Wind & Site Engineer

*** Location, this role could be be based in any of our main offices located Edinburgh, Madrid, Lisbon or Milan ***

Main Function & Scope 

The Wind and Site Engineer will act as a technical expert for Wind and Site analysis, delivering Wind and Site analysis services to the portfolio of the company, a large European and UK Independent Power Producer (“IPP”). This role will be working closely with the wider Asset Excellence team within the Operations Department to deliver Wind and Site analysis to support Life Extension, Performance Improvement, Acquisitions, and Root Cause Analysis work scopes. The company has ambitious asset life and performance improvement targets, and this role will be front and centre in providing the technical analysis required to make informed decisions regarding turbine operation.

This role will report to the Aerodynamicist within the Asset Excellence team, who are based in Edinburgh.

Wind Condition Modelling for Loads Analysis

Undertake detailed modelling and analysis to provide optimal wind resource and condition inputs for aeroelastic loads calculation:

• Source, collate and process site-specific data required to establish site orography, roughness, obstacles, and WTG positions

• Retrieve, store, and process site-specific wind data from sources such as meteorological masts, WTG control systems, and LiDAR, to use in site wind analysis

• Where required, complement real wind data with reanalysis datasets, microscale modelling, and virtual data

• Conduct assessments of air density, wind profile, long-term reference, and extreme wind conditions

• Conduct wind field modelling using CFD software to establish WTG location-specific wind conditions in line with the IEC 61400-1 standards, comparing with SCADA data, and correcting where required

• Calculate wake-added turbulence from neighbouring WTGs

• Document modelling outputs in report format, storing all numerical results in an appropriate database

Performance Improvement

Support the development and delivery of Performance Improvement Initiatives: 

• Work with the Asset Performance Engineer to validate power performance upgrade trials according to IEC standards

• Conduct pre- and post-upgrade energy yield assessments by building accurate representative wind models of target wind farms

• Deliver clear reports on results of energy yield analysis

• Utilise wind farm models to assess the potential impact of aerodynamic upgrades to noise limits specified by wind farm planning conditions

• Utilise wind modelling and analysis expertise to identify further areas of value generation across the portfolio

Support to Wider Business

• Where required support the wider business by leading or contributing to Root Cause Analysis investigations by providing relevant wind condition analysis and data

• For active acquisition projects provide wind condition analysis and data to support estimations of asset life and performance improvement potential

Tool and Process Development

Develop, maintain, and improve tools and processes to improve the efficiency and accuracy of wind condition analysis for all involved workstreams

Competencies and Behaviours:

• Organised and methodical mindset

• Results focused

• Drive and persistence

• Confident and articulate communicator

• Excellent level of written communication

• Teamwork

• Developing relationships

• Cross-cultural awareness and sensitivity

Skills and Knowledge:

Essential:

• Expert understanding of methodology and tools used for wind and site analysis
• High level of problem-solving ability
• The ability to produce and review high-quality reports to predefined deadlines
• The ability to work on multiple projects in parallel

Desirable:

• Knowledge of the IEC 61400-1 and IEC 61400-12-1 standards

• Understanding of loads analysis of wind turbines

• Familiarity with statistical terminology and approaches

• Understanding of atmospheric physics

Relevant Experience:

• Extensive wind data analysis experience and the modelling of wind farms using CFD simulation

• Experience of processing SCADA data and the management of very large datasets

• Exposure to LiDAR systems and the processing of LiDAR data (desirable)

Language Skills:

• Fluent in English; additional French, Spanish, or Portuguese languages would be advantageous.

Education and Qualifications:

• Degree in a highly numerate discipline