By head of Operations & Maintenance

1. Wind Power Technician
What’s so special about that?
Helge Larsen November 2011
Head of Operation & Maintenance

2. European Wind Resources
Color Sheltered Open Terain At Coastal Open Sea Hills & ridges

3. Wind Turbine Development 1980 - 2010
• Turbines >3MW will be common in the near
future Increase in MW per turbines period 1985-2005
• Turbines have doubled in size every 5 years
• Limiting reasons are logictics and local
consequences around wind farms
• * The effect of learning is estimated to result
in a 9-17 % reduction in O&M costs each
time installed capacity in Europe is doubled
Note
* Source: EWEA – European Wind Energy Association

4. EU Climate Goals of 2009
• A reduction in EU greenhouse gas
emissions of at least 20% below
1990 levels 20% reduction in
CO2 emissions
• 20% of EU energy consumption
to come from renewable 20%
resources
• A 20% reduction in primary innen
energy use compared with 2020
projected levels, to be achieved 20% 20%
by improving energy efficiency
20% Improving 20% Consumption to
energy efficiency come from renewable
resources

5. High expectations of employment within
rewnewable energy industry
Total jobs in EU renewable- and wind industry, if
EU reaches the 20-20-20 goals
• Approaching 2020 EU *1 estimates a Jobs, in thousands
doubling in workplaces within the renewable
power section to a total of 2,8 millions
3 000 2,8 millioner
• EU in 2007, employed 108 600 *2 in the
Fornybart
wind power industry alone - Vind
2 000
150 000 if counting indirect jobs
1,4 millioner
( 2005)
• Denmark, Germany and Spain accounts for
77% 1 000
330 000
• The Wind Industry in EU will employ near 155 000 Germany
330 000 workers in 2020, according to 0
EWEA *2 2007 2020
Germany as an example
38 000 directly employed in the wind industry in 2007 and 84300
• 37 nye arbeidsplasser daglig directly and indirectly (suppliers, sub suppliers and service
companies) and total of 250 000 in the renewable sector.
According to a BMU study the total renewable sector will increase
Note: to 400 000 in Germany by 2020.
1) Source: European Commission, Directorate General for Energy and Transport
2) Source: EWEA – European Wind Energy Association – ”Wind at work” – based on a scbeanrio with 180 GW wind installed in EU in 2020

6. Personal Experiences
• Sea West Wind Power was the leading US
company, both in project development and
operation of wind farms
• With more sophisticated technology in wind
turbines came the need for specialized
competency in the technical staff
• From 2001 implemented an in-house
training system based on 2 years of
specialized cources
• Resulted in significant improvement in the
wind farm operation efficiency
• Dramatically reduced the number of
accidents

7. What’s special about wind power?
• We work in teams of 2
o Complement one another
o Safety - Communication
• Work environment
o Climate challenges
o High stress level
o Dangerous operations
A 150 MW Wind Farm consists of 50-70 Power Plants!

8. Educational Challenges
Too
specialized
Electrical lesson plans
We need cross
competency!
Wind Power
Technician
What about
how-to-dos
and Safety?

9. The Wind Turbine Technician
Experience makes perect….
• The first 2 years of the “Wind Power Technician” program could, with some
specific adjustments, be one of the existing trades leading to a 3rd year
specifically oriented towards wind turbines
• The third year needs to focus on the wind technician competency needs;
electrical/mechanical – mechanical/SCADA – SCADA/electrical
How-to-dos
• In a wind farm there is a clear O&M divide between turbines and
infrastructure where specialized high voltage competency is required
• The work environment is subject to weather conditions requiring specific HSE
needs
• Hydraulic systems and tools are both complex and can be dangerous and the
student needs to have a good understanding of this
• Working in heights and under great stress is a common work situation for a
wind power technician

10. TODAY’S
WINNERS –
YESTERDAY’S
DREAMERS