More than 10% of the U.S. power supply is generated by wind. This natural resource may seem like an easy source of renewable energy. But harnessing the power of wind is another story. That’s where wind turbines come in.
Over 75,000 of these behemoths have been erected across the U.S. You’ve likely seen onshore windfarms driving down the highway. What many don’t see: the small but mighty workforce of technicians who keep the machines running.
We had a chance to chat with former technician turned community advocate Neal Gyngard to learn more about what this epic occupation is all about. “Working turbines gets in your blood,” says Gyngard. “It’s not an easy job, but the people you work with are amazing and the work is incredibly rewarding. Plus, the views from the top make the hard days worth it.”
Working 400+ Feet Off the Ground
What goes into keeping a wind turbine up and running? “The day-to-day is actually pretty epic,” says Gyngard. For most turbine technicians, the day starts with a review of the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, which allows them to monitor performance and identify any issues remotely. “You never know what you’re going to find, so every day is different,” he continues.
From there, it’s into the field and up the tower. “It’s kind of like a submarine in the sky,” says Gyngard of his experience working in a wind turbine. Inside the tower, technicians handle everything from standard maintenance cycles — torquing or tensioning bolts, greasing bearings, cleaning carbon dust in the generator, and running basic electrical tests — to solving technical issues. Busy work days involve long stretches on your feet and projects that often spill over into the next day.
“We work a lot,” says Gyngard, “but when I think about all the homes I’m helping to power by keeping the turbines online and maintained, I know it’s work I will always be proud of.”
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Building an Epic Career Path
Gyngard came up in the construction industry before joining a crew building wind farms. “Construction is the first boots-on-the-ground phase of any wind farm project,” says Gyngard. “Large farms could employ more than 300 people in the build phase.”
Eventually, Gyngard became more interested in learning the ins and outs of turbine mechanics and moved into a technician role. “Wind turbines require consistent maintenance to keep them up and running,” he says. “Technicians work on every aspect of these machines electrically, mechanically, everything.”
Most wind farms employ one technician for every 10 turbines. Large-scale operations could have a team of ten or more providing regular maintenance and operations services. When something isn’t working, the same team is tasked with troubleshooting and making repairs.
“You truly have to become an expert on wind turbines,” Gyngard says. “The training you get in school helps you investigate a problem, but this is a job where you’re constantly learning. That’s one thing I love about this work. You’re always facing new challenges and refining your skills to grow with the industry.”
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That “always learning” aspect of the job makes working on wind turbines a community effort. In 2012, Gyngard founded Tower Climbing Grease Monkeys (TCGM). What started as a humble Facebook page for workers in the renewable energy industry to connect and share ideas has grown into a community of more than 35,000 people where workers can troubleshoot problems, share gear recommendations, and even find jobs.
“TCGM’s online forum has become like a database,” says Gyngard. “Turbines are pretty complex machines. When we can’t solve a problem with our knowledge from the original equipment manufacturers, it’s nice to have a place to talk through issues we’re seeing with fellow technicians.”
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The community is also a place for industry workers to support each other. “Accidents are rare,” says Gyngard. “In fact, people who come to wind and solar from other industries are often surprised by the level of safety we practice on jobsites, but that doesn’t mean what we do isn’t still inherently dangerous.”
Gyngard’s latest endeavor — the Charity for Renewable Energy Workers (CREW) — provides support for technicians who are injured on the job. “We take safety incredibly seriously,” he says, “but it’s nice to know that if an accident happens, we can support our TCGM family. That’s what this community is all about.”
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This post was sponsored by KEEN.
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