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Wind turbine technology has become a booming field over the last decade. As a result, the demand for wind turbine technicians continues to increase, especially in developing countries that provide clean energy sources.
Wind turbine technology is growing at a rapid pace. Many companies around the globe are researching how to incorporate new technologies and improve existing ones. This means that jobs for wind turbine technicians are plentiful.
If you want to start your career journey in the wind industry, read on for some valuable information for the right career training.
Wind turbine service technicians help in repairing, installing, and monitoring wind turbine equipment. They inspect and test the turbine blades, gearboxes, generators, and control systems.
Wind technicians install and replace parts, adjust settings, and perform routine maintenance of wind turbines. They also clean and lubricate components and check the turbine for damage.
They know how to read blueprints and diagrams and use tools to troubleshoot problems.
Are you comfortable being hundreds of feet above in the sky? If you believe in the growth of wind turbine technologies, we have a guide for you to start your wind turbine technician career.
Here you’ll learn what it takes to start your journey in the wind energy industry using our detailed guide below.
You will need at least high school credentials, such as a school diploma or equivalent, to be a wind turbine technician.
You don't need a college degree, but if you choose to, it can be in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, or computer science.
You'll also need two years of experience in a technical school, where you'll be working in the field to improve your technical skills. The job requires knowledge of electricity, hydraulics, pneumatics, electronics, mechanics, and computer programming. A 12-month apprenticeship with on-the-job training is needed to complete your course before you can work full-time in the wind industry.
A career path exists for wind power technicians in the renewable energy industry, but it is not well developed. Many wind turbine service technicians begin working in the field as apprentices.
After completing the apprenticeship program, wind turbine technicians must pass tests to obtain certification from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).
In the US, several states offer legitimate certified wind energy industry and engineering programs, including wind energy education and training. This can take up to a year to complete, and once finished; you can proceed to move on to training with professionals on-the-job.
You'll need to complete a set number of hours with on-the-job training, usually in a year. Some students choose to do this part-time while working towards their end-of-course exams.
In this training, you'll work with trained wind technicians and learn the ins and outs of regular maintenance and repairs. You'll work closely with industrial engineers and wind turbine techs to ensure the wind turbine components are working properly and safely.
Wind turbine technicians typically start as apprentices and work with expert technicians to build job skills. After training, they can apply for job postings as full-time wind industry technicians.
The apprenticeship process takes about 12 months of training and includes classroom instruction, hands-on practice, and supervised testing of the wind energy industry.
You may also need additional training to ensure the best knowledge of wind turbine components, wind speed, and wind farms.
After graduating, you must pass a certification exam from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). This certifies that you know about wind energy and how to install, maintain, and repair wind turbines. It should allow you to apply for more assignments in the wind energy industry and be ready to take on a career in wind energy.
If you're looking to get into the field of wind turbine technology, you'll need to build your resume by searching for expertise in the area. Here you can collect all your experiences in one place to help employers see what skills you have.
14.2% of wind turbine technician resumes showed that Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO) was an essential skill to include in addition to CPR training and excellent communication skills.
Over the next decade, the number of females that are set to apply for the role will also increase. There are currently only 2.7% of women compared to 97.3% of men in the wind turbine industry.
Ask yourself if you're willing to dedicate your future to this position. Becoming a technician will take a few years, and you'll need to be ready to commit your time to it.
Engineers in wind power tend to be experts in more than one area. And have usually all come from similar backgrounds to be where they are today.
Wind turbine engineering involves many different specialties, and there are many job opportunities available in the field for technicians who may want to move away from something in the future of their career.
Wind turbine technician certification programs include hands-on training, classroom instruction, job skills, and practical experience.
The coursework includes topics such as safety, electrical systems, mechanical systems, hydraulics, controls, instrumentation, communications, maintenance procedures, troubleshooting, and repair techniques.
Certification also requires passing exams, like the ASME, and completing a field test.
Once you've completed your training, you can start looking for entry-level roles in various energy companies across the US. Their salaries may not be the highest, but it's an excellent start to a lifelong role. It is also predicted that wind turbine roles over the next 10 years will increase. So you'll have more career opportunities to come.
When doing your apprenticeship, you can make some connections with other students and technicians, as a word-of-mouth recommendation can also help you get your foot in the door.
If you want to develop your career, it's important to keep educating yourself on various aspects of the wind industry, as there are a few wind turbine technician jobs to consider.
Some wind turbine technicians specialize in one type of job, such as maintenance, while others focus on installing turbines. So being able to do more than one job effectively can be beneficial to securing future job roles and better salaries.
This type of job role isn't easy, as you may encounter challenges when you start your technician journey. The weather conditions won't always be the best, and you might find yourself working long hours to fix a problem. You'll also need to be confident with heavy machinery and know what to do with harsh surroundings, like power lines and potential falling objects, and no guarantee the wind turbine will be an easy fix. But these obstacles are what makes the job so fulfilling. You'll gain new abilities and precious knowledge, which will help you advance in your career.
If you want to encourage others how to become wind energy technicians, consider researching wind energy and local wind turbine technician schools and share this information. Check Pinnacle Career Institute for the course details.
Ask questions to engineers who already work in this field for their honest opinions about job duties.
And as you progress in your career, you'll be able to help those interested in starting their wind turbine technology journey.
A wind turbine tower is a tall structure that generates wind power electricity. The towers are usually made of steel and concrete and placed at least 100 meters above ground level.
They consist of three main parts:
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics on average, a wind turbine technician will make around $27.00 per hour, which is approximately $56,000 per year, thanks to the national average salary, which looks at a median for wind energy jobs in the United States.
A location is where a wind farm development is located. This is where a significant amount of turbines are installed and monitored. This could be a remote location that uses the power grid, so the turbines will then generate electricity from the wind energy in this area.
The Indeed Editorial Team is a group of journalists who write about topics related to wind energy technology, business, science, and other areas.
The nacelle is one of the wind turbine components where the turbine sits. This is also called the power section, which houses the electrical generators.
There are three sections of a wind turbine, including the hub, blades, and nacelle.
Overall, wind turbines are in higher demand around the world. This is because they provide clean, renewable energy sources and lower carbon emissions. And in the next decade, there is predicted to be a higher demand for wind turbine technicians in the United States.
However, there is still a shortage of skilled technicians to install and maintain these machines, so more staff will need to be trained. In addition, you'll learn to spend long hours in harsh weather conditions, but you'll be ready for this through many hours of intense technical training and hands-on experience.
To learn more about wind turbine technician training, the job market, and what it takes to be a successful operative, learn more on our website for a detailed job description, training plan, and how to get started.
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