Ørsted Opens New Walney Extension Skills Fund Round

Ørsted has opened the second round of the Walney Extension community skills fund, dedicated to Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) organizations around coastal areas of Lancashire and Cumbria, UK.

Organizations focused on developing and delivering STEM-related training or education courses are welcome to apply for the GBP 50,000 fund through an open application process.

The full amount may be awarded to one organization or split between a number of groups, while the minimum grant organizations can apply for is GBP 10,000.

The deadline for submitting applications is 19 September.

“Following an extremely positive and high level of interest to the first round of the Skills Fund, we have made the decision to open the Fund again to new applications,” Humphrey Laidlow, Ørsted’s Policy Analyst for the Walney Extension wind farm development, said.

“The Fund is part of an annual £100,000 pledge to help to improve local skills and employment opportunities within the region, which itself makes up just part of Orsted’s overall annual funding commitment for the local community.”

Each year, approximately GBP 600,000 will be made available for skills and community projects for the expected 25-year lifetime of the Walney Extension offshore wind farm.

The 659MW wind farm comprises 40 8.25MW MHI Vestas and 47 7MW Siemens turbines, as well as two offshore substations, located some 19km off the Cumbrian coast.

Once fully operational in the second half of this year, Walney Extension will become the world’s largest offshore wind farm.