A few centuries ago, Don Quixote and Sancho Panza tilted at the windmills that dotted the arid La Mancha region of Spain, mistaking them for monsters in Cervantes' famous novel "El ingenioso hidalgo don Quixote de la Mancha." Since then, wind and its intersection with the mechanical arts bring to mind notions of idealism, delusion, and effort expended to no purpose.
UHD is out to change that, as the university has launched a new Wind Turbine Technician Certificate Program designed
to equip students with the skills to join the growing clean energy industry. Offered
online and asynchronously, the program allows students to learn at their own pace
and prepares them for all levels in the wind power sector.
Delivered in partnership with George Brown College in Toronto, a global leader in distance learning, one of the main features of the program is its state-of-the-art 3D interactive wind turbine simulator.
"Wind energy is one of the fastest-growing energy sources in the world, and as the largest wind producer in the United States, there is a growing need for skilled technicians in Texas," said UHD President Loren J. Blanchard. "By partnering with George Brown College, we're able to leverage a unique online program to develop a skilled workforce for the wind energy sector in the state and beyond."
This program launch is, in a word, timely: The need for wind technicians will rise with wind power generation, which is expected to more than double by 2030, according to Global Wind Energy Council's Global Wind Report 2023, which estimates that over half a million new wind technicians will be needed by 2026 to service this new capacity.
The interactive curriculum takes roughly 32 weeks of part-time study to complete and includes a proprietary 3D wind turbine simulator developed by George Brown College that is the first and only of its kind, offering students the ability to learn in a real-world environment without the inherent risks involved in working on wind turbines. Below are some salient features:
- Real-Time Visualization: Users can analyze wind patterns from every angle to understand the complex interactions between wind and turbine.
- Interactive Operation: Modify blade pitch, wind speed, wind direction and other critical parameters to see their effects on turbine efficiency and power output.
- Pre-Built Lab Projects: Includes pre-built lab projects presented within the 3D Wind Turbine simulation world, providing a rich resource for practical learning and experimentation.
- Pitch and Yaw Ladder Logic Applications: Illustrates how Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) are used to provide automatic control of wind turbines.
These features, UHD's location, and the Continuing Education Office's strategic partnerships combine to yield a Wind Turbine Technician Certificate Program that is pragmatic and clear-eyed, one that provides an anti-quixotic education while still allowing students to dream big.
The Wind Turbine Technician Certificate Program is supported seven days a week by tutorial and technical staff. Additionally, it offers flexible payment options with a low initial registration fee, which includes the web-based curriculum, 3D wind turbine simulator software, and the first module in the program, costing only $580. The remaining 13 modules (courses) can be purchased as students work through them on a pay-as-you-go basis, with a total fee of $1,750 for the entire program.
For more information on University of Houston-Downtown's Wind Turbine Technician program or to register now, visit http://www.uhd-gbc.com/.