NETL, Appalachian Regional Commission partner on job-training program for high-tech welding

The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced last week their recent partnership establishing a job-training program to help create a high-tech workforce with advanced welding skills.

The jobs created are particularly focused on the installation and servicing of superalloy components in next-generation fossil-fueled power plants as well as similar needs within the automotive and aerospace industries. Specific skills addressed in the program include robotics and advanced manufacturing skills, the use of gas tungsten arc welding, and technologies for joining cobalt and nickel-based superalloys in power plants that operate at extreme temperatures and pressure levels. Such advanced power plants increase efficiency and lower carbon dioxide emissions.

Under the agreement, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) transferred $500,000 to ARC, the federal economic development agency that serves West Virginia and portions of 12 other states in Appalachia, for the creation of the program, which both NETL and ARC will manage.

“There is a need to develop a workforce of welders with the high-tech skills to use these superalloys so utilities can produce cleaner electricity from highly efficient coal and gas power plants that run at extreme temperature and pressure levels,” said Briggs White, NETL technology manager for the DOE FE’s High Performance Material program.

NETL and DOE FE recently issued a request for information for information on workforce development needs within the high-performance materials supply chain to help establish training programs and curricula.