Month: August 2024

Climbing a wind turbine is a specialized task that requires training, safety equipment, and adherence to strict protocols due to the height and complexity of the structures. Here’s how it is typically done:

1. Preparation and Training

• Certification: Workers must have the necessary certifications, such as Global Wind Organization (GWO) training, which covers working at heights, first aid, fire awareness, and manual handling.
• Health and Safety Checks: Climbers must undergo health checks to ensure they are fit for working at heights. Safety briefings and risk assessments are also conducted before any climb.

2. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Harness and Fall Arrest System: Workers wear a full-body harness attached to a fall arrest system. This system includes a lanyard or self-retracting lifeline connected to an anchor point on the turbine.
• Helmet and Gloves: A safety helmet protects against head injuries, and gloves provide a secure grip while climbing.
• Climbing Suit and Footwear: A climbing suit, often flame-resistant, and sturdy, non-slip boots are worn to protect against environmental hazards and ensure a good grip.

3. Climbing the Turbine

• Internal Ladder: Most wind turbines have an internal ladder running up the tower. This ladder is equipped with a vertical safety rail or cable system to which climbers attach their fall arrest lanyard.
• Climbing in Stages: Climbers typically ascend in stages, resting at intermediate platforms. These platforms also serve as emergency exit points in case of fatigue or other issues.
• Self-Retracting Lifeline: This device automatically adjusts the length of the lanyard, preventing slack and minimizing the risk of falling.

4. Using the Elevator (If Available)

• Service Lifts: Some wind turbines are equipped with service lifts (small elevators) that can carry workers part or all of the way up the tower, reducing the physical strain of climbing.
• Lift Safety Protocols: When using the lift, workers must adhere to safety protocols, including checking the lift’s condition and following weight limits.

5. Reaching the Nacelle

• Final Ascent: The last part of the climb may involve transitioning from the internal ladder to access the nacelle, the housing that contains the gearbox, generator, and other critical components.
• Securing in Place: Once at the nacelle, workers secure themselves with additional lanyards to ensure they remain safely tethered while performing tasks.

6. Working in the Nacelle and on the Blades

• Confined Space Procedures: The nacelle can be a confined space, requiring specific procedures to ensure safe movement and ventilation.
• Blade Access: For work on the blades, technicians may use rope access techniques, hanging from the nacelle, or they might use platforms or cranes for maintenance tasks.
• Continuous Monitoring: Workers remain in constant communication with the ground team, and their condition is monitored to ensure safety.

7. Descent

• Controlled Descent: After completing their work, climbers carefully descend using the same ladder or lift system, ensuring they remain attached to the fall arrest system at all times.
• Emergency Descent: In case of an emergency, climbers can use an emergency descent device that allows them to rappel down the tower safely.

8. Post-Climb Procedures

• Equipment Check: After the climb, workers inspect their equipment for any damage and ensure it is in good condition for future use.
• Reporting and Debriefing: Workers complete any necessary reports and participate in a debriefing to discuss any issues encountered during the climb and ensure continuous safety improvements.

Safety Considerations

• Wind Conditions: Climbing is typically restricted or halted in high winds or severe weather conditions, as these can make the climb more dangerous.
• Emergency Preparedness: Workers are trained in emergency procedures, including self-rescue and the use of emergency descent devices.
• Regular Training: Regular refreshers in safety protocols and climbing techniques are necessary to keep certifications current and ensure safety standards are maintained.

Climbing a wind turbine is a highly skilled task that prioritizes safety at every step, from preparation and equipment to the climb itself and subsequent descent.

How to make money from wind turbines? A question we get asked a lot, so here goes…

Wind farms are large-scale installations of wind turbines that generate electricity by harnessing the kinetic energy of the wind. These farms can be located onshore (on land) or offshore (in bodies of water), and they are designed to produce significant amounts of renewable energy for distribution to the electrical grid. Wind farms are a crucial part of the global shift towards renewable energy, with countries worldwide investing in wind energy as a means to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, enhance energy security, and meet climate goals. They play a significant role in the energy transition, contributing to cleaner and more sustainable energy systems.

Building a wind farm is a significant endeavor requiring careful planning, substantial investment, and ongoing management. The process is complex but vital for harnessing renewable energy and contributing to a sustainable energy future. But with such huge amounts of resource required to build and operate a wind farm, including staff, training, maintenance, equipment and repairs, how do companies get a return on their investment?

Companies make money from wind energy through several revenue streams, all of which are tied to the generation and sale of electricity, incentives, and related services.

Here’s how it works:

1. Selling Electricity

• Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs): Wind energy companies enter into long-term contracts with utilities, businesses, or governments to sell electricity at a fixed price. These agreements provide a steady income stream and reduce financial risk for both parties.
• Wholesale Market Sales: In some cases, wind energy producers sell electricity directly on the wholesale electricity markets, where prices can fluctuate based on demand and supply conditions.

2. Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)

• Selling RECs: Wind energy companies generate Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) for each megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity produced. These certificates can be sold to utilities or corporations to help them meet renewable energy mandates or voluntary sustainability goals. RECs provide an additional revenue stream independent of the electricity itself.

3. Government Incentives and Subsidies

• Production Tax Credits (PTCs): In countries like the U.S., wind energy companies can benefit from tax credits based on the amount of electricity they produce. The Production Tax Credit (PTC) provides a per-kilowatt-hour tax credit for the first ten years of a wind farm’s operation.
• Investment Tax Credits (ITCs): Some wind projects might qualify for Investment Tax Credits, which allow a percentage of the cost of developing a wind farm to be deducted from taxes.
• Grants and Loans: Governments sometimes offer grants, low-interest loans, or other financial incentives to support the development of wind energy projects.

4. Selling Carbon Offsets

• Carbon Credits: Wind energy projects reduce carbon emissions, and companies can sell carbon credits generated from these reductions. Corporations or governments seeking to offset their carbon footprint purchase these credits, adding another revenue stream.

5. Equipment Manufacturing and Maintenance

• Turbine Sales: Companies that manufacture wind turbines, blades, and other components profit from selling these to wind farm developers.
• Operations and Maintenance Services: After wind farms are operational, companies can earn money by providing maintenance services, ensuring the turbines are functioning efficiently and minimizing downtime.

6. Ownership and Operation of Wind Farms

• Energy Companies and Utilities: Some energy companies build, own, and operate wind farms themselves, generating revenue from electricity sales while benefiting from government incentives and RECs.
• Independent Power Producers (IPPs): These companies develop and operate wind farms, selling electricity to utilities or directly to large industrial users under PPAs.

7. Leasing Land

• Land Lease Payments: Wind energy developers often lease land from farmers or other landowners to build wind farms. Landowners receive lease payments, while the wind energy company profits from the electricity generated.

8. Exporting Technology and Expertise

• Consulting Services: Wind energy companies may offer consulting services, sharing their expertise in wind farm development, grid integration, and project management with other developers or governments.
• Exporting Equipment: Companies in countries with advanced wind energy industries might export wind turbines, blades, and other components to countries where the wind energy sector is still developing.

9. Innovative Financing Structures

• Yieldcos: Some companies create yieldcos, publicly traded entities that own wind farms and other renewable energy assets. Yieldcos provide investors with a steady return from the revenue generated by these assets, while the parent company raises capital by selling shares.

Wind energy companies make money through a combination of direct sales of electricity, leveraging government incentives, selling environmental credits, and providing related products and services. As the global push for clean energy continues, these revenue streams are expected to grow, making wind energy an increasingly profitable industry.

At STL USA, we appreciate that investing in high-quality training comes with a significant financial burden for our customers, not only the cost of the courses themselves, but also downtime, travel and accommodation costs, as well as staff being away from site for extended periods of time.
That’s why we have developed our onsite training facilities, meaning we can bring the training to you, at your facility, thanks to our state-of-the-art mobile training unit.

The Advantages of Onsite Training

STL USA provides onsite training across the United States, bringing their mobile training units directly to wind farms or other operational sites delivering onsite wind technician training across a variety of courses. This onsite approach enhances the relevance and applicability of the skills learned, allowing technicians to train in real-world settings.

These mobile units are fully equipped to deliver GWO-compliant training, enabling companies to maintain high safety standards without the logistical challenges of sending employees to offsite training centers. This method saves time, reduces costs, and minimizes operational disruptions.

Core GWO courses delivered onsite include:

• GWO Basic Safety Training and refreshers
• GWO Advanced Rescue Training and refreshers

Where are we provide onsite training?

Simply put, we go where the wind takes us! In reality, this means that we focus on areas across the entire United States where there is a high density of wind farms, including, but not exclusively:

• Iowa
• California
• Oklahoma
• Illinois
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• South/North Dakota
• Minnesota
• Colorado
• Oregon
• West Virginia
• New York

Why Choose STL USA for Onsite GWO Training?

Safety Technology USA is a leader in providing high-quality training due to several key factors:

1. Expert Trainers: Experienced trainers with extensive field knowledge.
2. Convenience: Onsite training with mobile units for maximum efficiency.
3. Proven Track Record: Over 5,000 technicians trained, including major clients like RWE, Siemens Gamesa, and GE.
4. Comprehensive Offerings: Additional training programs such as NFPA 70E Electrical Safety training.

What else can STL USA train Onsite ?

Alongside the GWO courses mentioned above STL USA can also deliver QEW to NFPA 70E onsite and enhance the onsite visit with a number of blot-on options:

1. 1 day QEW (Qualified Electrical Worker to NFPA 70E) Low Voltage course
2. 1 day QEW (Qualified Electrical Worker to NFPA 70E) High Voltage course
3. 1/2 day Rescue plan development, includes written rescue plan for a range of scenarios with video/images
4. EAP/ERP (Emergency Action/Response Plan) site evaluation and reporting (equipment, existing plans), development of updated plan and testing of plan to include video, written documentation and live trial. 
5. 1/2 day local first responder sessions. Intro for local first responders to the wind turbine environment

Testimonials and Industry Recognition

Clients like Siemens Gamesa praise STL USA for their knowledgeable trainers and high-quality training sessions, highlighting the value and impact of STL USA’s training programs.

So, if you are interested in taking advantage of the many and significant benefits of onsite training for your team, including bespoke rescue plans created specifically for your site and technicians, click below to get in touch via the button below.