Wind energy engineer

Wind energy engineers design and install wind energy farms and equipment. They research and test locations to find the most productive location, test equipment such as wind-turbine blades, and develop strategies for more efficient energy production, and environmental sustainability.

The following job titles also refer to wind energy engineer:

wind energy specialist
wind energy technology engineering adviser
wind energy engineering adviser
wind energy technology engineering specialist
wind power engineer
wind turbine engineer
wind engineer
engineer for wind energy
wind energy technology engineering expert
wind energies engineer
wind energy engineering consultant
wind energy engineering specialist
wind energy systems engineer
wind energy technology engineering consultant
wind-turbine engineer
wind energy engineering expert
wind energy technology engineer

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as wind energy engineer. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Wind energy engineer is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to wind energy engineer.

electric power generation engineer
renewable energy engineer
environmental mining engineer
substation engineer
nuclear engineer

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of wind energy engineer. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of wind energy engineer with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of wind energy engineer.

Engineering principles: The engineering elements like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are applied in the completion of engineering projects.
Electrical discharge: Tthe qualities and applications of electrical discharge, including voltage and electrodes.
Technical drawings: Drawing software and the various symbols, perspectives, units of measurement, notation systems, visual styles and page layouts used in technical drawings.
Electrical power safety regulations: The compliance with safety measures which need to be taken during the installation, operation, and maintenance of constructions and equipment which function in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electrical power, such as the appropriate safety gear, equipment handling procedures, and preventive actions.
Types of wind turbines: The two main types of wind turbines, namely those which rotate along a horizontal or those which rotate along a vertical axis, and their subtypes. The properties and uses of each.
Engineering processes: The systematic approach to the development and maintenance of engineering systems.
Aerodynamics: The scientific field that deals with the way gases interact with moving bodies. As we usually deal with atmospheric air, aerodynamics is primarily concerned with the forces of drag and lift, which are caused by air passing over and around solid bodies.
Civil engineering: The engineering discipline that studies the design, construction and maintenance of naturally built works such as roads, buildings, and canals.
Meteorology: The scientific field of study that examines the atmosphere, atmospheric phenomena, and atmospheric effects on our weather.
Electric generators: The principles and operations of devices that can convert mechanical energy into electrical energy, such as dynamos and alternators, rotors, stators, armatures, and fields.
Mining, construction and civil engineering machinery products: The offered mining, construction and civil engineering machinery products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.
Renewable energy technologies: The different types of energy sources which cannot be depleted, such as wind, solar, water, biomass, and biofuel energy. The different technologies used to implement these types of energy to an increasing degree, such as wind turbines, hydroelectric dams, photovoltaics, and concentrated solar power.

These skills are necessary for the role of wind energy engineer.

Test wind turbine blades: Test new designs of wind turbine blades which are meant for usage on wind farms in air tunnels designed for the purpose, ensuring that the blades are functional and safe for usage on the target wind farm.
Ensure compliance with safety legislation: Implement safety programmes to comply with national laws and legislation. Ensure that equipment and processes are compliant with safety regulations.
Record test data: Record data which has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptional or unusual input.
Adjust engineering designs: Adjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.
Research locations for wind farms: Perform research on-site and using a wind atlas in order to evaluate different locations which could be suitable for the construction of groups of wind turbines, as well as perform follow-up research on the location in order to aid in the development of construction plans.
Perform scientific research: Gain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.
Inspect wind turbines: Perform routine inspections on wind turbines by climbing the turbines and carefully inspecting all parts to identify any problems, and to assess whether repairs have to be arranged.
Use technical drawing software: Create technical designs and technical drawings using specialised software.
Report test findings: Report test results with a focus on findings and recommendations, differentiating results by levels of severity. Include relevant information from the test plan and outline the test methodologies, using metrics, tables, and visual methods to clarify where needed.
Provide information on wind turbines: Provide organisations and individuals searching for alternative energy methods on the cost, benefits, and negative aspects of the installation and use of wind turbines, both residential and common, and what one must take into account when considering the implementation of wind turbine technology.
Develop test procedures: Develop testing protocols to enable a variety of analyses of products, systems, and components.
Design wind turbines: Design the electrical components and blades used in equipment which generates energy from the wind into electrical power, ensuring that the design is optimised to ensure safe and efficient production of energy.
Approve engineering design: Give consent to the finished engineering design to go over to the actual manufacturing and assembly of the product.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of wind energy engineer. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of wind energy engineer. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Promote sustainable energy: Promote the use of renewable electricity and heat generation sources to organisations and individuals, in order to work towards a sustainable future and encourage sales of renewable energy equipment, such as solar power equipment.
Assemble electrical components: Assemble switches, electrical controls, circuit boards and other electrical components by using hand and soldering equipment.
Oversee pre-assembly operations: Organise and oversee the arrangements preceding the assembly of manufactured products, mostly taking place in factories, including their installation in assembling locations such as construction sites.
Review meteorological forecast data: Revise estimated meteorological parameters; solve gaps between real-time conditions and estimated conditions.
Operate meteorological instruments: Operate equipment for measuring weather conditions, such as thermometers, anemometers, and rain gauges.
Wear appropriate protective gear: Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
Respond to electrical power contingencies: Set in motion the strategies created for responding to emergency situations, as well as respond to unforeseen problems, in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electrical power, such as power outages, in order to rapidly solve the problem and return to normal operations.
Design wind farm collector systems: Design systems which interconnect individual wind turbines on a wind farm and collect the energy and transfer it to a substation, which will allow for the transmission of the generated electrical energy, ensuring that the system connects the turbines to each other and the substation in a safe and efficient manner.
Provide advice to technicians: Offer help and advice to service technicians in case of machine malfunctions and other repair tasks.
Develop strategies for electricity contingencies: Develop and implement strategies which ensure that swift and efficient actions can be taken in the event of a disruption in the generation, transmission, or distribution of electrical energy, such as a power outage or sudden increase of demand.
Coordinate electricity generation: Communicate the current demand of electricity generation to electricity generation workers and facilities in order to ensure that the generation of electrical power can be increased or decreased accordingly.
Monitor electric generators: Monitor the operation of electric generators in power stations in order to ensure functionality and safety, and to identify need for repairs and maintenance.

2149 – Engineering professionals not elsewhere classified

 

 

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References

1. Wind energy engineer – ESCO