Professional Workforce Development
for the Wind Energy Industry
Andrew Swift, Professor & Assoc. Dir.
Matt Saldana, Instructor
Kacey Young, Senior Advisor
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
1:00 p.m. to 1:20 p.m. - NWI Booth
Wind Power 2014, Las Vegas, NV
Presentation Overview
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Workforce - jobs
History of wind research and education at TTU
Program details, challenges and direction
Program elements – what it is; what it is not
Global component; internships
Graduate programs
New initiatives
Questions and comments
Estimated Wind Energy Jobs
Professional jobs; 8-10% of total
Engineering Jobs in the Wind Industry
Tower and foundation design (CE)
Road design (CE)
Structural and blade design, testing
(CE/ME)
Surveyors (CE)
Geotechnical engineer (CE)
Geotechnical testing (GEOL/CE)
Environmental management (CE /
Env. Eng.)
Construction-project mgmt. (CE)
Product Development
Safety and environmental health
Wind turbine design (rotor aero.,
structural, acoustic, drive train)
(ME)
Site Suitability Engineer (ME)
Power system integration and
substation design (EE/ME)
Utility interconnection design (EE)
Lean manufacturing for
components and assembly (IE/ME)
Site operations managers (ME/EE)
Predictive maintenance (ME/IE)
SCADA Engineers (EE/CS)
Safety Engineer (IE)
Controls/Software (ECE)
Non-Engineering Jobs in the Wind Industry
Related to University Education
Resource assessment
specialist
Wind / power production
data analyst
Wind / wind power
forecasting
Technical sales and
marketing
Project development
Utility liaison /
interconnection experts
Community liaison
Regulatory / government
liaison
O & M management and
supervision
Risk management and
assessment
Supply chain management
Manufacturing oversight/
mgmt.
Energy analysis / energy
auditing
GIS specialists /
Cartographers
Non-Engineering Jobs in the Wind Industry
Related to University Education
Wind project finance and
analysis
Marketing wind power and
projects
Financial analysis / tax
specialists
Energy commerce; Land Use
Property or ad valorem tax
manager
Legal and regulatory
specialist
Wind business tax specialist
Permitting
Contracting experts
(turbine supply,
construction, PPA’s)
Environmental / habitat
specialists
Visual impact assessment
Ag. specialist / landowner
liaison
Architecture / visual
impact simulation
Texas Tech Wind Energy
Workforce Initiative
“Est. 2009: A partnership between
Texas Tech University and Texas State
Technical College, with a focus on
wind energy workforce development
and education, was initiated with a
grant from the Texas Workforce
Commission.”
Texas Workforce Commission Program
Requirements
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STEM program
Multidisciplinary
Distance Delivery
Undergraduate and Graduate
Professional Development
Scholarship Program
TTU Education Programs Timeline
Ph.D. in Wind Science and Engineering (2007)
First in the nation
Graduate Certificate in Wind Energy (2009)
 Both Technical and Managerial tracks
Bachelor of Science in Wind Energy (2011)
 Approved Fall 2011 as a Science and Technology
degree
 Offer a Minor in Wind Energy
 Offer an Undergraduate Certificate in Wind Energy
Nine Years (2005 to 2014) & significant investment
to grow wind energy programs to current level.
Wind Energy Course Enrollments
600
500
400
UG
300
Graduate
200
100
0
Fall 2009
Fall 2010
Fall 2011
Fall 2012
Fall 2013
Undergraduate Education in
Wind Energy
Kacey Young, Senior Advisor
Undergraduate Education in Wind Energy
The National Wind Institute
offers three undergraduate
education opportunities:
 Bachelor of Science in Wind
Energy
• 120 credit hours
 Minor in Wind Energy
• 18 credit hours
 Certificate in Wind Energy
• 10 credit hours
Bachelor of Science in Wind Energy
Bachelor of Science in Wind Energy
 A Multi-disciplinary Program
 Administered within a multidisciplinary Wind
Institute
 Program Includes Wind Energy Undergraduate
Minor & Certificate
• Both are available on-line
141 BSWE majors, Spring 2014
“The
Bachelors of Science in Wind Energy will not only give students an indepth understanding of renewable energy, particularly wind energy, but also
equip them to fill any number of positions within the energy industry.”
BSWE GROWTH
The BSWE has grown steadily since its
inception in 2011
 141 majors
 Over 500
enrollments per
semester
 400% growth in
enrollment
BSWE Student Outcomes
Matt Saldana, Instructor
BSWE Student Outcomes
• Students who complete the Bachelor’s
degree will have an in-depth
understanding of the Renewable Energy
and Electric Utility Industry
• These students are NOT Wind
Technicians
• These students are exposed to a vast
array of topics within the industry which
makes them a desirable asset to any team
• Through a rigorous curriculum that is
adapted to industry needs, the BSWE
graduates are prepared for a number of
positions
BSWE Student Outcomes
Courses include:
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Principles of Wind Power Conversion
Meteorology for Wind Energy
Analytical Methods of Wind Energy
Wind Energy Finance and Economics
Grid Integration
Wind Modeling and Design
Renewable Energy and the
Environment
 Wind Law and Regulatory Issues
 Wind Turbine Aerodynamics
BSWE Student Outcomes
Students receive hands on experience with modern
tools of the industry in their course work
 To include:
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WaSP
WINDPRO
WINDOGRAPHER
MATLAB
Global Component
In addition to in-class course work, students are
required to complete a global component that
can be fulfilled by an international experience.
 This experience can be:
• In the form of an internship with a global
company
• A study abroad opportunity
Wind Energy Graduates have been employed by:
Points of Contact:
Kacey Young
Undergraduate Academic Advisor
Dr. Andrew Swift
Graduate Certificate Advisor
Dr. Daan Liang
Ph.D. Academic Advisor
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/nwi