Turkey and Norway Team Up to Train Offshore Wind Workers

Turkey is about to become a hub for training the next generation of offshore wind energy workers, thanks to a groundbreaking partnership with Norway's Energy Innovation.

The Turkish Offshore Wind Energy Association (DURED) signed agreements to establish a training center in Balikesir province that will certify engineers and technicians to work on offshore wind farms anywhere in the world. The center will award Global Wind Organization certificates, the gold standard credential for the rapidly growing industry.

Murat Durak, chairman of DURED, explained that Turkey wants to tap into the massive wind energy potential surrounding the country's three seas: the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Black Sea. The training will cover everything from safety protocols to the tricky skill of boarding offshore turbines from helicopters and boats.

The timing couldn't be better. Global offshore wind installations have surged by over 30% annually for the past decade, and worldwide targets just quadrupled to 200-230 gigawatts by 2030. Denmark is already testing single turbines that generate 15 to 25 megawatts, meaning just four turbines could power entire communities.

Norway's Energy Innovation brings serious expertise to the table. The company helped Norway set ambitious targets of 30 gigawatts by 2040, which will require 36,000 full-time workers just to operate the wind farms.

The Ripple Effect

Turkey's training center won't just benefit Turkish workers. The facility is positioned to serve neighboring countries including Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Russia, Georgia, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, and Greece, none of which currently have their own training centers.

Durak emphasized that Turkey is racing to bring this expertise to the country "before it's too late" to participate in the global energy transition. He's urging the government to set a clear 2030 target of 10 gigawatts to attract international investors and capitalize on the country's coastal advantages.

The partnerships extend beyond Norway. DURED has also signed protocols with Bandirma Onyedi Eylul University, the South Marmara Development Agency, and TUBITAK Marmara Research Center to make the training center a reality. The next phase involves preparing a feasibility report to determine exactly what investments and materials are needed.

Workers who earn certificates at the Turkish center will be qualified to work throughout Europe and beyond, creating career opportunities in one of the world's fastest-growing clean energy sectors.

As countries worldwide search for alternatives to natural gas and coal, offshore wind is emerging as the most viable replacement at scale, and Turkey is positioning itself at the center of this green revolution.