The academy is a multi-channel training program designed to up-skill wind energy operations and maintenance (O&M) technician teams with the latest insights, technologies, processes and examples of how best practices in O&M can improve operational efficiency, equipment life and profitability.
With continuous pressure to reduce Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), operations technicians and site managers are expected to simultaneously improve efficiencies and maintain up-time in wind turbine operations. However, the rapid growth of the wind industry means there is a growing skills gap, with the need for technicians and site managers in wind operations set to triple in the next three to four years.
“Operations technicians and site managers are at the heart of the wind energy industry,“ said S. Ramchander, Chief Marketing Officer and Global VP of Marketing at Castrol & BP Lubricants. “It is important that they are up-skilled and trained to implement best practice operations on site as conditions in the market are intensified over the coming years.”
Aimed at technicians with five years’ experience or less, the Academy is a capability building program for technicians and site managers. It is made up of online programs, seminars, webinars and face to face training sessions.
The course consists of three stages, the first of which is an online training course to educate technicians on Wind O&M basics, from gearbox and drive train technologies to predictive maintenance. The second stage sees advanced topics taught via a virtual class and the third, an in-person training session on site.
Charudatta Joshi, Global Marketing Offer Development Manager at Castrol Lubricants, said, “The Castrol Wind Academy pilot course was very successful and, building on a collaborative development process, we are now looking forward to welcoming our first intake of technician teams into the Academy course.”
