Funding Awarded: $104,000

Industry Partners:

Outland Renewable Energy

Key Partners:

MN West Community & Technical College, SW MN Private Industry Council

Project Summary:

In Canby, current and future wind energy workers are learning about wind turbine gear maintenance & analysis and are getting hands-on training to supplement theoretical training, through a partnership of Outland Renewable Energy (a wind services company) and the local community/technical college. In addition, tower climbing safety techniques and use of safety equipment are being taught.

Project Outcomes:

•  89 people trained, more in progress (Outland employees and Minnesota West students)
•  3 Training Courses developed (Fall Protection and Rescue, Hands-On Wind Technician, and Infrared Inspection)
•  Training materials purchased for all three training courses

Project Description:

The three components of this project included a Fall Protection & Rescue Train-the-Trainer course, Hands-on Wind Technician Training, and an Infrared Inspection training session.

1. Fall Protection & Rescue Training: The Outland EHS Manager, Justin Miller completed a Train-the-Trainer course provided by GraviTech, experts in wind tower fall protection and rescue instruction. Miller then trained his first group of students this spring including 6 Outland employees and 18 Minnesota West CTC students. Twenty-five additional students will be trained in May and June, and the training will be ongoing. In addition, 65 students attended the first session in the climbing lab at the Canby campus, using a wind energy training tower with two types of climbing ladders. Trainees use these ladders as well as a state-of-the-art lift cage to learn tower climbing safety. "Our industry partners told us that technicians really need to have hands-on climbing experience as part of their training," said Minnesota West's Wind Development Coordinator, Katie Delaney.

2. Hands-On Training for Wind Turbine Technicians: Electrical and hydraulic stations were purchased for training, and curriculum was developed for six training modules that were taught through Minnesota West Community and Technical College. Students of Minnesota West and new employees of Outland received hands on training in hydraulic fundamentals, bearing removal and installation, precision measurement and basic electrical. Theory classes were followed with hands on training with the trainers that were purchased through the MNREM funds.

3. Infrared thermal imaging: Part of cutting-edge preventative maintenance program for wind turbines includes infrared inspection of electrical and mechanical systems, so Minnesota West and Outland Energy worked together to develop an Infrared Inspection workshop. Using infrared thermography, trainees are learning to use a digital thermal camera to detect "hot-spots" in electrical systems or wind turbine mechanical systems that may require repair to function more efficiently. This training will allow technicians to go inside cabinets with the camera and predict which turbine component will fail and repair or replace the defective component before complete failure eliminating potential collateral damage caused by a complete failure.

Outland CEO Steve Scott values the partnership that his company has with Minnesota West. "As our company grows, we rely on Minnesota West to supply us with trained, hard-working people that know what it means to deliver value to a project owner."