Professions in wind energy

The wind energy sector is facing a promising future. The sustainable nature of this form of energy, coupled with global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, makes it a cornerstone of the energy transition. Dedicated professionals who choose a career in the wind energy industry can not only achieve personal success, but also actively contribute to tackling global environmental challenges. Germany is on the way to transforming its energy system, and wind energy plays a central role in sustainable, climate-friendly energy supply.

With its wind energy sector, Germany is also making a significant contribution to sustainable energy supply and climate protection globally. With a growing demand for qualified specialists, this industry not only offers promising career opportunities, but also enables you to play an active role in tackling global environmental problems – be part of the change.

Engineers are crucial for the planning and development of wind turbines. Assembly and service technicians are responsible for erecting and maintaining the wind turbines on site. This includes assembling the rotor blades, erecting the tower and installing the technical components. During operation, they take care of inspections, repairs and regular maintenance. The optimal alignment and positioning of wind turbines requires expertise in order to maximise the efficiency of electricity generation.

Electronics technicians ensure that the electronic components always run smoothly so that the wind energy is efficiently converted into electricity. Industrial climbers are used in places where larger machines and scaffolding can hardly reach – e.g. for maintaining the rotor blades of wind turbines. Offshore coordinators take care of everything to do with offshore wind power platforms, from monitoring deliveries to checking the condition of equipment.

In the area of research and development, scientists and engineers work on optimising wind energy technologies. Their focus is on increasing efficiency, reducing costs and developing new technologies in order to maximise the contribution of wind energy to a sustainable energy supply.

Electrical engineers and energy experts are needed to integrate wind energy into existing power grids. They develop strategies for efficiently feeding wind energy into the grid to ensure a reliable energy supply.

Specialists in environmental management and approval procedures are also important to ensure that wind energy projects are environmentally friendly and fulfil all legal requirements.

Last but not least, commercial professions play a role, from project managers who oversee the planning and realisation of wind farms to sales and marketing experts who promote the marketing of wind energy products.

Germany has set itself ambitious climate targets that envisage complete climate neutrality by 2045. By 2030, 65% fewer greenhouse gases are to be emitted compared to 1990 levels. The energy industry makes a significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. The expansion of renewable energies, particularly wind energy, is therefore crucial to achieving these targets.

The wind energy sector not only offers environmental benefits, but also economic opportunities. Companies in this sector need a large number of qualified and committed employees to drive the growth of the industry. The expansion of wind turbines requires not only engineers and technicians, but also specialists in environmental compatibility, site optimisation and other relevant areas.

Germany occupies a leading position in the offshore wind energy sector in particular. The offshore wind farms off the North Sea coast are particularly productive, as the wind speeds there are high and constant. This enables continuous and efficient electricity generation.

In contrast to offshore wind turbines, onshore turbines are located on land and produce a good 13 % of the electricity in Germany. Although the wind is less strong and constant on land, onshore plants are cheaper and easier to build and feed the electricity generated into the grid.

The basis of wind energy lies in the utilisation of air currents caused by temperature differences. The sun’s rays heat the air to varying degrees, which leads to pressure differences and ultimately generates wind. This wind energy is converted into electrical energy by, among other things, wind turbines, which capture the wind with their rotating blades and convert it into kinetic energy.

The energy generated is then converted into electrical energy using generators and fed into the power grid. A key advantage of wind energy is its environmental friendliness. No greenhouse gases are released during the operation of wind turbines, which makes a positive contribution to reducing air pollution and mitigating climate change. This makes wind power a sustainable energy source that has no negative impact on the environment compared to fossil fuels such as coal or oil.