‘Oil is lifeless, renewables are the future’: why I am coaching to turned a wind turbine technician | Education and learning

Individuals generally check with what it’s like remaining at the prime of a 100-metre-substantial wind turbine. It does make your legs go a little bit funny when you glance about the top rated. But prior to I commenced as a wind turbine technician apprentice with SSE Renewables previous calendar year, I was extra anxious about being sick on the two-hour boat journey you have to consider to achieve the Better Gabbard offshore wind farm, 12 miles off the coastline of Suffolk.

I grew up locally and did effectively in my science GCSEs prior to opting to choose a degree 3 BTec diploma class in routine maintenance engineering at East Coastline Higher education in Lowestoft. I by now had some practical expertise and was interested in mastering a lot more about electrical systems. To the finish of the training course, I began seeking into apprenticeships. I required to make revenue while I ongoing learning, somewhat than creating up financial debt. A ton of my dad’s good friends worked in the offshore oil sector, and I liked the seem of doing work outdoors, remaining busy and holding on my ft. I’m not positive how I’d cope being caught in an office environment all working day. All people I spoke to reported the same factor: oil is useless, renewables are the long run.

The software course of action with SSE Renewables was rigorous. There had been on the net tests and a functional exercising wherever we had to present we could function at peak. Once we’d been shortlisted to six, there was the closing job interview round and two of us were being taken on. It is a 4-12 months program, at the close of which we implement to sign up for SSE permanently. I’ve listened to that typically this is a formality – the 4 apprentices in the previous round are all nevertheless with the firm.

I’ve just begun my second year and I’m genuinely having fun with the knowledge so significantly. I’m mastering expertise I would not be able to study wherever else and I’m functioning with a workforce of men and women that are genuinely fully commited to assisting me progress. I’m starting up to get the job done on even larger work opportunities and be reliable to handle routine maintenance tasks on my individual. We on a regular basis look at the entire of the turbine, cleanse it, change filters, probably adjust the most important circuit breaker – whatever’s demanded. Very long expression, I’d like to specialise in the high voltage aspect so that I could isolate a individual turbine from the many others if important. There are only 3 people today authorised to do that on the Larger Gabbard web site, so it is an significant job.

I’m satisfied I determined to function in the renewable vitality sector in typical and wind in individual. It’s absolutely greater my recognition about the fact that we all have a function to perform in earning the foreseeable future a sustainable just one.