Wind Turbine Technician
Wind turbine technicians are responsible for the installation, maintenance and repair of wind turbines. They conduct basic cleaning and maintenance of wind turbines and are always focused on safety. Wind turbine technicians remain up to date on the latest wind turbine technologies and regulations and troubleshoot any problems that may occur.
Career Also Referred To As:
- Wind tech
Future Job Market
-
Fair
-
Good
-
Excellent
Typical Employers:
Wind turbine technicians are employed by electrical companies and cooperatives as well as some private energy firms in wind energy-producing areas. The top five states in wind energy capacity are Texas, Iowa, Oklahoma, Kansas and Illinois. Additionally, 41 of the 50 states produce wind energy. These states have a high demand for wind turbine technicians, but as the industry grows, the need for wind turbine technicians will be more widespread.
Suggested Professional Organizations and Associations:
- The American Clean Power Association
- World Wind Energy Association
- Windustry
Salary:
$49,000?
SAE Connections:
What Responsibilities Will I Have?
- Perform regular, preventative maintenance and repair on wind turbine and power generation equipment
- Closely adhere to all safety standards and procedures
- Maintain fleet vehicles
- Accurately complete and maintain required documentation and records
- Perform status checks to know when error codes need to be cleared and turbines need repair
- Change filters and perform other scheduled maintenance
- Troubleshoot problems that occur
- Climb wind turbine towers that are several hundred feet tall to install, inspect, maintain and/or repair turbines
- Stay aware of the latest wind turbine technologies and regulations
- Perform advanced crane operations like rigging and hoisting in and out of wind turbines
- Work well with a team
- Perform diagnostic and electrical analysis
- Communicate with landowners and supervisors as needed
- Conduct safety analysis of potential electrical and mechanical hazards
- Remain flexible as problems may occur in the evenings or on weekends
Recommended High School Courses:
- agricultural education
- agricultural mechanics
- environmental science
- physics
- computer skills
Education/Training Required:
An associate degree in applied sciences such as wind energy technology may meet job requirements. However, in some cases, only a high school diploma is required. If you are in an area with a large wind turbine presence, you may be able to receive training specifically as a wind turbine technician, which is preferred.
