Becoming A Wind Turbine Technician: Do You Need A Degree?

If your response is affirmative, then, the wind turbine profession may just be the perfect pick for you.  As a wind turbine technician, you'll surely be hovering hundreds of feet in the air on every workday.  

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To dive deeper into the nitty-gritty of the wind turbine profession, let's consider the following questions.

1. What exactly is a wind turbine technician? 
2. What skills and training do you need? 
3. Is being a wind turbine technician hard?

What is a Wind Turbine Technician?

A wind turbine technician is technically also called a wind tech and is someone that installs, monitors, maintains, operates, and fixes wind turbines. He is responsible for diagnosing and fixing all problems that may disturb the proper functioning of the turbine or that may cause it to shut down unexpectedly.

The job requirements of a wind turbine specialist centers around the following:

1. He inspects the exterior end of the towers;
2. He climbs the towers to inspect, diagnose, or repair faulty equipment; 
3. He collects turbine data for adequate testing and reporting; 
4. He tests the electrical components, systems, as well as the mechanical and hydraulic systems;
5. He performs periodic maintenance; 
6. He replaces worn-out and malfunctioning components.

He is always at work in the air and is expected to be extremely wary of common hazards.

Wind turbine technicians carry out a large bulk of their work in the nacelle; this is where sensitive electronic gadgets and devices are kept. Considering the compact nature of the nacelles, technicians must be comfortable with and able to work in such confined environments. 

Also, there are times when they may need to work on top of the nacelles in order to replace instruments that measure wind speed and direction or in order to work with large cranes. This they must do while standing hundreds of feet high up in the air. 

The best protective measure they employ is to wear a fall protection with full-body harnesses that are grafted with the nacelle.

A wind turbine technician also works inside the hub of a wind turbine and inside the hub of a wind turbine rotor.

What Skills And Training Do You Need?

Wind Techs must be able to harness efficient mechanical prowess with a capability to climb ladder systems between 200 -  300 feet high, to get to the turbine nacelle. While climbing, they often may have to come along with other tools and equipment that weigh more than 50 pounds and would need to use a climb assist equipment to go up the turbine much faster.

Another important skill that is expected from a wind tech is the ability to exercise good judgment in desperate situations as well as the ability to document all findings correctly.

A high percentage of wind techs obtain their training from attending technical schools. To get an associate's degree, it would take 2 years. Such degrees, however, are only offered at technical schools and community colleges.

Wind turbine service technicians can still work hassle-free if they can provide any form of postsecondary training after completing and obtaining a high school diploma. 

Ideally, it is required that a prospective wind tech specialist attends a technical school program and earns a certificate or associate's degree. The people at https://hvacprograms.net/wind-turbine-technician-careers/ explained that to become a wind turbine engineer, you will need to complete a degree and apprenticeship in nuclear engineering. You'll be requiring four GCSEs at grades 12, and you'll be needing an A-level for an apprenticeship. Apprenticeships are available to everyone above 18.

Wind techs basically receive over 12 months of on-site training in addition to their coursework. This is easily gotten by an internship with a wind turbine servicing company.

Apprenticeships are often provided by unions and private contractors. Each year of the program, apprentices must have over 143 hours of all related technical instruction and over 2,200 hours of paid on-site training, according to the Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program Standards. 

The apprenticeship programs focus on safety, electrical, CPR training, first aid, hydraulic and mechanical system maintenance.

You need to be 18 or over to join an apprenticeship program. Workers must be at least 18 years of age and should have a high school diploma.

They should also be physically and mentally fit to handle the stress and technicalities that come with the job.

Is Being A Wind Turbine Technician Hard?

As a wind turbine technician, you will be needing expertise in mechanical systems and how they operate. The knowledge of both wind functioning and behavior of mechanical systems is combined to a complex one. It can be physically demanding. However, wind turbine technicians always work in groups and are not alone. This makes them constantly aware of their personal safety and the workings of the equipment.

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Now, can you see why you may or may not need a degree to really integrate into the wind turbine world? Depending on the aspect of wind technology, you'll be needing a degree in wind turbine engineering but not with being a technician.

Micah Soto

Update 07 February 2021