As the years go by, you will have noticed the rapid increase and improvement of renewable energy sources, including wind power. With the UK never falling short of wind supply, even in the summer months, the wind power industry is set to boom.
Find out everything you need to know about wind power, and how you can become a part of the industry.
The Power Of Wind Energy
Wind power is the biggest source of renewable energy across the entirety of the UK, beating all the other renewable energy sources by 13.9%.
Not only does it beat the other sources for total electricity generated in the UK, but it also produces 6.5% more electricity than coal, oil, and other fossil fuels.
Across the UK, there are currently 11,000 wind turbines, both onshore and off, which are contributing to a quarter of the overall electricity for the UK.
With so many wind turbines already installed and many more to come in the future, this opens up endless opportunities for the industry and jobs available.
Wind Power Industry
Within the wind power industry, there are a number of jobs you can choose from, depending on your skills, interests, and qualifications. However, with all industries, it is important to remember that everybody must start somewhere.
If you are passionate about a specific sector in wind power renewable energy, there will always be steps to take in order to reach your desired job.
From starting as an apprentice or as a college student to building up and becoming a technician or installing wind turbines, we will provide you with an in-depth guide about the wind power industry.
Onshore and Offshore Wind Farms
One of the biggest, and crucial job roles in the wind power industry is being a technician.
Afterall, a turbine is a vast structure which requires a lot of technical care and attention to ensure it is running smoothly, safely, and efficiently. A technician is the one who ensures this takes place.
Becoming a wind turbine technician can involve a number of different things. For instance, there are currently more than 1,500 working onshore wind farms across the country, which means travelling could be included into your job description.
As well as many onshore farms, we have a number of offshore farms also. In fact, the UK became the world leaders for offshore wind turbines with around 2,200 wind turbines scattered across 35 windfarms off the coasts of Scotland, England, and Wales in 2020. In the same year, 40.7 tWh was produced and provided 13% of the UK’s electrical needs.
Work Experience
Whilst you will not earn any money from completing work experience, you can be guaranteed a great feel for the job and experience which can help you further down the line.
Many people believe that work experience is aimed at the younger generation who are still in education, whether this is school, college, or university, but this isn’t the case! Work experience can be for anybody, no matter your age or stage in life.
Anybody who is interested in a specific industry, but lacks experience, can apply for work experience and this is a great thing to consider if you are looking at different industries.
During your work experience, you will be shadowing a professional in this sector who will show you the ropes, the average working day, and provide you with a real taste for the job. Doing this can help you a considerable amount in landing your dream job further down the line.
In certain circumstances, once you have finished your placement, the company may offer you a position working for them if you have shown dedication, commitment, and most of all enjoyed your time.
If you are not offered a position once you have finished, do not feel disheartened! Your time doing work experience will be a great addition to your CV and will improve your chances of finding a job in the future.
Apprenticeship
Starting your career off with an apprenticeship can often lead you to very successful outcomes. Not only will you be learning with coursework and tuition, but you will also get hands on with tasks whilst earning an income!
The current minimum wage for apprenticeships is £4.81 unless you are aged 19 or over and have completed your first year of apprenticeship, as you will then be entitled to the national minimum wage.
There are two different apprenticeships you can apply for when considering this industry. One of which is nuclear engineering, and the other is power engineering.
Unfortunately, in order to become a wind turbine engineer will require a degree apprenticeship. This is not always a negative drawback, as a degree apprenticeship is the equivalent of going to university and achieving a full bachelors or master’s degree.
If you are concerned about the costs of university and would like to be working and earning a wage, completing a degree apprenticeship could be the right option for you!
University
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Your LinkedIn profile is a key aspect to your business or your search for a job, so it is important to optimise your profile the best you can.
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With these helpful tips, we hope you have optimised your LinkedIn profile and achieved what you set out to do.
Whether that be growing your business, allowing your business to be noticed, or finding the job you have been searching for.
The Future Of Wind Power
As the world goes on and time go by, technology is continuing to progress and improve which will impact our wind turbines. Around 5,000 offshore wind turbines are going to be installed by 2030 which will provide us with 40 gigawatts of power.
It is hoped that this is going to be enough to provide electricity to all of our homes across the country. By 2030, the number of offshore wind turbines will be double the amount that there was in 2020.
Which means by 2030, we can expect 30,000 wind turbines scattered across the coasts of Scotland, England, and Wales.
As more wind turbines are being installed, more jobs will become available – with expectation of these new jobs to reach figures of up to 69,800 by 2026. This is a dramatic increase since 2021 when the available jobs sat at 26,000.
Whilst this is a long-term investment across eight years, many windfarms will soon be under construction. This leaves you time to gain the experience, skills, and qualifications needed for this industry!
Were you aware that our technical recruitment specialists have particular knowledge in the renewable energy sector? We can provide you with expert advice throughout your whole journey, from writing your CV to landing your dream job!
Get in touch with us today and we will guide you in the right direction!
