Avangrid Implements VR Coaching for Wind & Photo voltaic Workforce

December 12, 2024 – Avangrid, a supplier of sustainable power options, is integrating immersive digital actuality (VR) expertise into its coaching applications for wind and photo voltaic technicians. The expertise is being applied on the firm’s Nationwide Coaching Heart (NTC) in Sherman County, Oregon, to enrich conventional hands-on coaching strategies and put together workers for advanced real-world challenges.

The VR modules supply trainees the chance to turn into aware of varied machines and situations in a simulated atmosphere, enabling them to realize sensible information and expertise in a managed and protected setting. The immersive coaching focuses on constructing familiarity with tools and troubleshooting procedures, that are important in renewable power operations.

“At Avangrid, we’re growing a extremely educated and expert workforce that’s important to the {industry}’s progress and creating job alternatives within the communities we function in. Our Nationwide Coaching Heart marked a big step ahead in our skills to equip technicians with the very best requirements of security and technical experience,” stated Pedro Azagra, Avangrid CEO. “By investing in complete coaching applications, we’re not solely enhancing the capabilities of our new hires but in addition empowering our current workforce to excel of their roles.”

The VR coaching enhances bodily, hands-on studying on the NTC, the place technicians have entry to industry-standard instruments and tools, together with a 30-foot fall safety tower and a totally intact wind turbine nacelle (the highest a part of a wind turbine). These services permit trainees to apply upkeep and troubleshooting in a real-world atmosphere, guaranteeing they acquire confidence and competence earlier than taking up subject assignments.

Avangrid’s adoption of VR coaching builds on its earlier work in leveraging digital actuality for workforce improvement. In 2019, the corporate started working with AR and VR coaching options supplier VR Vision to create a “company studying metaverse” – a persistent digital multiplayer simulation that has allowed trainers and trainees throughout the US to satisfy and study important upkeep and security procedures in a risk-free atmosphere.

In keeping with VR Imaginative and prescient, programs inside this company metaverse deal with completely different technical studying modules regarding wind turbine upkeep and half substitute, in addition to different modules, comparable to substation walkthroughs, confined house rescue, gasoline leak investigation and extra. Knowledge captured throughout the company studying metaverse additionally permits Avangrid to make data-driven choices about particular person technician preparedness for important conditions.

Positioned close to a lot of Avangrid’s 14  current wind and photo voltaic services in Oregon, which collectively generate 1.6 GW of unpolluted power, the NTC represents the corporate’s funding in workforce improvement and modern coaching options. Not too long ago, the second cohort of newly employed technicians graduated from the corporate’s Nationwide Coaching Heart, which was constructed earlier this year.

For extra data on Avangrid’s use of immersive expertise in workforce coaching, please go to the corporate’s website.

Picture credit score: Avangrid