Week Commencing 08/02/2021 – In The News

Denmark To Build Landmark Energy Hub in the North Sea

Denmark North Sea Energy Hub Model. Source: The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities

Denmark has reached a landmark agreement on the construction of an energy hub in the North Sea. The energy hub will be an artificially constructed island 80 kilometres from the shore of the peninsula Jutland. Around 200 wind turbines with a combined capacity of 3 GW are expected to be installed in the first phase of the project. When fully developed, the North Sea energy island hub will reach a capacity of 10 GW.

The hub will produce yet unseen amounts of green electricity and is one of the government’s flagship projects for the green transition in Europe. Fully implemented it will be able to cover the consumption of 10 million European households, the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities said.

“This is truly a great moment for Denmark and for the global green transition. This decision marks the start of a new era of sustainable energy production in Denmark and the world and it links very ambitious climate goals with growth and green jobs. The energy hub in the North Sea will be the largest construction project in Danish history. It will make a big contribution to the realization of the enormous potential for European offshore wind, and I am excited for our future collaboration with other European countries,” said the Danish Minister for Climate, Dan Jørgensen.

Read more from OffshoreWIND.

At Least 170 Missing After Indian Flood Disaster

The Rishiganga river in Chamoli district on 9 February, with debris from the hydroelectric plant visible. Photograph: Sajjad Hussain/AFP/Getty Images

There has been a huge flash flood in the state of Uttarakhand in Northern India, thought to have been caused by an avalanche or landslide hitting a hanging glacier, leading to a vast and destructive torrent of water rushing down the Chamoli river valley, obliterating two hydropower dams and several bridges in its pathway.

So far 34 bodies have been recovered from the disaster and more than 170 are still missing. At least two bodies were discovered in the city of Rishikesh, which is about 150 miles downstream. Rescue efforts continued to be focused on a tunnel beneath the Tapovan-Vishnugad hydropower dam on the Dhauliganga river where around 30 men were working when the violent surge of water engulfed the plant on Sunday morning.

There was anger and protests among families of the missing that all rescue efforts were focused on the Tapovan tunnel. Family members of 57 men who are still missing from Rishiganga hydropower dam project, which was the first to be hit by the fast-flowing torrent of water and was completely obliterated, said no efforts had been made by authorities to try to dig them out.

Read more about the disaster from The Guardian.

Workplace Covid Testing For Businesses

A desk by a window with various laptops and computers, a keyboard, a mouse, a phone and a mug on it, as well as a plant tray to the side of it.Workplace Covid testing is now being offered to more companies in England, for staff who cannot work from home during lockdown.

You are eligible if:

  • your business is registered in England
  • you employ 50 people or more
  • your employees cannot work from home

The programme will allow eligible companies to access lateral flow tests, which can produce results in less than 30 minutes. Previously only firms with more than 250 staff qualified for testing.

website has been launched for more businesses to register for the rapid testing programme; WA Management would recommend that any company who qualifies should register for this in order to help keep their staff protected.

Book Onto Our Emergency First Aid at Work Open Course!

Text which reads "Emergency First Aid Training: BOOK TODAY to save. Book our comprehensive First Aid at Working Training course, delivered by leading experts. Ring 01926 883 600, or email accounts@wamanagement.co.uk to book your space today", in a blue font against a white background, alongside symbols of a white cross and a telephone.We are pleased to announce that we are running an open Emergency First Aid at Work training course on 8th February in Coventry. The course costs just £125 +VAT per person or £115 +VAT for 3 or more people.

We are running these courses as it is considered essential for many of our customers to have qualified first aid trainers. Rest assured that COVID-19 guidelines will all be followed during the day to ensure the safety of our trainers and trainees.

We can also arrange course bookings for in-house training sessions as well.

If you are interested, please get in touch with us to book your course!

Valentine’s Day Course Offer ❤

Valentine’s Day is coming up this weekend and it’s going to look a bit different this year with no chance of fancy dinners out or cinema dates. With all this time spent at home together, communication is more key than ever; you don’t want any arguments or misunderstandings to ruin this special day!

For this reason, WA Management are offering 50% off our Communication Skills online training course with the code ‘LOVE50’ so you know exactly how to avoid any miscommunications during this romantic weekend because let’s face it, there’s nowhere you can escape to if you have a falling out during lockdown, apart from separate rooms!

Don’t miss out as this offer is only valid until midnight on Sunday 14th February!