Guide · Offshore wind

How to become an offshore wind technician

Offshore wind technicians install, inspect and repair the turbines in offshore wind farms. A typical day starts with a boat or helicopter transfer and a climb inside the tower, followed by hours of electrical, mechanical or hydraulic work in the nacelle, 100 metres or more above the sea. Most technicians come from a trade, and the wind-specific part is training you can complete in weeks.

What the job involves

• Scheduled maintenance: torque checks, lubrication, filter and oil changes, and inspections of blades, gearboxes and generators.
• Fault-finding: tracing electrical and control faults that have stopped a turbine, often with remote support from the control room.
• Installation and commissioning: building and energising new turbines, usually on project contracts.
• Specialist repair: blade repair, high-voltage switching and bolt tensioning, often done by dedicated teams.

The background employers look for

You don't need wind experience to start, but you do need hands-on technical skills. The most common routes in are:

• Electricians and electrical technicians
• Industrial maintenance, millwright and mechanical technicians
• Hydraulics and HVAC technicians
• Military veterans with aviation, vehicle, electrical or engineering roles
• Onshore wind technicians, the most direct route of all

A two-year wind energy technology program at a community or technical college is the other common way in, especially if you don't have a trade yet.

The path, step by step

1. Check you're fit for heights.You'll climb ladders inside towers taller than most buildings, in a harness, and often more than once a day. Spend some time at height before you pay for training, and expect a medical and climb assessment from employers.
2. Get GWO Basic Safety Training (BST).BST is the Global Wind Organisation's core safety standard. It covers First Aid, Manual Handling, Fire Awareness and Working at Heights, plus Sea Survival for offshore work. It takes about a week and is refreshed every two years.
3. Add GWO Basic Technical Training (BTT).BTT covers the electrical, mechanical and hydraulic basics of turbines, plus an installation module. Employers who hire people new to wind often ask for it.
4. Get your US paperwork in order.For US projects, a TWIC card helps with access to port facilities. Any driving licence and trade licences you hold should be current.
5. Consider onshore wind first.Many offshore technicians spend a year or two on onshore wind farms. It's the same turbine work without the vessel transfers, and offshore employers value it highly.
6. Apply to the right employers.Hiring is done by turbine manufacturers, which run long-term service contracts, by wind farm owners and operators, and by service and staffing contractors that supply crews for campaigns.

Useful extras

What rotations look like

Technicians based on a service operation vessel usually work 14/14 rotations of two weeks offshore and two weeks home. Wind farms served by daily crew transfer vessels may run day shifts from a port, with technicians home most nights. See how rotations work for more.

Training standards and site requirements change. Confirm what each employer requires before you book a course, and check that your training provider is GWO-certified.

Find wind jobs

Listings on Offshore.im show the rotation and required certifications up front.

Browse offshore wind jobs

Next read: Offshore jobs with no experience.