Becoming a Blade Repair Technician: Your Ticket to a Career in Wind Energy
Australia’s wind energy industry is at the forefront of the country’s renewable energy transition, boasting unprecedented growth in recent years. With impressive growth rates and a considerable influx of capital investment, the sector is experiencing a period of rapid expansion and development.
As the industry continues to evolve, the need for reliable and efficient blade repair and maintenance technicians has become increasingly crucial to ensure that wind turbines operate at their peak efficiency to maximise lifespan and performance. With this in mind, the demand for skilled professionals in this field has reached an all-time high, underlining the critical role training plays in the success of Australia’s wind energy industry.
The art of wind turbine blade repair requires skilled technicians responsible for inspecting, maintaining, and repairing the blades to ensure they operate at optimal performance. Repairs are conducted both on the ground and others while elevated sky-high on a platform. In most cases, technicians must scale towers up to 100 meters high before using advanced rope access and rigging techniques to safely abseil and hang from ropes way up in the air to work their craft on blades that can exceed 50 meters in length. Despite the challenging conditions, these technicians must exercise precision and expertise to keep wind turbines running at peak efficiency.
Wind turbine blade repair is not a job for the faint-hearted and requires exceptional courage and resilience. Battling high winds and extreme weather conditions can be demanding, but the men and women who undertake this work are skilled in juggling power tools, measuring and testing equipment, fibreglass, resins, coatings, and other specialised gear. They perform delicate, intricate, and highly technical work to the highest standards in line with industry best practices. Even in the most challenging circumstances their expertise ensures repairs are completed with precision and accuracy.
The art of blade repair
How do I become a blade repair technician?
Are you interested in a dynamic and exciting career in the renewable energy sector? Perhaps you have experience as a rope access technician or a working-at-height professional, or you’re a thrill-seeking adventurer. If so, becoming a Blade Repair Technician could be the perfect career path for you. As the wind energy industry continues to grow, there is an increasing need for highly skilled technicians who can repair and maintain wind turbine blades, especially those made of composite materials.
With Blade Repair Technicians in high demand, you might be looking to take the next step to secure your future and work towards a career in the renewable energy industry. If this sounds like you then enrolling in a certified GWO blade repair training program is the ideal way to acquire the skills and knowledge you need to gain entry into the wind energy sector.
What to look for in a training provider
Given that there are a handful of GWO blade repair training providers in Australia, how can you make an informed decision and confidently choose the right one? Ultimately, the responsibility of selecting a course provider lies with you. However, you must be confident in their ability to meet the following criteria:
- Fully accredited by the Global Wind Organisation (GWO).
- The ability of the training provider to answer any relevant course questions.
- The standard and quality of the training facility – location, classrooms, WHS, environment and equipment.
- The quality and qualifications of the instructor.
RIGCOM GWO Blade Maintenance and Repair Course
Fully accredited by the Global Wind Organisation (GWO), RIGCOM’s 10-day comprehensive Blade Maintenance and Repair Course will give you the skills and knowledge to become a competent blade inspection and repair technician. Training is conducted over two weeks in our purpose-built training centre in Seven Hills, NSW, centrally located within easy reach of accommodation and dining options, if required, for the course duration.
Fully equipped with the latest industry-standard equipment and technology, our simulated blade training centre is designed to optimise learning and ensures our students are appropriately skilled for the future and a well-paid career in wind energy. The course teaches participants how to inspect and repair damage caused by erosion, stress, lightning strikes, bird strike and cracks to bring a blade back to its aerodynamic form.
Our approach
At RIGCOM, we purposely keep our class group sizes small to ensure all participants receive personal attention and support. Students benefit from the hands-on and theory-based learning provided by our expert trainer passionate about helping our students complete the course and develop their skills and knowledge to conduct high-quality maintenance and repairs on wind turbine blades, ensuring optimal performance and longevity of these critical assets.
Whether you are looking to upgrade your existing skill-set or to learn the relevant skills to launch into a career in the wind energy industry, our fundamental commitment to you is to set you on the right path to gain your GWO Blade Repair certification and master a comprehensive range of technical skills, including:
- Blade inspection
- Bond line repairs
- Painting
- Lightning protection
- Laminate repair
- Sanding
- Trailing edge repairs
- Filling surface repairs
- Sandwich panel repairs
- Grinding skills
Our Trainer
Keyur Jadav is a results-oriented and passionate trainer who delivers RIGCOM’s GWO Blade Maintenance and Repair course to develop and enhance the skills and knowledge of every participant. With a proven track record and over 15 years of international experience in the wind energy industry, Keyur obtained his GWO trainer certification from TECHCOLLEGE Composites in Denmark, a highly reputable and well-recognised professional education and training partner for the global wind industry.
Take the next step
Take the Next Step, Experience the RIGCOM difference. Call our training team to reserve your spot or to learn more about our Blade Maintenance and Repair Course.