Wind energy has proved over the past decade to be one of the fastest growing segments of the green power economy. In the past 2 years, almost 40% of the all new power generating capacity in Europe and the U.S. has been wind energy. One of the biggest challenges for the industry, however, is finding enough skilled workers to design, build, install, and maintain wind turbine farms.

Types of jobs:

As with any industry, the wind energy sector has a variety of jobs, ranging from manufacturing to sales and service. Here are a few:

• Turbine production (manufacturing)
• Gearbox and component parts (manufacturing)
• Wind farm development
• On-site construction
• Financier (of projects)
• Turbine technician
• Salesperson
• Legal - lobbyist

Training:

Most positions in the wind energy industry will require some training (although some, such as sales and marketing, use transferable skills from other sectors). A good place to start is by talking to your local community college, which may have relevant training and/or certificate programs. (A good list of programs can be found here). There are also numerous state and local programs, as well as training provided by non-profit organizations such as the American Wind Energy Association. To learn more, click here.

Advice for job hunting:

Before you start looking for a wind energy job, be sure to check out our job hunting guide. Also, read up on the wind energy industry - it’s important to understand as much as possible about where you can fit in. Finally, be persistent. The wind sector is popular now, so you’ll have some competition!