Shawn Lamb

The pressure to make a profit is increasing
as margins disappear. Add
to that the fact most sites in the U.S.
given a Production Tax Credit (PTC)
from the government also will be facing
a completely new OPEX budget after
10 years. OEMs and their sub-suppliers
will need to adjust their businesses
to support independent aftermarket efforts
by the third-party suppliers, owners,
and operators. This is imperative for
the longevity and maturity of the wind
industry

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the wind turbine technician profession — and opportunities for employment therein — is expected to increase by 108 percent over the next 10 years. This projection is much higher than the other occupations classified under the category of installation, maintenance, and repair, which is expected to grow by only 6 percent throughout the same time frame. This statistic indicates that U.S. wind energy generation is a growing industry with… Show more

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the wind turbine technician profession — and opportunities for employment therein — is expected to increase by 108 percent over the next 10 years. This projection is much higher than the other occupations classified under the category of installation, maintenance, and repair, which is expected to grow by only 6 percent throughout the same time frame. This statistic indicates that U.S. wind energy generation is a growing industry with approximately 8.6 GW of newly installed capacity over the past year, as well as the tens of thousands of previously installed turbines that will need to be operated and maintained well into the next couple decades. However, the question remains — where will these workers come from? Show less

What are the regulations and standards that "qualify" a wind technician to work in a wind turbine electrical cabinet.

Addressing each one of the causes for the worker shortfall in isolation will still only solve part of the problem. A comprehensive action plan has to be implemented by the wind industry, government, and academia and should include improvements in workforce development, education and training, recruitment, and retention in order to get ready for the massive shortage of qualified wind workers that is approaching in the near future.

Holistic operations knowledge and ongoing training are key factors in bolstering efficiency.

As the wind energy industry continues to grow, training an adaptable, high-tech labor pool is essential to keep up with rapidly evolving technology.

Ecotech Institute is the first and only college entirely focused on preparing America's workforce for careers in renewable energy and sustainability. Shawn Lamb, Program Director at the Institute, talks us through the latest thinking.

For many, 2012 will go be defined as a watershed year for the wind industry in North America - and yet we've still got a couple of months to go! With that in mind, we've brought together a roster of some of the finest minds in the industry, and pitched them a selection of challenging questions. Their answers are in equal parts engaging, illuminating, educating - and sometimes surprising.

No longer dependent on field experience alone, wind energy technician training is being conducted at cutting-edge facilities such as Ecotech Institute.

http://windsystemsmag.com/search/article/?articleID=354

Poster at the Ninth Annual Celebration of Student Research and Creative Endeavors, Appalachian State University.