Wind Turbines – Weather Guard Lightning Tech: Recent Episodes
Allen Hall, Rosemary Barnes & Joel Saxum
Weather Guard Lightning Tech
Cold Weather Safety Tips for Wind Turbine Technicians
Raise your hand if cold weather and frigid temperatures are your favorite working conditions.
Alex Fournier, Field Operations Manager with Borealis (now FabricAir), sat down with us recently to share his experience as a wind turbine tech and many practical safety tips about working in arctic-like temperatures. Whether you like it or not, if you work in freezing and below-freezing temperatures, this is an important article!
Listen to the interview here
The winds blow all year, and in fact, in many parts of the world, winter is the best time to capture wind energy. To keep the wind turbines working, maintenance technicians also have to keep working – regardless of the temperatures.
How can mere mortals manage in super-cold temperatures, in remote locations, with shortened daylight hours? They have to be as prepared as possible to work as fast as possible (freezing fingers not withstanding), and also manage to keep their focus.
“Your body will become exhausted because it’s trying to warm up itself,” Fournier said. “And also it can affect you mentally, because while you’re doing the work, you just want to be done because you’re cold, so that can be an effect of working in cold weather – that it will also affect your job performance.”
How Wind Turbine Techs Can Stay Warm Working in Cold Weather: ClothingThe right clothing is key. Heated clothing can be a tremendous asset. Fournier mentions heated winter coveralls from Milwaukee Tool, among other manufactures. (The tool maker’s batteries that run their drills also heat their clothing. Smart design!)
When considering the ‘what to wear’ question, dressing in layers and wicking fabrics will help you avoid perspiring. Carefully planning on what to wear is an important aspect of safety.
“You don’t want to sweat while you climb, because then you’re screwed,” Fournier explained.
Having pieces that can easily be removed, tucked away to move with you to the next location, and then put back on when you’re in cold conditions is key.
Wearing the right boots is critical in any weather, but if you’re new to maintaining wind turbines in a cold environment, you might not realize that steel toe boots can be dangerous in freezing temperatures.
Are steel toe boots really a danger in cold weather? If you’re new to working in the cold, or new to the wind industry in general, check out the Blades Forum discussion from 2009.
Also of critical importance: you need a hat. Fournier specifically recommends a Toque, but you can also wear a beanie or knitted ski cap. Just stay warm!!
What’s a toque? We’ll let the Canadians explain:
Thousands Vote on Correct Spelling of Canadian Hat: Tuque, Touque, or Toque?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/thousands-vote-on-correct-spelling-of-canadian-knit-cap-1.2457737
Cold Weather: Wind Chill Affects People, But Not ThingsIf you’re an experienced cold-weather wind turbine technician, you already know that wind child affects YOU but not your tools and the equipment you’re working on. But when the actual, ambient temperatures are low, plenty of materials will snap.
Like zip ties.
Cold Temperatures Do Affect Wind Turbine Equipment and Safety GearWhen it’s -30 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll need wire ties to keep things in place. Extra batteries for everything also belong on the critical equipment list – especially for lights and communications equipment.
Staying warm is just the – ahem – tip of the iceberg. (We had to say it.) Staying hydrated and fueled up is just as important when you’re working on wind turbines in the worst of winter conditions. Fournier shared some very practical suggestions for heating up sandwiches (no kidding!) and other important advice – like having the right safety procedures in place to mitigate the risks of ice falls and other potential hazards in the 2024 interview here.
Listen now!
Wind Tech Winter Survival Guide: Safety in Freezing Temps
This is just one of the many interviews you’ll find on the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast, the most-listened-to podcast in the wind industry.
ResourcesWhy Wind Techs Should Avoid Steel Toe Boots in Cold Weather
Thermal insulation in boots and how cold boots can harm feet and trigger complications with diabetes and other health conditions
https://blog.v12footwear.com/what-to-look-for-in-safety-boots-to-avoid-cold-feet
Blades Forum discussion on steel toe boots
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/steel-toe-boots-and-the-winter-freeze.678741/
Heated Clothing for Wind Turbine Technicians
Milwaukee Tool heated work gear
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Work-Gear/Heated-Gear
Volt heat heated clothing
https://voltheat.com/
Weather Guard Lightning Tech
Trends in the Wind Industry 2024: It’s complicated
What’s harder to predict than how the wind will blow? Well, money, people and technology come to mind. So, these aren’t predictions; they’re trends in the wind industry that we’re watching, and ones that you’ll probably want to watch, too, as 2024 unfolds.
Did you see this? In February, Wolf Street published a very informative article, U.S. Electricity Generation by Source in 2023: Natural Gas, Coal, Nuclear, Wind, Hydro, Solar, Geothermal, Biomass, Petroleum. We discussed it in a recent Uptime podcast. Take a listen!
Also released in February: In the Nordex Group’s 2023 annual financial statements, confirming that the Group installed 1,429 wind turbines and that sales grew by 14 percent.
Big Money Moves: Tax Credits, Asset Reallocation, Service ShiftsThe Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Investment Tax Credit (ITC) are still impacting wind development. As we wrote this article it appeared that the US would set a new onshore installation record, and many peripheral projects and technologies related to large developments are still emerging.
Federal tax credits and some state programs continue to drive repowering projects and new investments in transmission lines projects. Thanks to the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnership (GRIP), funding is available through the US Department of Energy’s Grid Deployment Office – at least for the moment.
Obviously, the investment is good for the general economy, as are the jobs, even if the majority of them are temporary. And the end result of repowering is even better for energy consumers and the environment: repowering projects typically result in fewer turbines, producing more power for the grid.
Ultimately, how much progress Federal dollars can power the US wind industry in 2024 will be determined by the people in charge of some very large projects, as Power magazine noted in an insightful article.
…macroeconomic forces only increase the importance of a project’s ability to utilize the energy tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act.
Power Magazine Nov 27 2023
While making the most of government aid is key for wind developers, the importance of asset management cannot be ignored.
When will we know about the Siemens Effect?Siemens’ staggering losses took on a life of their own in 2023, and how the industry may change has yet to be fully seen. It’s likely that fewer turbine models will be introduced and supported by manufacturers in the future, but so far no OEMs have made definitive statements regarding that.
Even with Siemens’ equipment problems and subsequent restructuring, Weather Guard Chief Commercial Officer Joel Saxum pointed out that the company is still projecting to break even by 2026.
Big company profitability vs. small company profitability: which is more attractive?
IntelStor insight from Phil Totaro
Decisions coming from the top at the largest OEMs also show that service models are changing in significant ways. How wind industry owners and operators respond will be driven, in large part, by how the insurance industry reacts. While independent service providers (ISPs) have, in recent years, proven to provide the best value for owners, the bottom line will always be the deciding factor.
Service agreements are changing:
How will insurers’ prices change as the exposure changes?
Data, Analytics, TechnologyMost wind asset owners have no shortage of technology, or data. Advances in robotics, and notably, sensors, have improved many aspects of turbine operations, particularly blade maintenance. Additionally, many technologies – like virtual reality for tech training – can improve safety outcomes, as PES Wind Director Stefann Perrigot pointed out in a recent interview.
Data overload?
Data is good, but insight is better
AI may have been the poster child of 2023, as it was expected to grow 38% annually through 2030. While any automation that improves AEP is always welcome, and we are seeing AI built into new drone applications, it’s just not going to make people obsolete in the wind business.
The fact remains that building blades remains a mostly manual process; and the need for qualified wind techs to maintain equipment is as strong as ever.
Is the Wind Industry placing greater value on people?As 2023 drew to a close, there were hints of a possible shift in the human resources landscape.
Clearly, we’ve seen more awareness of the tremendous need for wind techs, and efforts are underway to develop the workforce. In its article on clean energy projects in 2024, Pew Trust noted that there has been an increase in on- and offshore tech training programs.
The undeniably good news is that wind techs are (finally) getting some of the recognition that they deserve. Bloomberg recently identified wind turbine technician as the hottest job in the US, at an average of about $80,000 a year, with no college degree needed. It also dubbed the job “fully remote” and hinted at an exciting life of travel. Well, that may be a glamorous description, but it’s true the job is unlike any other.
We interviewed Alex Pucacco, wind industry engineer and author of “Where the Wind Takes you: Adventures of a Wind Turbine Engineer,” in November. You can hear what he had to say here.
Appealing to workers with long-term opportunities such as promotions and comprehensive benefits would be a significant improvement. Certainly, the general skills and aptitude that wind techs need – and that they further develop while working in the industry – are transferrable to other professions in the energy sector.
Where will the US find Wind Technicians?
The Complete Guide to Wind Turbine Technician Jobs, Salary and More
Repowering the Wind Workforce: Rangel Renewables is Meeting Surging Industry Demand
New EfficienciesThe US DOE is encouraging what it calls the “nascent business model” of agrivoltaics. We fully expect to see more of it in the US, and it’s about time. The concept of dual- or multipurpose land is not new in Europe; in fact, it’s becoming quite common to see solar and battery storage, or solar and wind, working on the same farms that support livestock.
Last year, we highlighted a number of US wind farms on land that is still working farmland, and we applaud those land owners for their willingness to try new things. It’s worth noting that it’s often a very profitable choice.
Why Wyoming’s governor is promoting clean energy
Recently we discussed how in Germany (and elsewhere), operators are finding that innovative uses of land, such as placing data centers inside concrete towers, can significantly improve efficiencies and overcome some issues like grid bottlenecks. Our take: bring it on!
Multi-use projects can work offshore, too. Aquaculture projects – like growing kelp and raising fish in offshore wind sites – are underway around the globe. Learn more about Aquaculture here.
At left, what an AquaWind aquaculture cage and the associated fish feeding silo might look like. Find out more about related Atlantic basin projects at AquaWind.eu [Photo credit: AquaWind
Worldwide, Weather Extremes are the new normOne thing that was clear in 2023: even the newest wind turbine blades aren’t ready for the amount of lightning strikes that we’re seeing. Owners and operators have known for some time that they aren’t getting the lightning protection they need, but understanding just why it isn’t working as advertised is complicated. And costly, which is why the insurance industry is taking a more active interest.
Counting the cost of lightning protection
Unfortunately, the proposed new IEC standards probably aren’t what the industry needs. Listen to A Lightning Expert’s Opinion on the New IEC Lightning Standardsfor an overview of the latest attempts to improve things – and less expensive steps that owners can take to protect their equipment.
If you have questions about blade health and lightning protection, contact us. We understand how lightning affects wind farms – all over the world – and how aerodynamics are specific to your blades, and your environment. StrikeTape, a proven, easy-to-install retrofit, is currently protecting more than 10,000 blades from lightning.
See StrikeTape specs here or schedule a consultation now.
Small companies continue to drive changesThe most interesting innovations usually come from small, young companies. Also typical: those small businesses and service providers move faster than industry giants. Although it can be difficult to keep up with the pace of growth, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, we try.
Countless small companies – and some larger ones, particularly from the oil and gas industry – are working to build the necessary vessels and auxiliary products and services that will support the growing offshore market, for example.
We are grateful for opportunity to have worked with many of those businesses and to help them spread the word about their products in 2023.
Check out Monday’s News Flash each week for the latest business info, financial moves, and M&A news. Listen to the Uptime Podcast to hear about new technology and business models.
Where is the Wind Industry Headed in 2024? Find out!We haven’t really begun to dive into what to think about the potentially huge shifts that could loom – across the entire industry – if Europe (or even the US?!) were to change their stance on Chinese OEMs…but that will certainly be a topic of conversation in 2024.
Stay on top of all the wind energy news with the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast. And please contact us with your comments and questions. We love learning from others in the industry!
More wind industry articles worth reading in 2024
Overview of Cop28
https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/tackle-climate-change/climate-change-stories/cop-climate-change-conference/
Will solar and wind prices fall in 2024?
https://www.iea.org/reports/renewable-energy-market-update-june-2023/will-solar-pv-and-wind-costs-finally-begin-to-fall-again-in-2023-and-2024
How much will States advance clean energy projects in 2024?
https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2023/11/30/as-states-advance-clean-energy-projects-2024-looms-as-pivotal-year
Where will you promote your wind business in 2024?
Below, the top trade shows PES Wind focuses on, according to director Stefann Perrigot. Listen to the entire interview here and be sure to say hello when you see us at an upcoming trade show!
- Husum Wind Energy, Germany https://husumwind.com/en/
- Offshore Energy Exhibition & Conference https://oeec.biz/
- Wind Europe event in Bilbao https://windeurope.org/annual2024/
- I P F in New Orleans https://oceantic.org/oceantic-event/2024-ipf/exhibit-at-ipf/
- RenewableUK Global Offshore Wind https://tethys.pnnl.gov/events/renewableuk-global-offshore-wind-2024
- Wind Energy, Hamburg https://www.windenergyhamburg.com/
Weather Guard Lightning Tech
Wind Turbine Cost: The Economics of Wind Energy in 2023
As wind energy has moved into the mainstream worldwide, has the cost of a wind turbine gone down? And what factors contribute to wind turbine costs?
The answers are complicated, and not just because wind turbines are large and complex machines. To understand wind turbine costs, it’s necessary to consider the overall landscape of manufacturing (global manufacturing, at that) and the basics of energy economics. It’s only fair to answer the question, “what does a wind turbine cost and is it worth it?” by addressing some other questions, like:
- What kind of turbine, and to be installed where?
- How are you defining cost?
- And, compared to what?
Here we consider the costs of wind turbines – and of wind energy in general – in that larger context. Several helpful resources are linked at the end of the article.
TLDR: A commercial wind turbine costs several million dollars.
One reason it’s difficult to pin a price tag on a wind turbine is due to the variety of turbine sizes and specifications. The large metal components of a wind turbine – the tower, nacelle, and blades – account for nearly 80 percent of the cost of a typical turbine. While the primary construction material is typically steel and metal alloys, more composite materials and even wood are also used in wind turbine construction. All of those materials can vary significantly in price.
Another reason it’s difficult to define wind turbine cost is because there are many types of wind turbines with numerous system and component configurations.
Various systems and components, like anti-icing systems, vortex generators, and serrated trailing edges, are considered optional in some installations, but necessary in others based on weather conditions, soil type, and other site-dependent factors.
Manufacturer, Size, and Location Affect Wind Turbine CostWhile there’s no “standard” size for onshore commercial wind turbines, modern (onshore) wind turbines generally range from 80-150m tall, with blades that are 110-115m long, and rotor diameters of 110-150m. Offshore commercial wind turbines are necessarily larger, with larger capacities.
The current holder of the “world’s largest turbine” title is an offshore turbine by Ming Yang Energy Group. With 140m blades and a generating capacity of 18MW, it’s significantly larger than both the Vestas’ V236-15.0MW and GE Haliade-X (14.7MW)). Three years ago, they were the largest offshore turbines. Built for offshore installations, GE’s Haliade-X 14 MW turbine has a rotor diameter of 220 meters, a total height of 260 meters (853 feet), and blades that are 107 meters (351 feet) long. The GE Haliade-X 14 costs between $11-$13M.
Onshore wind turbines keep getting bigger
Wind Turbines: The bigger the better?
Wind Turbine Cost: Initial Purchase ConsiderationsCapacity specifications affect wind turbine pricing and also return on investment. At full wind speed, a turbine can produce at its full capacity. If a turbine is rated for 2.5 MW, then at peak wind speed it will crank out 2.5 MW of power. Megawatt hours explained
While most offshore wind farms today have focused on installing larger turbines to maximize production and minimize costs, several different wind turbine designs currently being tested may challenge the notion that fewer, larger turbines are best.
Look at some of newest turbine designs here.
Although it’s not part of the initial purchase price, site preparation is another factor that affects the total cost of installing a wind turbine.
And unlike some other capital investments, there are relatively fewer economies of scale for wind farm owners than for other developers. For example, volume discounts don’t affect cost as much as in some other industries. If you were to purchase 100 Escalades from Cadillac, you’d probably expect to get a quantity discount. But regardless of the size of the order, wind turbine cost is less likely to be discounted because wind turbine manufacturing – especially blade manufacturing – is still largely a hand-made process. Interested in wind turbine manufacturing? Get Uptime Tech News in your in-box every week
On the other hand, most original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are willing to negotiate prices when customers sign long-term or comprehensive service agreements.
Wind Turbine Cost and Return on InvestmentDepending on initial wind turbine costs, energy production, and maintenance costs, return on investment can vary widely, from 12-20 years. And like the initial cost of a wind turbine, the long payback period makes sense when you consider the many factors involved.
For example, wind turbine maintenance and repair costs affect a wind operation’s profitability and therefore, its ROI. All accounting methods are not the same, however, Operation & maintenance (O&M) expenses typically include:
- Insurance
- Land rent
- Service, repair and spare parts
- Administrative tasks
- Power (the electricity needed to run the wind farm)
Ongoing maintenance expenses have been estimated at 1-2 cents per kilowatt-hour produced; for a ‘typical’ onshore turbine that may amount to $40K-$50K per turbine. Adding to the complexity: O&M and repair costs increase significantly as turbines age.
Repairs can be a significant capacity reducer, extending the payback period.
O&M costs are significantly higher for offshore wind for obvious reasons – it’s more time consuming and expensive to reach offshore wind installations, so getting both equipment and workers to those farms is more costly. Additional training is required for many offshore installation, maintenance and repair workers, which is necessarily reflected in labor expenses.
Some other risks (and therefore costs) are higher in offshore wind farming. Lightning strikes on wind turbines is one example of a risk that can be a greater concern in offshore installations. In both on- and offshore installations, retrofit products like segmented lightning diverters can provide additional protection from lightning strike damage to wind turbines.
The US Department of Energy reviewed wind energy costs based on 2015 operations
What about the environmental payback of wind energy?The environmental payback period as the amount of time it takes for wind turbines to generate the amount of energy that was used in their manufacturing process and installation. Estimates for the environmental payback period for a wind turbine to offset that energy use is between 6 months to a year.
Wind Turbine Costs and Wind Energy ProfitsIn 2021, some news outlets reported that Siemans Gamesa complained that the cost of wind energy was getting too cheap. But the situation is hardly that simple. The company actually addressed concerns that because of subsidies, tariffs and other (mostly governmental) financial programs, wind energy appeared to be the same cost or less expensive than other forms of energy – skewing the actual costs of development, ongoing manufacturing, and new innovations. The company raised an issue that continues to be address by governments and manufacturers today: how can subsidies and incentives (funded primarily by taxing consumers) maintain the development and growth of the market?
Because almost every country in the world subsidizes energy production costs in different ways – and the way those subsidies are calculated change frequently – it’s very difficult to establish hard numbers for energy costs.
Intelstor‘s Philip Totaro explains why Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) are changing and how operators are adjusting to today’s market.
In 2017, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory published a report on how to cut the cost of wind energy in half. Read it here. In 2023, the US Department of Energy outlined a plan to reduce costs much further. Is it possible? The DoE’s goals seem pretty tough to reach, but new designs, manufacturing techniques, and technology innovations can help reduce costs.
Are Wind Turbine Costs Going Down?In 2019, thanks in part to federal incentives, such as the Production Tax Credit or PTC, the national average price of wind power purchase agreements (PPAs) dropped to below 2 cents per kilowatt-hour in the US. That calculation made wind energy among the most affordable forms of new power generation.
Who Pays for Wind Energy Projects?Wind and other renewable energy projects are being driven primarily by existing energy companies and cooperation among governmental agencies in the US. For example,Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility in Oregon is a joint project between NextEra Energy Resources and Portland General Electric. Governments are the primary developers of energy production facilities in other countries.
While high-profile companies like Facebook and Anheuser-Busch have partnered with large power companies to build wind farms that will help them reach their sustainable energy goals, those projects account for a very small percentage of wind energy developments, in the US or worldwide.
So in effect, consumers finance the majority of wind and other energy projects, through taxes, subsidies, or via direct payments for electricity usage. For that reason, even though you’re unlike to build your own wind farm, it’s worth asking questions about wind turbine costs, efficiency, and return on investment.
More resources
2020 Cost of Wind Energy Review
Stehly, Tyler and Patrick Duffy. 2021. 2020 Cost of Wind Energy Review. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory. NREL/TP-5 https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy22osti/81209.pdf
IRENA Power Generation Costs 2021
This 204-page report compares relative costs for solar, on- and offshore wind and other forms of renewable energy
Wind Turbine Cost: How Much? Are They Worth It In 2022?
Read the 2022 article to see how fast things change in the industry.
How green is wind energy?
Environmentalists and energy experts are very serious about that question. This article compares relative environmental advantages of wind, solar, and other forms renewable energy.
Weather Guard Lightning Tech
Wind Turbine Technician Jobs: The 2023 Guide to Skills, Salary, Safety, and More
Are you considering working in the wind industry? The job market for wind turbine technicians remains strong in 2023, and as the industry grows and wind technology improves, a wind turbine tech is likely to have more room for growth and promotion.
Employment of wind turbine technicians is projected to grow 44 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.US Bureau of Labor StatisticsTweet
Still, it’s an unusual occupation, and the wind energy business is unfamiliar to many people. It’s a physical job, and one that comes with some risks. This guide address questions you may have about the work, job security, dangers, salary, and other benefits that go along with being a wind turbine technician.
While wind techs are in great demand in the US and worldwide, the career isn’t for everyone. Like many occupations, it can be a legacy role – not surprisingly, the children of wind techs are more likely to understand the demands of the job, and may be more likely to consider the field for themselves.
Still interested in pursuing a wind tech job? It’s a great choice for many people! Here are in-depth answers to some frequently-asked questions, and below you’ll find an even deeper dive into broader issues like lifestyle considerations, the actual nature of the work, and how it is likely to change in the near future.
Podcast: inside the post-COVID wind turbine technician job market
Wind Turbine Technician Jobs FAQWeather Guard Lightning Tech does not employ wind turbine techs, however, we regularly communicate directly with technicians in the field who are installing our lightning protection products or preparing to go on a job site where lightning damage is a concern.
We also frequently host guests on The Uptime Wind Energy Podcast who discuss training for and working in the field. Notable interviews include Bjorn Hedges talking about wind power jobs and job safety and Michel Goulet of Petzel discussing safety gear and training for wind turbine technicians and others who work at heights.
How dangerous is a wind turbine technician’s job?Working at heights in the wind energy industry or any other carries certain risks. Because companies in the industry must maintain excellent safety records and training, each year there are very few fatalities and serious injuries. Training demands an understanding of a wind turbine’s electrical circuits and machinery – as well as the nacelle – and training on the tools used. Generally, ropes and other safety gear (PPE or personal protective equipment) are inspected on each job site and are regularly replaced due to wear, and as advances in safety programs and materials are made – such as new brake technologies, discussed in the Petzel interview.
What is required to become a wind turbine technician?The minimum requirements to become a wind turbine technician vary by company, but generally a candidate must be at least 18 years of age and have completed a certification course at a community college or technical school. Once hired, new wind techs typically complete an on-the-job training program lasting between 12 and 18 months. Additionally, many wind turbine technicians engage in specialty training related to wind power systems, such as hydraulic, electrical, braking or maintenance operations.
Do wind turbine techs need a college degree?A college degree is not required; however, wind turbine technicians must have at a minimum a completion certificate from a certified trade school or training program. Most companies look favorably on some college, especially engineering and electrical courses. And, of course, every company requires its technicians to periodically qualify on specific tests and training modules – the BLS characterizes it as a position with “long term on-the-job training.”
How much travel is required of wind turbine technicians?If you’re looking for a job that offers some great travel opportunities, wind technician could be it! However, some wind technicians – particularly those working with a utility or large wind farm operation – may work at a single location for years. Even in those cases, it’s worth noting that because most wind farms are located in remote areas, the typical “commute” for a wind turbine technician may be considerably longer than workers in more urban locations. Other wind techs are employed as traveling technicians. Wind techs who specialize in a certain types of damage repair (such as leading edge repair) or have special knowledge of specific models of turbine blades, gearboxes, or sensors may travel nearly every week of the year.
What is the average salary for a wind turbine technician?The median salary of a wind turbine technician in May 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and statistics, was $56,260 ($27.04/hr). The same source indicated that the average median annual salary for wind techs in professional, scientific, and technical service was $63,640.
What’s the jobs outlook for wind techs?As of this writing, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics ranked wind technicians as the second-fastest growing occupation in the US (behind nurses), and American Clean Power concurs.
The jobs outlook through 2031 is a growth rate of 44%, or much faster than the average career field, with BLS anticipating 4900 additional jobs. And, based on demand in the market, earning potential may be higher. Because that BLS figure was published prior to the passage of the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), which includes new federal tax incentives for wind energy projects, we anticipate that those projections may be adjusted upward. A greater demand in the workplace naturally increases earnings and benefits.
What do Wind Techs Do? The Nature of the Work“Every day is going to be different,” according to a wind tech working in the Midwest. While wind techs often work alone on discrete tasks, they are not alone on a job site. Most days start with a briefing from a manager at the site, and techs are often dispatched in small teams. Some wind operations companies maintain wind technician staffs on job sites and dispatch from a common location or locations. While the job requires self-sufficiency and the ability to work alone, some people are surprised to realize it is not necessarily a “lonely” job.
So, what does a wind tech do? There really is no such thing as a typical day, but generally, tasks revolve around monitoring, maintaining, troubleshooting, and upgrading the electrical, mechanical and hydraulic systems related to the wind turbine nacelle and/or blades.
Increasingly, turbine tower and blade inspections require operators to use robots or drones in addition to, and sometimes instead of, rope access technicians.
Will Robots Replace Wind Technicians?A simple “no” is the answer. However, there’s no doubt that the industry is relying on robots for more and more data-gathering and monitoring tasks. The proliferation of robots and monitoring systems in the wind industry is all good news for wind techs.
Working with robots makes the wind technician more productive, and effective, and most importantly, safer.
Quick read: the latest on robotic wind turbine inspection and protection
While it’s true – and exciting – that new robotic technologies have been developed to better monitor, clean, and even repair some nacelle components and parts of wind turbine blades, those robots cannot replace wind technicians. They are the new tools of the trade!
Listen to the interview with BladeBUG founder Chris Cieslak, and more exciting updates from the interview with Cieslak and DoneBase founder Greg Lorenz here.
What kind of wind turbine blade repairs do techs do?Wind turbine blade repair is also often part of the job. Because blades are routinely worn and damaged by lightning, rain storms and other environmental factors, many wind techs develop specialties in blade repair. Blade inspections and repairs are also done using robots or drones – but even those tasks typically require a tech to be on the site, or to control the robot from a monitoring site.
Listen: 3 common types of turbine blade lightning damage
Regarding turbine blade repair and other specialties, while a mechanical or electrical background is helpful, most techs gain their experience and expertise in company-sponsored training and on the job.
Wind Tech Job RequirementsEven as robots and drones are utilized more in the field, for the foreseeable future, a wind technician’s job will remain more physically demanding than many jobs.
In spite of increasing use robots and drones, wind technicians will always be required to have:
- The physical capability to lift heavy items, crawl, work at height or in confined spaces
- Good communication and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to make decisions and work independently
- The ability to gather and interpret data, including learning to control robots and drones
- Willingness to work outdoors, in all types of weather, and in remote areas, potentially off-shore
Wind Tech Lifestyle & Other ConsiderationsIf a physically active, technical job and working regularly, but not always, outdoors sounds good to you, you might want to consider a career as a wind technician. Another important factor to consider is that travel is usually – but again, not always – part of the job. According to one wind tech, that means the job takes “a certain mindset,” because work may take you away from family for extended periods of time. Also, because most wind turbine operations are located in rural or remote areas, if you love big city life, working as a wind tech may not be a good fit.
Finally, because some of world’s biggest wind turbines are located in off-shore wind farming operations, many wind tech job sites include marine locations.
Where to Find Wind Technician Job ListingsWhen you’re starting a search for jobs in wind energy, the major career sites including LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, and SimplyHired list jobs for all experience levels. At the time of this writing, we found positions offering up to $88,000/year with job titles that included:
- Wind Turbine Technician, or Wind Technician
- Wind Turbine Traveling Technician
- Wind Composite Blade Technician
- Main Component Repair Technician
- Wind Turbine Troubleshooting Technician
Wind Energy Technology ResourcesThe more you know about an industry, the better prepared you are to be hired into it. While face-to-face networking in the wind energy field may not be easy to do – unless you have friends or family members in the industry – there is a vibrant online community in wind energy. Most major employers and manufacturers in the industry have active social media feeds and many conduct informative webinars, often for free. Connecting through online networking groups is another option. The weekly Uptime Wind Energy Podcast and companion newsletter [with free subscriptions to both] provides insight from engineers and business professionals on news and wind power industry technology developments.
Learn more about blade analytics and how technology is informing the role of today’s wind technicians. Additional Resources* American Clean Power * Global Wind Energy Council * US Bureau of Labor and Statistics – Wind Technicians * Energy.gov Career Map for Wind Technicians * Workforce Training and Education: Wind Energy * Safety: OSHA on Green Job Hazards * Safety: ASSE paper on Wind Turbine Safety * Safety: ASSP Standard for Wind Turbine Construction and Demolition * Vestas Wind Systems statement on safety and sustainability
Weather Guard Lightning Tech
US Wind Energy Trends: What we’ll see in 2023
Two things about the US wind energy business became (even more) obvious in 2022: the US is committed to wind as a renewable energy source, and it has a lot to learn from other countries to maximize wind’s potential. Still, optimism about US wind in 2023 seems well-founded:
- Wind accounted for 71% of new power projects in the first half of 2022. (As a reality check, natural gas was a close second.)
- The Inflation Reduction Act’s Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is boosting US wind energy projects – including project staffing, transmission connectivity, and the development of new technologies. It also extended the Production Tax Credit for projects placed in service on or after January 1, 2022.
- A faster US offshore wind development process means we’ll soon see how leases in the Central Atlantic area, from Delaware to North Carolina, play out over the equivalent of 1.75M acres.
In spite of such positive signs, anecdotally at least, last year we found the US wasn’t very well-represented at major international shows. Our report from WindEnergy Hamburg.
Keep reading for more on some of the US wind energy trends we’ll be following in 2023.
The Inflation Reduction Tax credit will drive development and innovation in the US Wind Energy Market.Of course, this is obvious, but as it must be noted because it’s the top driver of 2023 – and because the ITC will also bolster US manufacturing ventures and new technology. After a blade production facility reopened in Iowa last fall, we expect to see more news of increased production this year – possibly accompanied by more battery storage projects.
One to watch: NV Energy’s BESS project near Las Vegas where Energy Vault Holdings, Inc. will begin construction in the second quarter of 2023.
From turbine protection to storage solutions, Innovation is alive and well in US wind energy, and designs with patent potential – like using wind turbines to create hydraulic power – are gaining traction. Also encouraging: we’re seeing talent and technology crossover from the US oil and gas industry. (Texas, we’re looking at you.)
States competing for US Wind investment: good or bad? While the Commonwealth Wind development saga continues to evolve, it’s only the beginning of offshore development in the US.
California and Texas both have tremendous offshore opportunities – and because the states have very different approaches to business development, there is the potential for new precedents that will shape US wind for the long term. And the Central Atlantic is next.
With WEAs offshore North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware, we anticipate some interesting developments – and possibly competition among the states – in 2023.
US Offshore Wind Auctions Will Spur Onshore Repowering ProjectsAll US wind developments have supply-chain and connectivity issues, but on- and offshore developers are in very different market stages. While offshore developers are betting the technology they need will be ready when they need it, onshore operators have to squeeze more ROI out of aging equipment right now.
As Midwest wind farming operations watch ITC dollars pour into new offshore developments, we anticipate even more interest in repowering projects. Maximizing the productivity of existing wind farms – or at least, to reducing turbine maintenance costs – has never been more important.
Fortunately, there are plenty of affordable options for onshore operators to protect their assets while boosting productivity. Listen to the Rangel Renewables interview on the company’s repowering projects to learn more.
As OEMs strive for control, “Prudent Operators” will drive O&M improvementsIf 2023 ushers in a seller’s market for wind, and OEMs and insurers seek to extend service agreements, how will operators manage margins? Equipment owners are turning to more continuous monitoring and predictive maintenance tools to maximize performance, protect investment, and reduce costs.
Wind Power Lab’s Joel Saxum talks about predictive maintenance trends
IntelStor’s Phil Totaro discusses what’s good, and bad, about changing service agreements
What US Wind Can Learn from Leaders in Wind EnergyRegardless of government structure and regulations, energy prices and demands fluctuate. The US wind industry is younger (read: less experienced) than other large countries, so continued collaborations with companies in other countries makes sense – but ultimately, US wind will have to find its way to profitability on US terms.
It’s going to be a busy year! Stay tuned to the weekly Uptime Wind Energy Podcast for industry news, technology and business insights. It’s free to subscribe!
Map in graphic from Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal (MARCO)
Weather Guard Lightning Tech
Floating Offshore Wind in the US: Lessons from the 2022 California BOEM Auction
A guest post by Philip Totaro, Founder & CEO, IntelStor LLC
It wasn’t quite a Hollywood blockbuster ending for the wind energy auctions held by BOEM for the offshore wind lease areas in California earlier this week, but the results have left many feeling cautiously optimistic about the future of floating offshore wind in the US.
The winners, RWE, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), Ocean Winds along with investment from the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), Equinor and Invenergy, demonstrate why experience in Europe, along with Invenergy’s auction win earlier in 2022 for the New York Bight, are important to securing the lease rights. These companies are best positioned to move these floating offshore wind in the US forward amongst the pool of bidders who were registered. However, some commercial and technical challenges may preclude any project build-out and commissioning prior to 2030.
The Bad: Floating wind project finances, technical issues present challengesMost of the 43 companies who registered to participate in the auction failed to place a bid because they were simply not well capitalized enough to join in the bidding. Also noteworthy by their absence from the winners list were Shell as well as the TotalEnergies / Castle Wind joint venture. Not only were both quite keen on this auction, but they were two of the entities who were exploring floating offshore wind in the US, and specifically the California coast, for offshore wind projects for 10 – 15 years prior to this BOEM auction, and long before most of the lease winners were even contemplating any investment.
While the prices per acre were lower than the New York Bight and Carolina Long Bay auctions earlier this year, it is not entirely a fair comparison to expect that the prices would be the same, or even higher than the East Coast project sites simply because these were deepwater floating projects. Power purchase contract prices, ease of power offtake concessions, consistency of the average wind speeds, as well as other technical and commercial factors can contribute to the prices paid for a lease area.
In fact, the reasons for the somewhat restrained prices in California’s foray into floating wind were actually due to some of the technical and commercial risks associated with a deepwater floating offshore project site, particularly ones in Humboldt and Morro Bay. All five lease areas currently lack any firm commitment on power offtake, and some sites did not even have one full year of wind resource characterization from floating LIDAR buoys. This led to some more conservative bidding than what was expected by many analysts as well as the US Federal Government.
As for some of the technical concerns, while the deepwater tether technology has been used in O&G, and tested in floating wind offshore demo sites in Europe, this technology has not yet been trialed on projects like those in California with water depths of 550 – 1155 meters amongst the five lease areas.
Additionally, the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) has not yet established some ground rules for interconnection and cost allocation on transmission, which was also a factor in some of the bidders’ hesitancy.
One must also consider the expected power purchase contract prices which each of the leaseholders may expect to receive for these sites. A lack of transparency on power offtake and contract pricing would make any lease bidder want to look towards the lower end of their bid range.
The Good: Floating Wind OEMs, supply chain poised to growThe total of $757.1 million is nothing to be ashamed of, and these lease prices were still at historical highs for any floating offshore wind tender globally. Prices in California outpaced the cost per acre of any other previously held tender in the UK, China, Japan, Taiwan or South Korea for commercial-scale floating offshore wind project sites.
In other words, there’s plenty of room for optimism.
Unlike the US East Coast, foundation fabricators, OEMs and other wind energy supply chain companies have not already made large capital commitments to lease or buy port space in order to establish factories and quayside assembly sites. Commitments for investment in fabrication facilities or service stations on Staten Island in New York or in Salem, Massachusetts were known in advance of East Coast auctions, providing confidence to East Coast lease bidders that a robust supply chain would be there to meet their requirements.
As for California, while Crowley was recently awarded the contract to develop the necessary infrastructure for the Port of Humboldt Bay, similar commitments for tax credits or public investment from Governor Gavin Newsom’s State Government, or the California Energy Commission (CEC), are yet to be forthcoming for any other port upgrades and infrastructure investments. This will be necessary to unlock private investments in fabrication capacity, assembly facilities, or service sites.
Ports, floating wind foundation fabrication facilities, turbine OEM component manufacturing and ancillary supply chain activities to support floating wind in the Morro Bay project sites is still hypothetical at this stage. With lack of capacity in the Port of Los Angeles, as well as Long Beach, that may only leave San Diego to provide an adequate space to serve any future project sites in the Southern California region, while the Port of Humboldt Bay may serve projects in Northern California as well as Oregon. Nevertheless, Americans are famous for relentless optimism, so in that spirit, the wind energy industry and relevant government bodies are expected to pull together to see these challenges overcome.
The bottom line: Floating offshore wind in the US may not have had all the pomp of a Hollywood premier, but the word is out that the industry is ready to expand, and this should start the process to see the capital flow.
Thanks to Philip Totaro, IntelStor Founder and CEO, for this post and original IntelStor graphic.
Weather Guard Lightning Tech
Repowering Wind Turbines or “PTC Wind Farming”
*Guest post: IntelStor CEO Philip Totaro offers this Market Minute on how the wind production tax credit is fueling repowering projects.*
The Wind Production Tax Credit (PTC) in the USA has been a powerful tool for asset owners to ensure the favorable financial health of their projects. To date, more than 75% of the 138GW of operational capacity in the United States has taken advantage of the PTC. So, the expiration of the PTC for a project site after 10 years can necessarily dent the otherwise healthy financial returns for a wind asset owner.
The industry has developed a clever solution to this challenge: we have seen a significant uptick in asset repowering in the US since 2017. This attempts to extend the benefit gained from the PTC bonus for an additional 10 years by swapping out the blades or refurbishing the entire nacelle and re-qualifying the project for a new 10-year cycle of PTC payments.
To date, a total of 102 individual project phases have been repowered in the US, with 11.2GW worth of repowered capacity installed. This replaces a total of 5,855 wind turbines with the latest and greatest models.
IntelStor, December 5, 2022
By the end of 2022, the USA will have close to 47GW of operational wind energy capacity that is at least 10 years old. Asset performance degradation over time due to mechanical wear and tear as well as other factors goes hand in hand with an aging fleet.
However, operational data suggests asset owners are deliberately running their turbines outside of normal design parameters in order to generate as much revenue from the PTC as they can before dismantling the old unit and putting up a fresh one after the first 10 years of the asset life once the PTC has expired.
This has created a whole new operating dynamic, and a very different path to asset profitability for owners and operators. Stay tuned for more…
Thanks to IntelStor CEO Philip Totaro for providing this Market Minute and insight into PTC Wind Farming. To read the full research note and many more, subscribe to IntelStor’s Research Notes or contact them for a demonstration.
As turbines age they become more susceptible to lightning damage. StrikeTape protects aging turbines, before and after repowering projects, increasing AEP and ROI. Find out how StrikeTape can extend the life of your blades: Download the spec sheet and test data here.
Listen to learn more We’ve discussed repowering wind farms in several recent episodes of the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast. Josh Rangel of Rangel Renewables offered some great information on how the wind production tax credit is driving repowering (and other wind projects) in this interview.
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