Wind Analyst

Wind is actually a form of solar energy. When the sun heats the earth, different surfaces produce and reflect varying amounts of heat. That heat rises in the atmosphere and cooler air replaces it at the lower levels. That cooler air is wind. A Wind Analyst uses his or her scientific understanding of all this, along with computer programs, to evaluate currents and identify ways to harness wind into energy.

Part of the job of a Wind Analyst is to isolate the geographic areas that produce the most wind. Topography is a big factor in this calculation. Water and mountains, for example, affect the flow of wind. As a Wind Analyst, you spend a fair amount of time on location taking wind measurements.

Once you’ve identified an area, you assist in designing the layout of the wind farm. Wind farms are just that, a large track of land, often along the coastline, that “farm”, or create, energy out of wind. They do this using huge turbines. As the wind turns the turbine, the turbine spins a shaft, and the shaft connects to a generator. The generator then converts the wind (kinetic energy) into mechanical energy, which is sent to houses and businesses.

Wind science is in fact very old, dating back to when the Persians harnessed it to crank water pumps. In modern days, the need for viable, clean, renewable energy sources is greater than ever. As a Wind Analyst, you are on the forefront in catering to this need.