Competitions of the Future – Working at Marine Wind Farms [Part 1]

The construction and operation of offshore wind farms in the coming years will be a period of thorough energy transformation of the Polish economy. We can already talk about specialists who will find employment in this sector for many years, so their professions can today be described as "the competition of the future".

Working with the IMF will result in a significant migration of labour from the conventional sector to new green energy, which will require thousands of new specialists involved in the installation process and then the exploitation of new energy sources.

In the case of offshore wind energy, the majority of new jobs will be located in the Polish coast belt, concentrated in the surroundings of installation ports as well as service ports. New jobs will also include new professions (future professions).

We are starting a series of articles in which we will describe selected, technical "future competitions" related to the development of offshore wind energy. For starters, welders and assemblers of offshore structures and steel construction technology.

Currently, advanced preparatory work is underway to begin construction of offshore wind farms in the Polish exclusive economic zone.

Seven investors are currently preparing for the construction of a total of nine wind farms, as well as a joint venture. The total installed capacity for the first phase of the development of offshore wind energy in the Polish Baltic waters is nearly 6 GW. According to the current Energy Policy of Poland 2040, by the end of the next decade, we would be able to reach the total capacity of 18 GW from offshore wind power in the Baltic.

All of these investments mean an increase in the demand for qualified workers in the next few years – not only management staff, but also technicians and engineers with the right powers and preparation. Specialists necessary for offshore industry can be grouped according to both the development phases of the project (preparation, installation, operation) as well as the place where their tasks are carried out (on land and at sea, or in both environments).

Read more: PGE and Ørsted rely on native companies

The preparatory phase of the development of the offshore wind farm is in addition to the design work, the preparation of the documentation necessary to obtain the building permit or the testing of the bottom for the planting of wind towers, as well as the process of preparing the relevant steel structures. And here comes the demand for specialists such as welders and fitters. They will do their work primarily in prefabrication of steel components at their place of production, and in part also in the installation ports during the preparation of maritime transport components. The skills of these engineers will also be necessary during the maintenance and repair process at a further stage in the operation of offshore power plants.

Offshore construction welder

Throughout the process of building offshore offshore offshore offshore offshore wind farms, welders will be one of the most numerous and most wanted professional groups of the new energy sector.

In order to pursue this profession, at least basic vocational or secondary technical education will be required, supplemented by specialist training for welders. The acquisition of power in welding consists of many stages, and various welding techniques require different skills and expertise.

Theoretic knowledge and practical ability to perform connectors in a specific technology and according to your qualifications and the ability to read the technical welding instructions (WPS) correctly will be expected from the welder.

Daily tasks of the welder will include making welded connectors of different types, according to the required technology and quality described in the WPS documentation.

Both in Poland and across Europe, there is a great need for highly skilled welding machines with different materials, and this is a profession with great potential for development as energy projects develop in the seas and oceans of the world. The highest level of "introduction" in this profession is to achieve underwater welding skills.

Welder diver

It's a very demanding and specialized job. The diver welder works underwater in tight spaces and at high pressure. This requires perfect physical fitness. A person working on underwater welding uses a diving kit and underwater welding equipment. Thanks to these specialists it is possible to perform welding works in difficult places and at depths where it is impossible to work with surface equipment.

The work of the underwater welder combines two different skills – welding and diving, which means that you have to gain the right privileges. In addition to those resulting from the health condition, welding rights and professional diver diploma are required. The individual classes of the diving diploma entitle to work at different depths. A candidate for underwater work must obtain a certificate of underwater welding. It is one of the best paid professions in Poland, but at the same time it is one of the most dangerous jobs.

The work of a diver-sweeper is invaluable, among others, in maritime construction. Many of them find employment in oil and gas companies, where they work in repairs and maintenance of drilling platforms and pipelines. They are also needed in offshore wind energy to carry out supporting tasks, such as the foundations of turbine towers or marine transformer stations – wherever part of the structure is below the water surface.

Offshore construction mounter

It is likely that the second-largest group of workers sought in offshore wind energy will be construction engineers. They're the ones who'll be making the work of the welders. In order to carry out this profession, at least basic vocational or secondary technical education will be required, supplemented by specialist training for steel construction and welders, supported by appropriate certificates.

From the installer you will be expected to be able to read the technical drawing correctly, basic knowledge of the installation of offshore structures, technical knowledge of the equipment and tools needed to build steel structures.

Read also: Wind energy on land and at sea

The daily task of such a person will be to build offshor structures based on the technical documentation received and detailed instructions given by the technologist and/or master. The ability to communicate and work efficiently in the team will also be helpful, as most of the tasks will be carried out in a technological regime, in which the quality and effects of one installer's work will have a bearing on the ability of subsequent tasks to be properly implemented.

Demanding working conditions (height, hard to reach, pollination) balances the satisfaction of the work done, as the final effect of the process is a specific element of the larger structure consisting of a large investment. It is also difficult to achieve monotony of work, as projects are diverse.

Steel Structure Technology in Marine Wind Energy

In order for the welder and the installer to perform their tasks, the technologist must do the work first. In agreement with the contractor, he prepares the technical documentation and workshop documentation, describes the technological processes, and solves the problems arising during production and supervises technological work. His skills depend on a proper understanding of technological processes by welders and fitters.

For this position people with higher education, engineering, best in mechanical engineering and mechanical engineering and shipbuilding are sought. Knowledge of technical issues, rules for the creation and reading of technical documentation and technical drawing, as well as the accuracy of execution, is required.

While basic knowledge of English is sufficient for welders and fitters, at least good knowledge of technical terminology in English will be required for technologist.

In the case of offshore wind power, the majority of new jobs will be located in the Polish coast zone, concentrated in the surroundings of installation ports as well as service ports. New jobs will also include professions that can already be described as future professions.

Written by Mariusz Dasiewicz