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49-9081.00 - Wind Turbine Service Technicians


Inspect, diagnose, adjust, or repair wind turbines. Perform maintenance on wind turbine equipment including resolving electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic malfunctions.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
1
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
4,400
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
9,200
Estimate
Change in Employment
+4,800
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+108%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Troubleshoot or repair mechanical, hydraulic, or electrical malfunctions related to variable pitch systems, variable speed control systems, converter systems, or related components.
  • Climb wind turbine towers to inspect, maintain, or repair equipment.
  • Diagnose problems involving wind turbine generators or control systems.
  • Perform routine maintenance on wind turbine equipment, underground transmission systems, wind fields substations, or fiber optic sensing and control systems.
  • Start or restart wind turbine generator systems to ensure proper operations.
  • Test electrical components of wind systems with devices, such as voltage testers, multimeters, oscilloscopes, infrared testers, or fiber optic equipment.
  • Test structures, controls, or mechanical, hydraulic, or electrical systems, according to test plans or in coordination with engineers.
  • Collect turbine data for testing or research and analysis.
  • Maintain tool and spare parts inventories required for repair, installation, or replacement services.
  • Train end-users, distributors, installers, or other technicians in wind commissioning, testing, or other technical procedures.
Supplemental
  • Inspect or repair fiberglass turbine blades.
  • Assist in assembly of individual wind generators or construction of wind farms.
  • Operate manufacturing equipment to fabricate wind turbines.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Mechanical
  • 91%
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 83%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 English Language
  • 79%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 75%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 74%
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
 Education and Training
  • 67%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Administration and Management
  • 66%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Building and Construction
  • 65%
    Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
 Mathematics
  • 65%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Physics
  • 62%
    Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
 Clerical
  • 59%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 58%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Telecommunications
  • 57%
    Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
 Transportation
  • 55%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
 Production and Processing
  • 53%
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
 Design
  • 52%
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
 Personnel and Human Resources
  • 50%
    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Paint applicators and painting accessories
  • Acid brushes
 Holding and clamping tools
  • Adjustable widemouth pliers
  • Long nose pliers
  • Workshop bench vises
 Wrenches and drivers
  • Adjustable wrenches
  • Breaker bars
  • Crescent wrenches
  • Manual torque wrenches
  • Phillips head screwdrivers
  • Ratchet sets
  • Straight screwdrivers
  • Torque multipliers
 Electronic and communication measuring and testing instruments
  • Alternating current AC power analyzers
 Electrical measuring and testing equipment and accessories
  • Amp clamp meters
  • Conventional watt meters
  • Digital multimeters
  • Digital oscilloscopes
  • Electronic watt meters
  • Ground resistance testers
  • Hotsticks
  • Megohmmeters
  • Phase rotation meters
  • Volt meters
  • Volt-ohm meters VOM
  • Voltage testers
 Forming tools
  • Claw hammers
  • Sledgehammers
 Power tools
  • Cordless drills
  • Hydraulic torque machines
 Lifting equipment and accessories
  • Crane attachments
  • Electric winches
  • Field forklifts
  • Rigging equipment
  • Shackles
  • Tower cranes
 Length and thickness and distance measuring instruments
  • Digital calipers
  • Digital micrometers
  • Distance measuring wheels
 Mechanical instruments
  • Digital dynamometers
 Chemical evaluation instruments and supplies
  • Digital hydrometers
 Cameras
  • Digital still cameras
 Fall protection and rescue equipment
  • Fall arrest systems
  • Safety lanyards
 Light and wave generating and measuring equipment
  • Fiber optic visual fault locators
  • Function generators
  • Infrared thermography cameras
 Safety apparel
  • Flame retardant coveralls
  • Insulated gloves
 Cutting and crimping and punching tools
  • Hacksaws
  • Hand punches
  • Insulated wire cutters
  • Wire strippers
 Calculating machines and accessories
  • Handheld calculators
 Audio and visual equipment
  • Handheld global positioning system GPS units
 Face and head protection
  • Hard hats
  • Protective face shields
 Batteries and cells and accessories
  • High-rate load testers
 Indicating and recording instruments
  • Inductive probes
 Computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
 Liquid and solid and elemental analyzers
  • Lubricant oil sampling kits
 Measuring and layout tools
  • Measuring tapes
  • Optical levels
 Personal communication devices
  • Mobile radios
 Brushes
  • Oil brushes
 Power generators
  • Portable gas-powered generators
 Rough and finishing tools
  • Precision files
 Integrated circuits
  • Programmable logic controllers PLC
 Hearing protectors
  • Protective ear muffs
 Meteorological instruments
  • Recording anemometers
 Vision protection and accessories
  • Safety glasses
 Fire fighting equipment
  • Safety line evacuation kits
 Welding and soldering and brazing accessories
  • Soldering tools
 Land surveying instruments
  • Survey transits
 Tool attachments and accessories
  • Tap sets
 Product and material trailers
  • Utility trailers
 Passenger motor vehicles
  • Utility trucks
 Metals and metallurgy and structural materials testing instruments
  • Vibration analysis equipment
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Industry specific software
  • Computerized diagnostic software
  • Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
  • Industrial control systems software
  • Programmable logic controller PLC software
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA softwareHOT
  • Vestas Wind Systems A/S Vestas Remote Panel
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
 Business function specific software
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
  • Microsoft ProjectHOT
 Information exchange software
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
 Finance accounting and enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • SAPHOT
 Network applications software
  • Web browser software
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
FastForward at Virginia's Community Colleges is a short-term training program for high-demand industries, like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades and infrastructure, helping Virginians get the jobs and salaries they need. Our goal is to get you trained, help you earn your certification, and get you into a career that can support you and your family. Explore the latest training program offerings by visiting FastForward
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Advanced
  • Renewable Energy Photovoltaic and Small Wind Installer Level III Technician
    5 Depot Street, Greencastle, IN 46135765-653-8262

  • Small Wind Installer - Level 1
    5 Depot Street, Greencastle, IN 46135765-653-8262

 Core
  • Renewable Energy Photovoltaic and Small Wind Installer Level I Apprentice
    5 Depot Street, Greencastle, IN 46135765-653-8262

  • Renewable Energy Photovoltaic and Small Wind Installer Level II Specialist
    5 Depot Street, Greencastle, IN 46135765-653-8262

All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Eastern Shore Community College
 Programs