Wind Turbine Maintenance: The Definitive Guide

Curious about the fundamentals of wind turbine maintenance? Dive into the essential practices that keep these giant structures running smoothly. 

Have you been thinking about pursuing a career in the wind turbine industry? We offer a Wind Turbine Technician program at four campus locations to help you gain the skills and knowledge to install and service wind machinery.¹

Wind turbine service technician is one of the fastest-growing occupations in the United States, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS reports that between 2022 and 2032, the employment outlook for these positions is projected to grow 45%.⁶³

From inspection to repairs, read more to learn about how wind turbines are serviced and everything that goes into the maintenance of wind turbines. 

What Is Wind Turbine Maintenance?

Wind turbine operation and maintenance includes inspection, cleaning and necessary repairs to keep wind turbines working efficiently. If a wind turbine isn’t maintained, safety hazards, a dip in electricity production and high repair costs could result. 

The Importance of Wind Turbine Maintenance

Wind turbines are generally low maintenance, and the goal of regular care is to prevent long-term damage and emergency repairs. 

Many wind farms use wind turbine predictive maintenance to determine how many required maintenance check-ups are needed and if a specific turbine needs to get serviced. They do this by tracking the data of turbines of different ages by monitoring temperature levels, vibrations and other aspects. They use this data to predict potential issues before they happen. 

So, how often do wind turbines need maintenance? Typically, wind turbines need two to three check-ups a year. However, because of outside elements such as bad weather, very strong winds and wildlife, extra service visits may be necessary throughout the year.

Which Wind Turbine Parts Fail Most Often?

The most common wind turbine maintenance issues have to do with damage to blades, gearboxes and generators. One issue in any component of a wind turbine can cause a domino effect that completely stops energy production, which is also referred to as an unscheduled stoppage. 

In order to avoid these issues, wind turbine technicians and field service technicians use preventative maintenance to prevent potential issues through regular inspections. These inspections include cleaning, visual inspections of parts (like the bearings and rotor), function tests and more. 

Wind Turbine Maintenance Checklist 

Wind turbine technicians follow wind turbine maintenance procedures to make sure all mechanical and electrical parts and functions are working well. A common wind turbine maintenance checklist would include: 

• Inspecting the gearbox, generators, yaw system and brake.
• Visual inspection of the tower foundation.
• Checking and tightening bolts.
• Determining the state of the blades and blade pitching.
• Measuring oil and lubrication levels.
• Checking ventilation, air filters and shock absorbers.
• Repairing cracks and damage caused by corrosion.
• Inspecting bearing and connections.

How Much Maintenance Does a Wind Turbine Require?

The larger a wind turbine, the more maintenance cost and energy produced. There are different requirements for every wind turbine, and maintenance cost depends on the type of turbine, how long it has been active, location and the amount of electricity it produces. 

An example of this would be Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs) vs. Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWTs). Even if HAWTs typically produce more energy, VAWTs require more maintenance. This is because VAWTs are typically built in areas with less wind power. 

Maintenance of wind turbines costs about $48,000 on average a year, per turbine. Wind turbines of that size can produce about two to three megawatts in a day which can power about 1,000 homes. 

Learn How to Maintain Wind Turbines

The wind industry needs trained technicians to help maintain and install wind turbines. Grow your technical and hands-on skills before pursuing a career! Our wind technology courses cover topics such as DC and AC basic electricity, renewable energy sources, climb and rescue and so much more!

According to BLS, the median annual wind power technician salary in the U.S. was $57,320 in May 2022.⁶¹ This means half earned more and half earned less. Keep in mind that salary depends on several factors, including experience, employer, demand and cost of living in the area.

*Not entry-level salary and is dependent on factors like experience, location, and employer compensation

Start Your Wind Turbine Technician Training

Grow your knowledge and skills needed to become a wind turbine technician! Request more information and one of our Admissions Representatives will reach out and go over our program, campuses and how to apply. 

If you’re ready, don’t wait! Apply here today. 

Campuses That Offer Wind Technician Training

• Canton, Michigan.
• Houston, Texas.
• Lisle, Illinois.
• Rancho Cucamonga, California.