s specialist teaching staff to support the wide range of engineering courses delivered at Fraserburgh for school pupils, full-time students and apprentices.
Paul Balfour, head of sector for mechanical, electrical and vehicle technologies at NESCol, said: “We value our partnerships with employers in the region and this is another fantastic example of collaboration.
"Students at NESCol benefit greatly from working in industry standard facilities and the addition of these new engines provides another fantastic opportunity for aspiring engineers to learn their trade using high specification equipment. We’re very grateful to the teams at Peterhead Power Station and Bartech for making this donation and supporting the installation of the engines.”
Jacques Jonker, station manager at Peterhead Power Station, said: “Peterhead Power Station and the NESCol team at Fraserburgh Campus have formed a close and successful relationship, with the college producing the academic foundation for many of our apprentices over the years.
"We were delighted that we could provide the decommissioned engines to the Fraserburgh Campus and for us to help contribute to their engineering department. It is a privilege for SSE Thermal to support NESCol and it further highlights our commitment to working and collaborating with local education partners.”
Kevin Bain, contract manager at Bartech, said: “It’s great to support future engineers in the North-east, especially in an environment as well-equipped as Fraserburgh Campus. At Bartech we’re committed to environmental responsibility, so reusing equipment like these donated engines is especially meaningful.
"We’re proud to play a part in training the next generation, and it’s exciting to see how these resources will help students gain hands-on experience and build skills for the engineering industry.”
The 1,180MW Peterhead Power Station is a flexible gas-fired plant. It first became operational in 1982. In the 2000s, the plant underwent a major repowering project to convert it into an efficient CCGT power station.
Today, Peterhead is the largest power station of its kind in Scotland, playing a critical role in meeting the country’s energy needs and providing important flexibility to the grid. SSE Thermal is currently exploring redevelopment opportunities for a decarbonised power station at Peterhead, using CCS or hydrogen solutions, to ensure the site can continue to provide essential flexible generation in a net zero world. SSE Thermal is part of NECCUS, an alliance focused on decarbonising energy and industry to support Scotland's target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2045.
NESCol is one of the largest providers of vocational education and training in Scotland, delivering to more than 20,000 full-time, part-time and distance learning students each year. The college operates from its main Aberdeen Altens, Aberdeen City and Fraserburgh campuses as well as the Scottish Maritime Academy in Peterhead.