Wind Farm Maintenance Specialist; Wind Turbine Assembly Operator

A wind farm operator carries out the operations related to the assembly and maintenance that ensure the correct running of a wind farm, assessing and preventing possible professional risks.
They work in all types of companies commissioned to carry out the supply, assembly, start-up, operational management and maintenance of wind power installations for the production of electricity. As a result, this profession is in the electricity production sector, in the renewable energies sub-sector.

• Understand and interpret wind power installation projects:
  Identify and locate the different assembly or installation components in situ on the basis of instructions received or the corresponding plans and technical specifications.
  Interpret the plans and technical specifications of the equipment and installations to be maintained to have clear and precise knowledge of the action to be carried out and establish the maintenance action sequence.
  Determine the possible dysfunction between the installation project and the characteristics of the materials received, adopting the appropriate technical and organisational decisions.
  Establish the sequence of the assembly tasks on the basis of instructions, plans and technical documentation, optimising the safety process, method and time.
  Select the materials, tools and other technical resources suited to the type of wind power installation to be carried out.
  Prepare the work area in accordance with the requirements of the site and according to the established work procedures.
• Know and interpret current regulations applicable to wind power installations and their equipment, especially wind turbines:
  Identify the professional, mechanical and electrical risks in accordance with the safety plan drawn up before starting the assembly or maintenance of the wind power installation.
  Appropriately select the means of protection against the risks derived from the assembly and maintenance to prevent accidents.
  Keep work areas under their responsibility clean and tidy in order to prevent accidents.
  Follow the action protocol in cases of emergency adapted to the corresponding situation.
• Know, predict and assess the work risks associated with operations with wind turbines:
  Interpret and apply the company's safety manual correctly in each situation.
  Identify the risks derived from accidents in the accesses to wind farms.
  Identify the risks derived from falls, impacts, blockages and collisions of machinery.
  Identify the electrical risks inherent in electrical installations.
  Rate and classify the possible consequences to people of each of the risks identified.
  Manage the risk control and prevention measures, adopting the appropriate technical and organisational decisions.
  Convey the work safety recommendations to the people under their responsibility who participate in the tasks of assembly, operation or maintenance of wind turbines.
  Examine, test and use the safety equipment and systems at wind farms.
  Start up the systems and maintain their correct operation.
• Know and interpret the company's Safety Plans and participate in their improvement:
  Follow the procedures to stop the turbine safely.
  By acting on the hydraulic system in accordance with the corresponding method and regulations, carry out safety manoeuvres in light of the electrical risks of the wind turbine and the corresponding regulations.
  Carry out operations with hazardous substances and materials in accordance with statutory requirements and the company's safety plan.
  
  
  
  

Regulated training and graduates

• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Energia i Aigua: Gestió del muntatge i manteniment de parcs eòlics (Nivell 3)
• Professional Training Course(s) in the field of Mechanical Production - Intermediate Level: Welding and Boilermaking
• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Fabricació mecànica: Fabricació i muntatge d'iinstal·lacions de tuberia industrial (Nivell 2)
• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Fabricació mecànica: Soldadura amb elèctrode revestit i TIG (Nivell 2)
• Professional Training Course(s) in the field of Mechanical Production - Advanced Level: Metal Construction
• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Fabricació mecànica: Disseny de caldereria i estructures metàl·liques (Nivell 3)
• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Fabricació mecànica: Gestió de la producció en fabricació mecànica (Nivell 3)
• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Fabricació mecànica: Producció en construccions metàl·liques (Nivell 3)

Complementary training

Working at height and on high- and low-voltage installations requires knowledge of the risks of working at height and working in electricity conduction installations.

Other specific skills

One or two years in renewable energy systems (thermal and photovoltaic) and in operation of wind turbines.

Concern for order and quality: Level 2

Flexibility and change management: Level 1

Initiative: Level 1

Orientation within reach: Level 1

Learning and use of knowledge: Level 1

Conceptual thought: Level 1

Mechanical handling

People related to the field of mechanical handling are interested in the assembly, maintenance, repair and use of machines, tools and installations. Some good examples of professional activities in the field of mechanical handling are adjusting and configuring machines, reviewing technical equipment to detect incidents in their operation, handling machinery in production processes and driving specialised vehicles.

Technician specialized in metalwork and nautical welding

Metal stamping operator

Aluminium joiner

Solderer

Solar Power Equipment Fitter

• Work hours

  In some cases, work shifts (day-night) or on-call duties (weekends) may be established to ensure the presence of workers on the wind farm at all times.

• Salary

  The salary may be variable according to the professional category, between € 16.763 and € 23.871 a year. Median: 20.003 euros annum gross.
  
  Source: Report "Observatory of Jobs and Salaries of the Labour Market. Barcelona Activa", elaborated by ICSA Grupo. April 2015.

• Professional category

  Specialist staff