The cornerstone of any modern economy remains access to power. This is why, and rightly so, concerns have remained about how Africa can bridge its energy deficit gap and gain full electrification. Modern onshore wind turbines have become a common sight in many countries today. Due to technological advancements, the wind sector has the potential....
Wind turbines could be vital in helping the UK achieve its net-zero emissions targets. Wind power is a form of renewable energy that generates electricity without producing greenhouse gases, which are the leading cause of climate change. The UK has significant potential for wind energy generation, particularly with offshore turbines, and the government has set....
Europe is experiencing an energy crisis as gas prices have spiked. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been at the heart of the current energy crisis, as many countries relied on Russia for their natural gas supply. The effects of this issue have been increasingly felt as winter advances. For many, renewable energies seem....
Across the world, efforts are being made to slow the effects of climate change. For example, the Paris Agreement saw 194 parties signing to reduce global greenhouse emissions to try and keep temperature increases under 1.5°C. We must strive towards renewable energy goals and a more circular economy to meet these goals. Much of the....
Repairing wind turbine blades is not always a simple task, especially as turbines age and the damages become increasingly severe. Maintenance and smaller-scale repairs keep a turbine in good condition for longer. However, they cannot wholly halt deterioration. The most exposed areas of a machine, particularly if subject to various climate conditions, degrade fastest. On....
Where are you from Originally? Because you sound kind of American? I am from New Zealand. Wow, that is so far! Haha I know! Its literally as far as you can go So basically, you were always interested in water? Yes. So, I am very passionate about water and the environment because they like go....
Recent work conducted by Innvotek and Eleven-I within the GE Renewable Energy and ORE Catapult’s research and development program has further developed technology to assist in wind turbine blade repairs. The specialists at Innvotek have crafted a robotic crawler that uses magnets to attach itself to turbine generators firmly. From here, the tech can autonomously....
It’s an exciting time to enter the wind industry. Plans to build 1,000 to 2,000 new wind farms to produce enough electricity to power every home in the UK by 2030 mean positions will be opening up across the country and throughout Europe. There are several different routes into blade careers, whether you have zero....
If you are determined to be a wind turbine technician, you need to know what options you have and which will give you the highest chance of succeeding. It is also important to note that some individuals can complete shorter ‘conversion’ courses depending on their prior experience and study. Degrees University degrees are one of....
But what is this net-zero? According to (Azevedo et al., 2021), net-zero is defined as the process of balancing carbon emissions by an identical uptake of carbon emissions. But this net-zero must not be mistaken for being “carbon-neutral”. Therefore, in the just-concluded July 2 – 8, 2022 NetZero week, an emphasis was made on the....
Electricity is produced as the wind pushes the blades of the wind turbine round. The ideal wind speed for wind turbines to maximise electricity production is 33 miles per hours. However, the wind turbine must be properly lubricated and maintained to effectively handle this speed without causing damage to the components. As demand for wind....
Rope access allows employees practical access to hard-to-reach areas without cradles, scaffolding, or an aerial work platform. Rope access experts are in high demand today throughout a broad array of industries, covering a wide range of situations, skill sets, and job functions. As a result, there are numerous employment prospects in the rope access business…..
The demand for renewable energy is here now and promises to grow rapidly over the next few decades. It is clear that the world cannot continue to rely on fossil fuels to feed our energy needs. Many businesses and governments are investing in cleaner alternatives, and wind is one of the best-preferred sources of this....
The majority of operations carried out at height require the use of Rope Access Accessories, ensuring the safety and security of employees. To meet health and safety standards, whilst also ensuring optimum productivity, rope access technicians must ensure that ascent and descent from height is performed efficiently whilst maintaining the highest levels of security. But what....
Turbine rotor blade technicians have a pretty awesome job. Footage of technicians at work usually shows them doing amazing things on the end of a rope, half-way up giant wind turbines in exotic and exciting landscapes. It’s a career to envy, combining breath-taking views of adventurous locations with a skilled rope access job in a growing....
Project Overview: Maintaining the World’s Largest Aircraft Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) is the world leader in hybrid aircraft, which generate less noise, less pollution, and that have a lower carbon footprint and a better cargo-carrying capacity than virtually any other flying vehicle. The Airlander 10 is the world’s largest aircraft, at 92m long and 43.5m....
We recently caught up with Will Rowland, Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Repair and Maintenance Technician about his passion for rock climbing, his career before embarking on his journey as a Blade Tech and his experience at the London Altitec Academy. From speaking with Will, we learned about what it takes to be a good team....
Project Overview: Inspection & Access 50m Below Ground CAN Ltd is a specialist provider of ground engineering, structural installation and maintenance services, across the UK construction and civil engineering sectors. At Risehill Tunnel on the Settle to Carlisle railway, CAN’s technicians needed to access two, 50m-deep ventilation shafts, where calcite build-up had blocked the drainage....
Super-sized opportunity Turbine blade technician is one of the fastest growing job roles in Europe and North America, and as the wind industry expands, demand for turbine blade technicians in new wind energy markets is rapidly increasing. Blade repair work is incredibly varied, taking technicians from onshore wind farms in Australia, South Africa and North America....
Project Overview: Inspection and Access for wind energy off the Sussex coast Rampion Offshore Wind Farm is due to be completed and fully operational in 2018, with German developer E.ON overseeing the installation of 116 turbines at the 400MW project. With each turbine consisting of an 80 metre tower, weighing approximately 200 tonnes, E.ON’s technicians....
Important certificates and tickets for techs Maybe you have worked as a rope access technician for years and are now thinking about taking your career in a lucrative new direction, or you are completely new to the industry, but are interested in working as a blade technician. The fact is that as the wind energy....
Technicians in demand The UK alone has over 7000 wind turbines onshore and offshore. Collectively these turbines have more than 21,000 blades. Each of these blades need to be inspected regularly by qualified turbine blade technicians to maintain their efficiency and performance. Add to this number a dramatic increase (over 60%) in wind turbine installations....
