Almost 150 jobs are set to be created as a global clean energy-tech company opens a headquarters in the county.

Aira has officially launched its 1,300 sq m hub and training academy in Acorn Industrial Park, in Dartford, near the border with Crayford.

The firm says it instals clean energy heat pumps to provide homes with heating that is “affordable and carbon emission-free.”

The new facility will be used to teach thousands of people to work in the sales team and become designers, electricians and installers of heat pumps.

Academy manager, Georgia Laws, said: “The official opening of our Crayford Hub and Aira Academy shows our commitment to helping households across the South of England make the switch to cleaner, greener and more affordable heating.

“At our best-in-class facilities, we will focus on training individuals to become the next generation of heat pump installers and increasing the green skills workforce.

“The long-term goal is to offer people with no prior experience, or those at the start of their career, high-quality training so they too can join the Aira family and much-needed clean energy revolution.”

The Swedish-based firm will also create 140 skilled jobs in Dartford and Crayford.

It is part of its £300 million UK investment where it plans to create 8,000 new jobs over the next decade and become the country’s heat pump market leader.

A report by innovation charity Nesta previously suggested around three million homes need to install heat pumps or other low carbon heating to meet climate targets.

It said as homes contribute 14% of the UK’s greenhouse gases, meeting targets to cut emissions cannot be done without decarbonising how we warm up our homes.