As reported by Smart Energy International, E.ON recently partnered with FocusXR, a Liverpool-based XR training solutions provider, to help upskill English West Midlands engineers at its Kingswinford, Birmingham net zero training academy.
The move sees the Birmingham Net Zero training academy leverage a UK technology firm, driving regional innovation in Liverpool and nationally. Notably, it comes after the city of Liverpool used VR to assist with its Merseyrail construction project.
The E.ON partnership uses FocusXR services to create bespoke training applications ready for situations an E.ON engineer may face when working in a customer’s home. In a company statement, E.ON said, “By digitalising and adapting our training methods, we are paving the way for a more sustainable and technologically advanced future.”
FocusXR’s training covers a range of on-site scenarios, such as installing green technologies, heat pumps, electric vehicle chargers, solar panels, battery storage, and smart meters. The training allows engineers to learn the required skills via repeatable virtual simulation, avoiding the need to go to customer homes for training.
Moreover, FocusXR provides the West Midlands safety training, including features to simulate hazard awareness and safety checks.
With its current FocusXR partnership success, E.ON looks forward to enhancing the AR/VR training modules by including accompanying AI integrations.
Tackling the Challenges of Tomorrow and Driving Sustainability Goals
E.ON also noted that its West Midlands engineers are “now better equipped than ever to tackle the challenges of tomorrow, and we are proud to be at the forefront of this transformation.”
Another element driving E.ON’s interest in leveraging XR at its West Midlands training site is the push for sustainability and green goals.
In 2023, the Kingswinford, Birmingham site became a net zero training hub. XR potentially drives this ambition, allowing for greater training opportunities without needing to transport workers.
Notably, the FocusXR training has several training simulations focusing on maintaining and installing sustainable customer energy products, leveraging AR/VR training to drive E.ON’s green goals.
E.ON stated, “By bringing VR and AR into our academy, we’re not just teaching green skills – we’re creating a greener way to learn.”