Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wind Farm Worker

🎯 Role Definition

A Wind Farm Worker (also known as Wind Turbine Technician or Wind Farm Technician) is responsible for the safe, efficient operation, inspection, maintenance, and repair of wind turbines and associated electrical and mechanical infrastructure onshore and offshore. This role requires strong hands-on technical skills, adherence to industry safety standards (GWO, BOSIET, OSHA), the ability to troubleshoot electrical/mechanical systems and SCADA, and the willingness to work at heights and in variable weather conditions.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Electrical or mechanical apprentice programs (electrician, mechanic, millwright)
Field service technician roles in utilities, oil & gas, or heavy industry
Rope-access or industrial climber with relevant safety certifications

Advancement To:

Senior Wind Turbine Technician / Lead Technician
Wind Farm Supervisor / Site Manager
Maintenance Manager or Operations Manager (Wind Energy)
Field Service Engineer (OEM) or Project Manager, Renewable Energy

Lateral Moves:

SCADA Technician / Controls Technician
Health, Safety & Environment (HSE) Officer specializing in wind
Blade Repair Specialist or NDT Technician
Crane Operator / Lifting Coordinator for wind projects

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Perform routine preventive maintenance and comprehensive inspections on wind turbines, including towers, nacelles, rotor hubs, blades, gearboxes, generators, yaw and pitch systems to maximize availability and reduce downtime.
Diagnose, troubleshoot and repair electrical faults within medium- and low-voltage systems, control cabinets, PLCs and generator systems using schematics, multimeters, insulation testers and other diagnostic tools.
Carry out mechanical repairs and replacements such as bearing changes, gearbox overhauls, shaft alignments, hydraulic pump and cylinder servicing, and coupling replacements to restore turbine functionality.
Conduct blade inspections and repairs including leading edge protection, composite patching, adhesive application, balancing and surface restoration to ensure aerodynamic integrity and extend blade life.
Execute tower and nacelle access, confined-space entry and rescue procedures safely, using harnesses, fall-arrest systems, and compliant rescue plans to protect personnel working at height and in restricted environments.
Follow GWO (Working at Height, First Aid, Manual Handling, Fire Awareness, Sea Survival where applicable), BOSIET/FOET, and OSHA safety standards; complete pre-start safety briefings and maintain correct PPE and permits-to-work.
Use SCADA and turbine manufacturer diagnostic tools to monitor turbine performance, read event logs, reset alarms, and coordinate remote troubleshooting with OEM field support to reduce mean time to repair.
Perform electrical isolation, lockout/tagout and safe-to-work procedures before carrying out maintenance to ensure compliance with site permit systems and reduce risk exposure.
Conduct routine lubrication, filter replacement, hydraulic oil sampling, and fluid analysis to prevent contamination, reduce wear and maintain recommended service intervals.
Assist with and direct on-site lifts and component replacements using cranes, winches and specialized rigging equipment; act as banksman/signaller and coordinate with lifting teams to move heavy turbine parts safely.
Record maintenance activities, timesheets, parts used and job reports in CMMS or site logbooks and generate detailed service reports for asset managers, scheduling preventive follow-ups as required.
Participate in fault-finding workshops and continuous improvement initiatives, contributing observations and practical solutions to reduce repeat failures and improve O&M procedures.
Perform emergency response duties including turbine isolation, shutdown, and recovery after storm events, lightning strikes or mechanical failures to protect personnel and assets.
Complete condition monitoring tasks such as vibration analysis, infrared thermography, oil analysis sampling and trending to identify developing faults and prioritize repairs.
Support installation, commissioning and retrofit tasks including turbine component alignment, electrical hook-ups, commissioning checks and acceptance tests, often in coordination with OEMs and contractors.
Manage parts logistics on site: verify inventory, request spare parts, perform stock checks and report shortages to ensure timely repairs and minimize downtime.
Work on scheduled night shifts, rotating shifts and on-call rosters as required; respond to emergency callouts and travel across wind farm sites or offshore locations for urgent repairs.
Liaise with the operations team, site management, external contractors and OEM technical support to coordinate complex repairs and ensure safety and efficiency across maintenance activities.
Perform basic welding, mechanical fabrication, and structural repairs to site infrastructure and turbine components where certified and within company scope of work.
Ensure compliance with environmental and site regulations during maintenance activities, including spill prevention, waste handling and reporting of environmental incidents.
Train and mentor junior technicians and apprentices in safe working practices, turbine-specific procedures and diagnostic techniques to build team capability and succession planning.
Inspect and maintain auxiliary site infrastructure (substations, transformers, cabling, access roads and perimeter fencing) to support overall wind farm operability and security.

Secondary Functions

Assist with pre-construction and decommissioning activities such as site surveys, component removal, and recycling coordination under supervision.
Participate in toolbox talks, safety audits and near-miss investigations; contribute observations and corrective actions to the HSE team.
Support data collection for performance analytics by submitting detailed maintenance records and condition-monitoring data to asset performance teams.
Help implement and refine predictive maintenance strategies, providing field insights to analysts and engineers.
Deliver customer-facing tasks when interacting with landowners, local stakeholders and site visitors, representing the company professionally.
Participate in vendor and contractor assessments by evaluating workmanship, safety compliance and commissioning quality.
Contribute to spare-parts planning by suggesting common failure parts based on field experience and historical fault patterns.
Attend technical training, OEM refresher courses and certification renewals to maintain competency and comply with industry standards.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Wind turbine maintenance and repair (onshore and/or offshore) — hands-on experience with nacelle, hub, rotor and blade systems.
Electrical troubleshooting (MV/LV), familiarity with transformers, generators, switchgear and protection relays.
Mechanical systems maintenance: bearings, gearboxes, couplings, shafts, hydraulic systems and mechanical alignment.
SCADA usage and turbine OEM diagnostic tools (e.g., Vestas, Siemens Gamesa, GE) for fault analysis and remote diagnostics.
Condition monitoring techniques: vibration analysis, infrared thermography, oil sampling and basic data interpretation.
Blade repair techniques and composite patching, sanding and finishing for fibreglass and carbon components.
Rope access, tower climbing and confined-space entry competencies with corresponding certificates where required.
Crane operations coordination and rigging knowledge; ability to act as banksman/signaller and follow lift plans.
Lockout/Tagout procedures, electrical isolation, and safe work permit systems.
Experience with CMMS/EAM systems (e.g., SAP PM, Maximo) for work orders, parts tracking and reporting.
Familiarity with PLCs, control systems and basic programming concepts for turbine controls and auxiliary systems.
Welding and fabrication skills (MIG/TIG/basic structural welding) where applicable and certified.
Offshore survival and sea survival skills for offshore roles (BOSIET/FOET) and IPAF/MEWP operator training for access equipment.

Soft Skills

Strong safety-first mindset with commitment to follow procedures, report hazards and improve HSE culture on site.
Excellent problem-solving and analytical thinking to diagnose complex failures in high-pressure situations.
Clear verbal and written communication for reporting defects, coordinating with teams and completing regulatory paperwork.
Team player who can collaborate with technicians, engineers, contractors and site management to achieve uptime targets.
Physical fitness, stamina and manual dexterity to perform tasks at height and in adverse weather conditions.
Attention to detail and procedural discipline when performing inspections, tests and preventive maintenance.
Flexibility and adaptability to work rotating shifts, travel between sites, and perform emergency callouts.
Time management and organizational skills to prioritize reactive work and scheduled maintenance efficiently.
Mentoring ability to coach apprentices and junior technicians, helping to raise overall team competence.
Customer-service orientation when engaging with landowners, stakeholders and third-party contractors.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent (GCSEs, Secondary School Certificate) with strong results in math and technical subjects.

Preferred Education:

Technical diploma, vocational qualification or associate degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Renewable Energy Technology, Industrial Maintenance, or a related trade program.
Completion of accredited turbine technician apprenticeship or OEM-specific training program.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Electrical Engineering / Electrical Maintenance
Mechanical Engineering / Mechanical Maintenance
Renewable Energy Technology / Wind Power Technology
Industrial Maintenance / Mechatronics
Composite Materials / Structural Repair Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years of hands-on experience in wind turbine maintenance or field service roles; entry-level candidates with relevant apprenticeships and certifications may be considered.

Preferred: 2–5+ years of experience specifically on wind turbines (onshore or offshore), proven record of complex fault diagnosis, familiarity with OEM equipment (e.g., Vestas, Siemens Gamesa, GE), and current safety certifications such as GWO, BOSIET/FOET (for offshore), IPAF, and OSHA 10/30 or equivalent.