For wind turbine service technicians like Michael Richter, their work day is usually spent almost 33 feet (100m) above the ground. One of the tasks they have to complete involves servicing the wind turbine gearboxes. He says that the first time up was nerve wrecking, however nowadays it is just like “working in an office” for him.
He works for the wind energy company ZF Wind Power, which not only makes and services its own turbines but now has a license to service other company’s turbines worldwide. Their two largest markets are currently North America and of course Europe. They are matching the service peak in North America, and anticipating the Asian boost within the coming years.
Altogether, they have a 25 member service team, that is contracted worldwide. As you can imagine, this is a physically demanding job. It is not easy to climb up and down those stairs inside the turbine everyday. This ultimately means that it is a job well suited for younger people. After your service tenure, more opportunities may become available in the offices.
You can watch the video below on Maintenance of wind turbine gearboxes at a dizzy height…
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