Workforce and Education for the Wind Energy Industry

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1 TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY Workforce and Education for the Wind AMS Washington Forum Session 8, 3:30 PM Andrew Swift, Sc.D., P.E. Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Director, Texas Wind Energy Institute Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas

2 Texas Tech Wind Energy Workforce Initiative The Texas Tech Wind Energy Workforce Initiative, 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. 2

3 MW US Wind Energy Development 50,000 45,000 40,000 35,000 30,000 Cumulative Constructed During Year 6,810 MW added in 2011 Cumulative 46,919 MW at year-end % Growth in % Growth in % Growth in ,000 20,000 15,000 50% Growth in % Growth in ,000 5, Year 3

4 Wind Industry Jobs: AWEA Outlook Report * 2011* Other Jobs Construction Operations & Maintenance Manufacturing * Denotes estimate Other includes: Manufacturing (small components, electrical parts, raw component suppliers), Developers and development services (land acquirement, permitting, wind resource assessors), Financial and consultant services (financiers, accountants, consultants), Contracting and engineering services (electrical, mechanical, civil engineers), Parts related services (repair shops, equipment manufacturers and suppliers), Transportation and logistics. 4

5 Wind Job Scenario 5

6 Wind Industry Supply Chain This is a multidisciplinary and complex industry requiring a number of specialized skills, training and education. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics; Wind Energy Jobs,

7 Energy Employment Comparisons A 2009 Study at UC Berkeley showed wind energy to be more job intensive per unit of power produced than other energy technologies. 7

8 MW Texas Wind Energy Development 12,000 10,000 8,000 1 MW of installed wind power will meet the needs of average US households. Cumulative Constructed During Year 10,377 MW at year-end ,000 4,000 2, Year 8

9 Texas Wind Energy Workforce Assessment Over 50 Texas Wind representatives predict at least 35% wind energy workforce growth through By 2016, 64% of the over 50 industry respondents indicated their organization will be involved in both on and off-shore activity. 9

Texas Competitive Renewable Energy Zone (CREZ) Process In 2005 the Texas Legislature initiated the (CREZ) process in the state which included the requirement to plan electric transmission

10 Texas Competitive Renewable Energy Zone (CREZ) Process In 2005 the Texas Legislature initiated the (CREZ) process in the state which included the requirement to plan electric transmission infrastructure to move electrical energy from renewable resource zones to load centers elsewhere within the state. CREZ lines under construction Snyder, Texas, July 2011 Photo courtesy of Charles Norland, Norland Photographic Art, St. Louis, Missouri. 10

11 CREZ Economic Impact Report The Perryman Group forecast the impact of the estimated $5 billion CREZ build-out on the economy of the State of Texas. Findings include: Minimum Impact: 61,682 jobs Economic impact equivalent to the Texas air transportation industry. Maximum Impact: 125,915 jobs Economic impact equivalent to the computer and electronics industry. 11

12 Workforce Projections: The DOE 20% Wind by 2030 Report 12

13 20% Energy from Wind by the Year

Job Creation in the Wind Industry Based on the DOE 20% Wind Report 350,000 300,000 250,000 Other Indirect Jobs Operations Construction Manufacturing J O

14 Job Creation in the Wind Industry Based on the DOE 20% Wind Report 350, , ,000 Other Indirect Jobs Operations Construction Manufacturing J O B S 200, , ,000 50,

15 Job Creation: Impact Indirect Impacts On-Site Construction workers Management Administrative support Cement truck drivers, road crews, maintenance workers Direct Impacts Off-Site Manufacturers (turbines, blades, towers, etc.) Hardware store purchases of spare parts, and supplies These are jobs in, and payments made to supporting businesses, such as construction, financing the contractors and equipment suppliers. 15

16 Professional Wind Energy Jobs 40,000 35,000 30,000 ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PROFESSIONAL JOBS THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN WIND ENERGY Other Operations Construction Manufacturing 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,

17 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 management (CE) Product Development Safety and environmental health Wind turbine design (ME) Power system integration and substation design (EE/ME) Interconnection design/collection system design (EE) Lean manufacturing for components and assembly (IE/ME) Site operations managers (ME/EE) Predictive maintenance specialists (ME/IE) SCADA Project engineers (EE/CS) Safety engineer (IE) 17

18 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 18

19 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 19

20 TTU - Wind Energy Programs and BSWE Ph.D. in Wind Science and Engineering Only program in the nation of its kind Graduate Certificate in Wind Energy Both technical and managerial tracks Bachelor of Science in Wind Energy, approved Fall 2011 Bachelor of Science in General Studies Emphasis in Wind Energy Undergraduate Minor in Wind Energy Undergraduate Certificate in Wind Energy Under Consideration: Master of Science in Wind Energy 20

21 TTU- Wind Energy Timeline 2005 First WE Graduate Class was offered 2007 Wind Science and Engineering PhD approved 2009 First undergraduate WE class offered 2010 Wind Energy Student Association (WESA) est Bachelor of Science in Wind Energy approved 21

22 TTU - Wind Energy Programs WE Course Enrollments Graduate Undergraduate Fall 2010 Spring 2011 Fall 2011 Spring % are by Distance Ed Additionally, 20 PhD Students Enrolled in Wind Science and Engineering 22

23 Workforce Education Summary The industry needs a trained workforce of technicians and university educated professionals in order to achieve national goals for wind energy development. Achieving 20% of the electric energy in the U.S. from wind by 2030 will require about 300,000 additional jobs. 35,000 of these jobs, as well as the wind energy industry, would benefit from candidates with university education and training in wind energy. 23

24 References Alvarez,G., Jara, R., Bielsa, J., Study of the effects on Employment of Public Aid to Renewable Energy Sources, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Draft, March American Wind Energy Association, U.S. Wind Industry Fourth Quarter 2011 Market Report, Washington D.C., American Wind Energy Association, Windpower Outlook 2010, Washington, DC, American Wind Energy Association, Winds of Change, a Manufacturing Blueprint for the Wind Industry, with Blue Green Alliance and United Steel Workers, June 2010, Hamilton, James and Liming, Drew, Careers in Wind Energy, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, March 2011, Mehta, Swift, Walker, Seger, Development of Workforce for Wind Energy, Proceedings of ASME th International Conference on Energy Sustainability, May 17-22, 2010 Phoenix, Arizona, USA, ES Texas Workforce Commission, Texas Wind Workforce Assessment, December 2011 The Perryman Group, Winds of Prosperity, Waco, Texas, May 2010, USDOE, 20% Wind Energy by 2030 Report, July 2008, USDOE, EERE, Workforce Roadmap, Workforce Development for the U.S. Wind Industry, Draft Review, May 2010 World Resources Institute, WRI Fact Sheet, Policy Design for Maximizing U.S. Wind Energy Jobs, September 2010, 24

25 Acknowledgements The Texas Workforce Commission Matt Baker, Texas Tech University Claire Henkhaus, The Wind Alliance Rick Walker, Texas Tech University Marina Martinez, National Institute for Renewable Energy 25

26 Questions? 26

27 27

NAWEA Presentation by Dr. Andy Swift and Dr. Chris Pattison

NAWEA Presentation by Dr. Andy Swift and Dr. Chris Pattison Integrating Real-World Case Studies into Wind Energy Graduate Education Texas Tech University Wind Science & Engineering Questions? Thank You