The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center has awarded $124,670 to VINCI VR, in partnership with Siemens Gamesa Energy, to develop virtual reality training for U.S.  offshore wind development workers, Kallanish Energy reports.

Currently, there are limited training resources to address the large workforce gap in U.S. offshore wind development.

The virtual reality training will be developed to provide a safer, faster and more inexpensive way to train workers on offshore wind projects along the East Coast.

“Offshore wind power is an important part of the clean energy future for not only Massachusetts but the U.S. as a whole. It will play an important role in a greener future; however, to pull this off, there are pieces of the puzzle that America needs to figure out, such as having a qualified and large workforce,” said Eagle Wu, CEO of Massachusetts-based VINCI VR in a statement.

“Our VR tools can ensure that the U.S. meets its workforce training needs effectively and safely,” he said.

The virtual reality training and the first two classes will be designed and produced by next July.

Additional instruction is planned.

Siemens Gamesa is headquartered in Spain.

This post appeared first on Kallanish Energy News.