Spotlight on Charlie Lawson: Investing in the Future of Renewable Energy by Providing Opportunities for Trainee Wind Turbine Engineers

Meet Charlie Lawson, our Trainee Wind Turbine Engineer! With a background in welding and fabrication from Nigg Skills Academy, Charlie joined Gael Energy in February 2023. Since then, he has travelled across Scotland, learning the ropes from our team of seasoned engineers.

Continue reading below to learn more about his journey into renewables and how he is helping maintain our portfolio of over 400 turbines.

I have always been practical and interested in engineering and well as the renewables industry, which led me to pursue a career in wind energy. While attending Nigg Skills Academy to earn my SVQ2 in Welding and Fabrication, I was fortunate to be introduced to Gael Energy, who were recruiting trainees into their expanding team. Since joining in February 2023, I’ve been fortunate enough to travel all over the country; every week is different due to the variety of turbines and the large number we maintain – currently over 400!

Typically, on a Monday we have a meeting at our main office and workshop in Evanton where James MacRae, our Operations Manager, explains who we will be working with and what lies ahead for the following week. From there, we prepare the necessary parts and equipment and inform the customers we plan to visit. As a trainee, I am paired with more experienced engineers who help me learn and improve my skills for working on these turbines. Gael looks after turbines from 3kw all the way up to 250 kw, which is great because as you improve your knowledge and skills, you can take on more hands-on and leadership roles with smaller turbines and progress to larger ones as you improve.

Working with Gael also involves a lot of driving, which is beneficial as it allows me to gain experience in different types of vehicles and learn how to tow a trailer. We have two workshops (Evanton & Newburgh) plus a service base in Castle Douglas, and part of the job involves delivering parts to and from these locations, such as turbine blades and heads. One aspect of the job that I particularly enjoy is the responsibility and trust that Gael places in its employees, as it motivates me to do a good job and increase my learning.

Working with Gael allowed me to work alongside David Bauermeister, Lead Turbine Engineer, at a site south of Edinburgh called Black Hill. While there, we ensured all the Siemens 1.3 Mw turbines were operational, which involved learning fault finding for these larger machines and gaining a better understanding of their components and how to repair or replace them. This experience also gave me insight into controlling the turbine and operating equipment at the base of the tower.

Gael has a structured training plan that, over the years, will guide you through the relevant competencies to progress to a Lead Technician. This is documented in a work booklet that tracks the jobs you have completed, such as mechanical or electrical tasks, and the turbines on which you have worked. Gael Energy also offers opportunities to participate in various training courses to obtain certifications for wind energy work, such as crane operation, forklift operation, first aid, and working at heights. As I continue to learn, Gael will enrol me in the necessary courses to advance my career.

Gael Energy is a great company to work for, thanks to its dedicated and knowledgeable team of technicians. The company stands out because of these skilled individuals and the opportunities they have to showcase their talents. Despite the company starting out in the Sub-100kw Operations and Maintenance Market, we have worked on several major component jobs over the last year, allowing us to demonstrate our expertise.

Overall, the wind energy industry is a great field to work in, with constant progress, plenty of work, and numerous opportunities for growth!