Because of the scale of wind turbines, these engineers must deal with some atypical problems, such as designing roads that can withstand very heavy loads as well as trailers that are up to 100 feet long. Net Generation from Wind. Janitors and custodians are responsible for the cleaning and upkeep of facilities; security guards ensure that the facilities are free of unauthorized people and that problems are reported as soon as they occur. The types of equipment welders use are dependent on the job they are performing and material with which they are working. These technicians may be responsible for anywhere from one turbine to hundreds of turbines on a large farm. Wind turbines can run with little need for human supervision. Manufacturing blades, for example, is extremely labor intensive. When a problem arises wind techs must be able to diagnose and fix it quickly, as any time the turbine spends shut off is money lost to the energy company. There are also many companies that specialize in performing turbine maintenance and employ wind techs to provide this service to wind farm owners. Supervisory engineers are responsible for major components or entire projects and typically lead a team of engineers and technicians. Typically, the scientists are used as experts to ensure that a site is suitable for a proposed wind farm. Inspectors are also responsible for recording the results of their examinations and must regularly submit quality-control reports. [2] And this growth is accelerating. They wear harnesses that are attached to rings on the nacelle and move cautiously while working. Wages and benefits vary by employer and geographic location. Demand growth for efficient technology and building upgrades has driven expansion across many traditional industries including construction trades (which added ⦠Clean Energy Group is a leading national, nonprofit organization working on innovative policy, technology, and finance programs in the areas of clean energy and climate change. The National Renewable Energy Laboratoryâs Wind Prospector tool is a web-based Geographical Information System that supports resource assessment and data exploration for wind development. Formal permitting processes exist at the Federal and State levels. Each of these workers along the supply chain contributes to making wind a viable source of energy in the United States. However, construction workers and wind turbine service technicians employed by companies specializing in wind farm development handle the more technical operations and usually have extensive experience in the wind industry. This process can be split into three major phases: manufacturing, project development, and operation and maintenance. Engineering technicians assist engineers and scientists, especially in research and development and in the manufacturing process. Wind Development in the United States by Region. Although wind turbines do not take up a lot of space, construction can be disruptive to the natural environment. Logisticians working in the management, scientific, and technical consulting services industry group, which includes many firms that work primarily in logistics, had a median annual wage of $65,950 in May 2009. The group's projects concentrate on climate and clean energy issues at the state, national, and international levels and include stakeholders from governments and the private and nonprofit sectors. The organization works to expand transmission capacity, increase wind power use within the region, and facilitate wind power export. Because of the complexity of wind turbines, several types of engineers are employed by the industry. These companies rely on many smaller establishments to construct the individual components and systems that make up a wind turbine. Computer-controlled machine tool operators, metal and plastic, Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers. Source: American Clean Power Association, MW Under Construction Once the parts are properly aligned, they connect them with bolts and screws or by welding or soldering pieces together. They research, design, develop, and test tools and mechanical devices. The authors would like to thank Casey Homan (BLS), Leslie Joyner (BLS), Ann Norris (BLS), Emily Liddel (BLS), Liz Salerno (American Wind Energy Association), Michele Desautels (DOE EERE), and Ian Baring-Gould (DOE NREL) for their support of this project and for reviewing a draft of this report. This report has highlighted occupations in manufacturing, project development, and operation and maintenance, but the wind industry employs people in many other occupations as well. Wind energy is one of the most environmentally friendly sources of power generation available today. Wind-generating capacity in the United States grew 39 percent per year from 2004 to 2009, and is expected to grow more rapidly as demand for renewable energy increases. They must be familiar with all aspects of wind farm development: from budgeting, site selection, site studies, and permitting processes and safety policies to construction and transportation of wind turbines. Corporate headquarters, service facilities, material suppliers, R&D and logistics centers, and smaller component manufacturers (e.g., bolt manufacturers) are not included. [1] U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market Report: Year Ending 2009 (Washington, DC, American Wind Energy Association, 2010), on the Internet at http://www.awea.org/reports/Annual_Market_Report_Press_Release_Teaser.pdf (visited Sept. 2, 2010); see p. 2. PDF file of Careers in Wind Energy | Other Green Career articles, by James Hamilton and Drew Liming Clean Energy Group assists states to create and implement innovative practices and public funding programs for clean energy project deployment; creates networks of U.S. and international policy makers to address climate stabilization strategies; and advances effective distributed innovation theories, finance, and commercialization tools for new climate technologies. For most positions, the wind companies hire people with experience in other industries and give them wind-specific training. According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), in 2000, installed wind energy capacity in the United States was under 3,000 megawatts. However, the earnings of workers in these occupations are comparable to those of workers in the construction sector as a whole. Electricians are necessary to build the plant's electricity distribution system and connect the turbines to the power grid. After land has been obtained and wind turbines have been manufactured, the turbines need to be delivered to the wind farm. information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. The industry's growth should increase demand for skilled workers. Operating a turbine requires someone to schedule site personnel, observe turbine operation, and deal with equipment failure. Wind turbine production workers may be employed by either OEMs or third-party suppliers. When performing repairs, wind techs might need a new component to replace the broken one. Education is becoming important, and most project managers hold a bachelor's degree or higher in construction management, business management, or engineering. These engineers work on wind turbine components, wind turbine systems, or the machinery that is used to manufacture and test the turbines. Many development and construction companies use both their own specialized construction workers and local contractors. The following tabulation shows annual wages for engineers in selected specialties. These managers report to a senior project manager or site manager. Many workers are trained on the job and gain expertise with experience. For a 2-year associate degree, students complete the aforementioned types of classes in addition to general-education courses. The creation of this database was jointly funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Wind Energy Technologies Office via the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Electricity Markets and Policy Group, the U.S. Geological Survey Energy Resources Program, and the American Wind Energy Association. Wind Prospector includes a data layer dedicated to the locations of U.S. wind turbine and component manufacturing and supply chain facilities. Some work in quality control, inspections, and data collection. Visually identifiable by its characteristic turbines, wind power has been used on a utility scale for only a few decades. These programs consist of several years of classroom and on-the-job training. High school classes in English, mathematics, physics, mechanical drawing, blueprint reading, welding, and general shop can be helpful to prepare for the apprenticeships. However, as more vocational training programs are developed and training is standardized, technicians will be expected to have formal training and a certificate or degree. Industry sources report that there is currently a shortage of trained wind techs. They ensure that the land is used in the most efficient way possible and oversee the project's finances, budget, and contractual requirements. Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy | decision-making, drought monitoring, water resource management, and more. The wind energy industry has experienced rapid growth in the past decade. Technicians work a schedule that rotates which turbines need to be inspected or maintained. The average workday is spent climbing and inspecting multiple turbines. They must also take mechanical considerations, such as a truck's turning radius into account when mapping routes. Although some construction laborer jobs have no specific education or training requirements, some construction workers receive more formal training in the form of apprenticeships. Many industrial production managers have a college degree in business administration, management, industrial technology, or industrial engineering. Wind energy contributed â¬32 billion to the EU economy in 2010 and as of 2012, 250,000 people in Europe had a job linked to wind energy - by 2020, the sector will have generated 520,000 jobs. Environmental engineers deal with the potential environmental impacts of wind turbines. Industrial engineers study product requirements and design manufacturing and information systems to meet those requirements with the help of mathematical models. Division of Information and Marketing Services, GREEN GOODS AND SERVICES—OCCUPATIONAL DATA, Occupations Relevant to the Manufacturing Phase, Occupations Relevant to Project Development, Occupations Relevant to Operation and Maintenance, http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epa/epa_sum.html, http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy08osti/41869.pdf, http://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/ITS-2.pdf. Wildlife biologists supervise the development of reports on environmental impact. Much wind turbine manufacturing is located in traditional manufacturing areas in the Great Lakes and Midwest, as well as in the southeastern United States, where there is not sufficient wind for substantial power generation. Because experience is so important for these positions, years of experience may substitute for some educational requirements. Wind power has been used for centuries, but is a relatively new source of electricity generation. Geologists spend a large part of their time in the field, identifying and examining the underlying topography of a proposed wind farm. Biologists must make sure that the impact on these populations is minimal. A project manager will oversee a diverse team, including engineers, construction workers, truck drivers, crane operators, and wind technicians. Wind turbines consist of thousands of parts, and each must be designed to exacting specifications because of the stresses involved in generating wind power. Crane operators need to be highly skilled, especially when handling large, expensive cargo like wind turbine components. As with any complex project, support staff is necessary to ensure success. Engineering technicians typically have an associate's degree or a certificate from a community college or technical school. Although wind power is one of the most environmentally friendly sources of electricity, there are still some environmental concerns that engineers must consider. As formal training programs are developed, employers are placing more emphasis on wind-specific education. They might, for example, have to replace the instruments that measure wind speed and direction. The wind energy industry in the United States is relatively young, so there is no one way to be trained as a wind tech. The blades, tower, and nacelle may be manufactured by the OEM itself or contracted out to suppliers to be built to the OEM's specifications. BLS does not currently publish earnings data specific to the wind power industry, but earnings for engineers in wind power are comparable to earnings for engineers in general. BLS does not have wage data specific to construction occupations that involve working on wind farms. Although a master's degree is often preferred, a bachelor's degree, depending on the specialty, typically is sufficient for an entry-level position. Civil engineers design and supervise the construction of many parts of wind farms, including roads, support buildings, and other structures such as the tower and foundation portions of the wind turbine. More information will be provided later in this report. Before the turbines can arrive, the site must be cleared and roads must be in place. After determining how parts should connect, assemblers use hand or power tools to trim, shim, cut, and make other adjustments to align and fit components. Engineers in the wind power industry work in offices, laboratories, and industrial plants. Many different companies employ wind turbine service technicians. However, wind power accounts for about 50 percent of renewable energy, which includes wind, solar, hydroelectric, and geothermal power, as well as energy from biomass and wood or wood-derived products. The wind-energy supply chain requires the skills of many different production occupations, including machinists, computer-controlled machine tool operators, assemblers, welders, quality-control inspectors, and industrial production managers. The High Plains Regional Climate Center turns climate data from thousands of stations across the country into usable information on the local, regional, and national levels for use in agricultural Inspectors are integral to maintaining the quality of the manufacturing process. They usually recommend appropriate loss-prevention measures according to the probability of harm or damage. The following is a partial list of the types of engineers employed in the wind power industry: aerospace engineers, civil engineers, computer engineers, electrical engineers, environmental engineers, health and safety engineers, industrial engineers, materials engineers, and mechanical engineers. [5] 20% Wind Energy by 2030: Increasing Wind Energy's Contribution to U.S. Electricity Supply (U.S. Department of Energy, July 2008), on the Internet at http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy08osti/41869.pdf (visited Sept. 2, 2010). Because of the extremely large size of turbine components, transporting them is no easy feat. The Advanced Power Alliance is the industry trade association created to promote the development of the wind energy resource as a clean, reliable, affordable, and infinite source of power. Wind Prospector includes a data layer dedicated to the locations of U.S. wind turbine and component manufacturing and supply ⦠Because of the complexity of developing a wind farm, many occupations are involved in the process. Texas, Iowa, and California are the leading States in wind power generating capacity, but many other Statesâincluding Illinois, Indiana, Oregon, and Washingtonâare in the process of substantially increasing their wind-generating capacity. The Advanced Power Alliance is the wind energy industryâs voice within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and Southwest Power Pool (SPP) systems, including portions of Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacture of turbines' electrical components, including electric motors, machinery controls, lighting and wiring, generators, communications systems, and electricity transmission systems. âThat would be enough power ⦠They also work with lawyers, permitting specialists, engineers, and scientists to determine whether sites are suitable for wind farm development and to lead the process of purchasing or leasing the land. Industrial production managers plan, direct, and coordinate the work on the factory floor. Project managers must have excellent attention to detail and be good at time and resource management. [6] Turbines must be designed, built, transported, and erected before they can start producing energy. They are responsible for ordering spare parts, and ensuring there is a proper inventory of parts available for needed repairs. Construction laborers often work on wind farms as contractors and are responsible for preparing the site and building the surrounding infrastructure. Jobs in the wind industry will be available to people with a broad range of education and experience levels. Since many wind farms are located in the Midwest and western States, they have to consider potential hazards ranging from extreme winds and cold temperatures to earthquakes. Because of the size, cost, and complexity of turbines and the difficulty in selecting a site, turbine manufacturing must run concurrently with site development. Wildlife biologists evaluate the wind farm's effect on local animal life. It is now over 35,000 megawatts, enough electricity to power approximately 9.7 million homes. The .gov means it's official. When the tower has been erected, crane operators carefully lift the nacelle and the blades. They are responsible for promoting a safe work environment and ensuring strict adherence to site safety policies. Assemblers are responsible for putting the components together into a larger product. The growth of the wind industry will provide new opportunities for many American workers. In addition, the operators are expected to be certified to operate their equipment. How renewable energy jobs can uplift fossil fuel communities and remake climate politics. [5], According to AWEA, an estimated 85,000 Americans are currently employed in the wind power industry and related fields. Kansas Wind Application Center (Kansas State University), Walton Rural Life Charter Elementary School. Another challenge facing developers is the transportation of the turbine components to the worksite. Project managers are employed by larger construction companies, energy companies, or land owners and work under contract or as salaried employees. Although BLS data are not yet available, growth in the wind energy industry is evidenced by the rapid increase in wind-generating capacity over the past several years. Engineers in the wind power industry are involved in the design and development of wind turbines. All of this work must be done before the first shovel can break ground. The process starts with the raw materials that are made into individual turbine components. They also estimate the time and cost required to complete projects and look for ways to make production processes more efficient. Wind turbine service technicians will often climb several towers during the course of a typical workday, and their bodies, especially their shoulders, must able to withstand this strain. In addition to having technical knowledge, wind techs must be physically fit. WINDExchange is a resource of the U.S. Department of Energy's Wind Energy Technologies Office. Many of these engineers also supervise manufacturing processes. The foundations, which consist of concrete and steel, also must be complete before the installation of the turbines. To view a list of wind research and development projects in Kansas funded by the U.S. Department of Energyâs Wind Energy Technologies Office, visit the Wind R&D Projects Map and select Kansas from the dropdown menu. Modern turbine blades are made of fiberglass and, in onshore models, are frequently more than 100 feet long. Each month we promote hundreds of renewable energy vacancies across a variety of renewables sectors including low carbon, solar energy, sustainable energy, tidal power, waste to energy, wave power and wind energy. The nacelle also contains many highly sophisticated electronic components that allow the turbine to monitor changes in wind speed and direction. [8] They employ wind techs to perform maintenance and address problems during the warranty period. Renewable energy is a key piece of the "green economy," and wind power, which supplies thousands of jobs in the United States, is the fastest growing sector in renewable energy. Blades are usually made in two separate halves, which assemblers join together with an adhesive. Building a wind farm is a complex process. OEMs must incorporate new technologies and constantly innovate to stay competitive. However, many foreign OEMs are localizing production in the United States in order to take advantage of the growing market, reduce transportation costs, minimize the risks associated with currency fluctuations, ease logistical challenges associated with exporting large turbines and components, and avoid import duties.[7]. Many factories manufacturing components for wind turbines are located in the Midwest, sometimes in converted auto plants. They are concerned primarily with increasing productivity and minimizing costs in the manufacture of turbine systems and components. Renewable energy resources â primarily hydroelectric power and wind energy â contributed a meager 6%, in contrast. Construction workers employed by companies that specialize in developing wind farms are sometimes in supervisory roles. Many workers are found on wind farms, which are frequently located in the Midwest, Southwest, and Northeast regions of the United States. "Wind energy development has been on a tear the last few years as wind turbines have become unbelievably efficient," he said. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration. Some highly trained CNC workers also program the machines to cut new pieces according to designers' schematics. They work along with engineers, technicians, and project managers to ensure that the site is suitable for the development of a wind farm. The 25xâ25 Alliance is dedicated to securing 25% of the nationâs energy needs from renewable sources by the year 2025. Median earnings for selected scientists are noted in the following tabulation.
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