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Wind turbine technician

Alternative titles for this job include Renewable energy technician

Wind turbine technicians maintain and repair wind farm turbines on land and at sea.

Average salary (a year)

£23,000 Starter

to

£42,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

37 to 40 a week

You could work

on call occasionally

How to become a wind turbine technician

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly

University

You can do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:

  • renewable energy engineering
  • electrical or mechanical engineering
  • electrical power engineering

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma
  • 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

College

You can do a college course, which can help you to get a trainee job with a wind turbine engineering company. Courses include:

  • Level 3 Certificate in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering
  • Level 3 Diploma in Maintenance Engineering Technology

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science

More Information

Apprenticeship

You can do an engineering technician, or maintenance and operations engineering technician, advanced apprenticeship.

You can also complete a higher apprenticeship in manufacturing engineering: wind generation.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

Direct Application

You can apply directly for jobs if you've got qualifications and experience in electrical or mechanical engineering from another industry, or from the armed forces.

More Information

Career tips

Demand for wind turbine technicians is predicted to grow over the next 10 years, with older wind farms being replaced or refurbished, as they come to the end of their working lives.

Further information

You can discover more about a career as a wind turbine technician from RenewableUK.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • the ability to use, repair and maintain tools and equipment
  • knowledge of engineering science and technology
  • problem-solving skills
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to repair machines or systems
  • knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software
  • knowledge of maths
  • the ability to work well with others
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

You'll also need safety training to work on wind turbines. This could include sea survival if you're working offshore. Employers will advise you on what's required.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

In your day-to-day duties you could:

  • install wind turbine towers on land or at sea
  • fit electrical, mechanical and hydraulic equipment
  • test turbine blades and control systems
  • carry out planned maintenance work
  • find faults and fix them
  • record job details and fill in safety reports
  • run safety checks on electrical substations and cables

Working environment

You could work in remote rural areas or at sea.

Your working environment may be at height and outdoors in all weathers.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

Career path and progression

You could become an authorised technician, with responsibility for supervising a technical team, and dealing with health and safety.

With further training, you could work as an operations and maintenance manager, control systems engineer or energy engineer.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Mechanical Services Apprentice

  • Wage: £156.00 Weekly
  • Location: Burnley

Engineering Technician - Mechatronics Multi-skilled Apprentice

  • Wage: £10,182.00 Annually
  • Location: Liverpool
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

Apprenticeship Standard - Level 3 Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician MOET (Mechanical Pathway) ST0154

  • Provider: WAKEFIELD COLLEGE
  • Start date: 01 September 2021
  • Location:

Apprenticeship Standard - Level 2 Engineering Operative (Mechanical/Fabrication and Welding/Electrical) ST0537

  • Provider: WAKEFIELD COLLEGE
  • Start date: 01 September 2021
  • Location:
Find courses near you

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