Job description
Wind turbine service technicians inspect, repair and diagnose wind turbines to resolve electrical, hydraulic and mechanical malfunctions. Their job also involves installing wind turbines and performing routine maintenance to ensure maximum functional operation.
Duties
- Assemble structural components of wind generators and farms
- Diagnose issues with wind turbines, generators or control systems
- Repair wind energy systems by using tools and equipment to resolve the problem
- Replace malfunctioning components and install new parts for proper function
- Test electrical components of all wind turbines using voltage testers and fibre optic equipment
- Start and restart wind turbines and generator systems for maximum efficiency
- Troubleshoot speed control systems to ensure wind energy is being generated
- Climb wind turbines to access work areas and perform inspections and repairs
- Gather wind turbine data and run a full analysis of its output levels
- Train colleagues or users in commissioning, testing, operational procedures and maintenance
- Maintain a shop inventory of parts, equipment, materials and products for installation, repairs or service maintenance
- Confer with other experts on technical resolutions
- Monitor wind turbines electronically offsite to ensure they are working correctly
Skills, qualities and knowledge
Working hours and environment
Average working hours
40hweek
Typical schedule
Full Time
Standard business hours
Since most wind turbines are operated by a company or by the government, a wind turbine service technician can expect to do a full 40-hour workweek during regular business hours. However, there will be times when a wind turbine is down and needs to be repaired in the evening, on a weekend or during a holiday. Depending on your employer, you may work in shifts.
A wind turbine service technician will work primarily on the road, but there will be a central command centre where you file your paperwork, deal with your superior or perform repairs on certain parts.
Salary
Bottom 10%
$38k
Median
$54k
Top 10%
$84k
Annual salary estimates are based on percentile wage data collected through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) survey of US workers.
Qualifications and training
Education level
Vocational
DVM / VMD degree
Study time
N/A
A wind turbine service technician will typically need to attend a fully accredited technical school to earn certification in wind energy technology. It is important to enroll in a technical school for this type of work because you then attain hands-on training, as well as complete specific coursework in electrical and hydraulic maintenance, braking and mechanical systems and programmable logic control systems.
Professional certification is not mandatory, but employers will usually give preference to candidates who are certified in related areas, such as tower climbing and electrical safety.
Job outlook
Projected growth
57%
No of new jobs
3.8k
Automation risk
N/A
Career progression
The role of a wind turbine service technician is in great demand, mainly because of global investment in alternative energy, including wind. The role might lead to more advanced and managerial positions, such as an operations, maintenance and service wind turbine technician (OMS wind turbine technician).