Jobs boom in the wind sector?

Waestrel

I hear a lot about the job creation potential in the wind industry, but I have seen little evidence of it. Supposedly, development, installation and ongoing maintaince has a high amount of labour per MW compared to fossil fuel plants.

However has anyone ever heard of any one employed in such a job? or seen one advertised? Where is this Holy Grail of green jobs to be found?

Macha

SEAI does some good research in this area. Their latest report can be found here:

http://www.seai.ie/News_Events/Press_Releases/2012/RE_and_Wind_Event_Jun12.html

You do know that we have over 2GW of wind capacity in Ireland and that there are real live people working in this sector in Ireland?

Curly Judge

I wouldn't recommend anybody to get involved in this industry!
It is a bubble worse even than our recent building boom.
As soon as the subsidies dry up and the real contribution of wind power is rumbled by the general populace these Whirley Gigs will have about as much relevance to energy production in Ireland as Bertie Aherne has to statesmanship.

Macha

That is simply incorrect. If you look at recent learning curves for onshore wind and PV, you can see they are increasing in competitiveness and maturity every year. No energy technology has taken off without decades of government subsidies, including coal and gas. In Ireland, we still subsidise peat and nuclear has the added bonus of having a negative learning curve. Wahey.

How many jobs does the €6 billion in imported fuel costs win Ireland every year?

Heroditas

Waestrel wrote: »

Supposedly, development, installation and ongoing maintaince has a high amount of labour per MW compared to fossil fuel plants.

It's a higher amount of work per MW compared to fossil fuel plants but it's still extremely low.
Some of the figures quoted for jobs are absolute fantasy.

Curly Judge

Macha wrote: »

That is simply incorrect. If you look at recent learning curves for onshore wind and PV, you can see they are increasing in competitiveness and maturity every year. No energy technology has taken off without decades of government subsidies, including coal and gas. In Ireland, we still subsidise peat and nuclear has the added bonus of having a negative learning curve. Wahey.

How many jobs does the €6 billion in imported fuel costs win Ireland every year?

Questions that have never been answered and, in my opinion, never will be answered by the renewable enthusiasts are:

What happens when the sun doesn't shine.
What happens when the wind doesn't blow.
When is wave or tidal going to produce one, just one, MW of power in this country in return for the ground breaking research being carried out at our second rate universities.

In answer to your question:

How many jobs does the €6 billion in imported fuel costs win Ireland every year?

I would like to ask.
How many jobs do you think we would have if we didn't import this vital fuel?

Macha

Curly Judge wrote: »

Questions that have never been answered and, in my opinion, never will be answered by the renewable enthusiasts are:

What happens when the sun doesn't shine.
What happens when the wind doesn't blow.
When is wave or tidal going to produce one, just one, MW of power in this country in return for the ground breaking research being carried out at our second rate universities.

[mod]This is not going to turn into another "renewables don't work thread". It is about the employment benefits of renewables so please keep on topic.[/mod]

Curly Judge wrote: »

In answer to your question:

I would like to ask.
How many jobs do you think we would have if we didn't import this vital fuel?

That's great - answer a question with a question and expect to get an answer in return? Not likely. Don't debate if you're not willing to answer questions put to you.

She Who Dares Wins

There are very few ongoing jobs in the wind sector after the construction phase of a project because they require relatively little maintenance. The jobs that do appear are often for engineers. LIT probably serves grads best in that their degree gives people renewable energy but also general electrical skills.

Waestrel

I know the wind sector in Ireland is about 20% of our needs - this is why I find it strange I never see adds for employment in this sector, not heard of anybody working in it. Is it all a fallacy, the great job prospects in the renewable revolution?

What kind of work is needed on turbines anyway? Maintainance much?

pljudge321

Waestrel wrote: »

I know the wind sector in Ireland is about 20% of our needs - this is why I find it strange I never see adds for employment in this sector, not heard of anybody working in it. Is it all a fallacy, the great job prospects in the renewable revolution?

What kind of work is needed on turbines anyway? Maintainance much?

Most of the jobs go to people who would be employed in the power systems sector anyway.