Wind Turbine Technician

Organization: The Wind Energy Institute of Canada (WEICan)

Location: North Cape, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Employment Type: Full Time, continuing

Salary
: $60K+, depending on experience

The Wind Energy Institute of Canada (WEICan) is a non-profit organization founded in 1981, dedicated to advancing wind energy across Canada through research, testing, innovation, and collaboration. Located on Canada’s east coast on the northwest tip of Prince Edward Island, our institute benefits from an ideal wind research setting, with 300 degrees of water exposure, typical wind speeds of 8.9 m/s at 80 m, and frequent icing occurrences each year.

WEICan owns and operates an independent renewable energy power plant, which consists of a 10 MW Wind R&D Park. Included in the power plant are five 2 MW wind turbines, 223 kWh of energy storage, 109 kW of PV, meteorological towers, and a small wind test bed, all of which produce more than 8000 data points every second.

The Wind Turbine Technician is responsible for the commissioning, maintenance, and operational support of wind turbines, test systems, and associated components. Analyze, troubleshoot, and service mechanical aspects of wind turbines, testing systems, and associated components.

• Perform unscheduled, schedules, and major component maintenance service on the Institute’s wind turbines, met towers, and corresponding Wind R&D Park equipment. Commission, install, troubleshoot, and replace wind turbine components as required.
• Promote/demonstrate adherence to safety standards, procedures, practices at all times and communicate safety focus to team members.
• Collect/enter data and assist with analysis of data as necessary.
• Document tasks, complete service and inspection reports.
• Supervise contractors performing installation and maintenance.
• Work with WEICan technical staff and clients to develop and execute wind turbine and test system projects.
• Participate in all aspects of test programs and wind turbine installation:
  • Develop project documentation including updating technical drawings;
  • Specify and purchase equipment as necessary;
  • Assemble cabinets as necessary;
  • Install electrical and mechanical systems as necessary;
  • Work with technical staff and client to commission the turbine and test system;
• Perform routine maintenance, as required, on all site equipment, wind turbines, turbine test systems, met towers, site vehicles, repair to all facility buildings and grounds.
• Fabricate and install test data acquisition systems with required instrumentation installed as needed.
• Organize and participate in onsite and offsite wind resource assessment and turbine testing as needed.
• Organize and participate in safety related training and WEICan safety responsibilities, e.g. safety committee, as requested;
• Demonstrate a strong work ethic.
• Organize and supervise student work done in conjunction with WEICan.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Qualifications as Electrician, Instrumentation, Mechanic, or with Wind Turbine Maintenance an asset.
• Experience in relevant areas may be valued as equivalent or in place of certifications/courses
• Graduate of a Wind Turbine Technology Course or equivalent an asset.

• Experience performing service to wind turbines and met towers;
• Experience with turbine test systems, including data acquisition and instrumentation;
• Experience working with lathes, milling machine, power hand tools, electronic test equipment, climbing safety equipment, computers, diesel power generators, mechanical or electrical systems, and instrumentation;
• Experience in electrical and mechanical machinery theory, operation and installation;
• Comfortable climbing;
• Knowledge of electrical controls, PLC controllers and electrical sensors;
• Experience with wind turbine test standards, theory and protocols an asset;
• Experience with design and analytical software, e.g. Visio, AutoCAD, Excel.

• Excellent communications skills: interpersonal, listening, oral, written, and presentation;
• Ability to communicate effectively at all levels of an organization.

• The position primarily…