A new college textbook focused on wind turbine maintenance – Maintenance Fundamentals for Wind Technicians, 1st Edition – will be released in the U.S. on May 15.
The book is authored by Wayne Kilcollins, a wind power technology instructor at Northern Maine Community College, and is published by Delmar, Cengage Learning. Kilcollins helped create the Wind Power Technology program at Northern Maine Community College – one of the first of 10 such programs developed in the U.S. to serve the nation's growing wind industry.
The book was created with substantial industry support. The PLARAD Group provided torque tools and corresponding training seminars in Maine, as well as supplied photos used in the book. Additional technical support and content also came from First Wind, The University of Maine in Presque Isle, and the Cianbro Corp.
‘When the program began, we had to be creative in using academic resources from Europe and the general industry,’ Kilcollins explains. ‘Now we have a support textbook that was specifically designed to work within our national college system for maintenance activities.’
With an emphasis on both practice and theory, the textbook provides a comprehensive introduction to the field of wind energy that is appropriate for any electrical or mechanical technician. Through topics such as developing a preventative maintenance program, determining the performance of a wind turbine system and monitoring improvement through system data analysis, the book teaches students the skills they need to be successful wind energy technicians.
Safety-related practices – such as working at heights, tower rescue practices and offshore projects – are emphasized to ensure that students understand the hazards associated with working in the wind industry.
