A recent Niagara College alum is scaling new heights in wind energy.
In October, Ayodele Aderinkoye, a 2024 graduate from the Renewable Energies Technician program, returned to NC to talk to current students about his life as a Wind Turbine Technician with Enercon Services Canada.
His job is not for the faint of heart; servicing wind turbines means Aderinkoye regularly climbs upwards of 400 feet.
“The number one priority of this industry is safety,” he said, underscoring the robust training and checks-and-balances for wind turbine technicians when in the field.
“The technology behind wind is sweet, and your classroom learning at NC connects directly to the field,” he told students.
Program coordinator Bryan Mewhiney explains that NC’s lab trainers are designed to simulate all the core components and functions of Utility Scale Wind Turbines.
“Our goal is to produce well-rounded grads who can successfully take what they’ve learned in the classroom and lab into practice in the broader Renewable Energy field across Canada.”
The program covers a range of competencies and students learn about key renewable energy technologies like solar photovoltaics and thermal, energy storage, power generation, geothermal HVAC, energy auditing and assessment, industrial automation (PLCs), and green building practices.
Back home in Nigeria, Aderinkoye worked in electrical and electronics engineering, venturing into renewable energies installing solar panels for residential and commercial properties.
Aderinkoye choose NC to nurture his passion for sustainable energy.
“I am confident that the program prepared me very well for this career,” he said, adding that it was his “great passion” to come to Canada.
“The hands-on learning, excellent training facilities, and the continuous support from my professors gave me the skills and confidence I needed to succeed in the renewable energy field.”
Aderinkoye’s QA with current students in Mewhiney’s class covered a day in his professional life conducting regular maintenance, diagnosing issues, optimizing energy capture, and even regular rescue training.
Jobs in wind energy are both plentiful and lucrative.
“Grads from the Renewable Energies Technician Program can apply for jobs in the Wind field and earn up to $90,000 per year,” said Mewhiney. “Some companies are offering technicians a sign-on bonus.”
Aderinkoye explained the basics of wind energy in which three rotor blades capture kinetic energy from wind. As wind flows over the blades airfoil shape, it creates a lift – like an airplane wing – that causes the rotor to turn, producing clean electricity by powering a synchronous generator.
He also shared photos and anecdotes from his work with Enercon, which includes the physical demands of climbing (although many turbines have lifts), the unpredictability of weather conditions, and most importantly, the ability to think critically under pressure.
Aderinkoye underscored the technical and soft skills needed to work on wind turbines: knowledge of electrical, mechanical and hydraulic control systems, as well as teamwork and attention to detail.
“Don’t assume. Use your resources and follow from A to Z; don’t skip anything.”
While Aderinkoye – a father of two – describes himself as a family man and says there are many local opportunities in renewables, his line of work also offers opportunities to travel.
“You need to rise up to the challenges out there and it starts in the classroom,” said Aderinkoye. “Over the next 15 to 20 years, there will be many improvements and developments in the wind industry, and that is the beauty of the technology. You as students have the opportunity to be innovative to advance the industry.”
