Wind Turbine Maintenance Careers

A variety of workers support wind turbine maintenance.

Wind energy is a growing industry in the U.S. and people with a variety of skills are required to supply the operations and maintenance aspect of the industry. The turbine systems are complex, expensive, large and operate at high speed. Reliability of operations and safety for workers are concerns of all the people with careers in the wind energy industry.

Industry Scope

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) noted in its U.S. Wind Industry Annual Report for the year ending 2009, that wind energy provided 1.8 percent of U.S. power in 2009 and that wind provided 39 percent of all new generating capacity in 2009. In the same year, the wind energy industry supported 85,000 jobs across the U.S. with California, Texas and Iowa leading in power generation. Oregon, Washington, Illinois and Indiana are among other states in the process of increasing wind power generation.

Engineers

Engineers not only support the wind power industry through the development, design and production of wind turbines and their component parts. They also test and troubleshoot to maintain operational quality, estimate costs and time for projects and processes and discover ways to make maintenance and operations more efficient. Supervisory engineers take responsibility for projects from start to finish and commonly lead teams composed of engineers and wind turbine technicians. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, engineers commonly earn salaries from around $74,080 to more than $90,000 annually.

Other Management and Professionals

To maintain wind energy operations, a number of professionals are required. Lawyers may be called upon to handle the legal aspects of operating and maintaining the wind plant. Accountants are needed to handle the budgetary aspects of the operation that are vital to its maintenance. Human resource specialists are concerned with taking care of personnel issues so that wind turbine operations are effectively maintained.

Administrative Staff

The wind energy industry utilizes administrative personnel in support of all aspects of business including maintenance and operations. Administrative personnel answer calls from the field, dispatch personnel where they are needed, generate and file reports for compliance and safety.

Field Teams

In some ways, a wind energy farm is like a small community. A project manager usually oversees construction from the wind farm's site selection to the time when the turbines are installed. The building of the operation requires construction workers, crane operators, truck drivers and road workers. After the wind farm is in operation, roads leading to the turbines must continue to be maintained and safety policies must continue to be followed. In other words, a core small community remains so that turbines are accessible and can be serviced on an ongoing basis. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates, "The median annual salary for construction managers is $82,330, but site managers of wind farm projects typically make over $100,000."

Technicians

When any component of a wind turbine fails, the unit must be shut down. Lost operations are costly, so inspections are done regularly to prevent work stoppages. Maintenance is performed regularly and when necessary repairs are made. Wind turbine technicians are the individuals who customarily diagnose, maintain and repair the equipment, often by climbing the towers. Their work involves the systematic inspection of equipment, calibration of sensors and repairs as required when components malfunction. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in its "Careers in Wind Energy: Occupations Relevant to Operation and Maintenance," as of March 2011, "BLS does not currently have earnings data for wind turbine service technicians. Data should be available in several years. According to industry sources, however, wind techs usually have starting salaries between $35,000 and $40,000. Wages and benefits vary by employer and geographic location."

References

• I Seek: Careers in Wind Energy
• Renewable Energy Sector Compass: Wind Farm O&M Technician
• U.S. Department of Labor Statistics: Careers in Wind Energy: Occupations Relevant to Operation and Maintenance
• American Wind Energy Association: U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report: Year Ending 2009: Fast Facts: Page 2