What Industry Is Wind Power In?
Wind power has a long history as a renewable energy source, stretching back centuries to the use of windmills. Though its popularity has fluctuated over time, wind power has seen resurgence in recent decades as a clean and sustainable way to generate electricity. Today, wind turbines can be found across the globe, from small, individual turbines powering a single home to large wind farms with hundreds of utility-scale turbines.
This article will provide an overview of the key industries that enable the development, construction, and operation of wind power projects. We’ll explore how various sectors contribute to delivering wind energy, from manufacturing and construction to professional services and logistics. The goal is to illustrate wind power’s diverse links across the economy and highlight the many stakeholders involved in bringing wind electricity to homes and businesses.
Energy Industry
Wind power harnesses the kinetic energy of wind to generate clean electricity using wind turbines (1). It is considered part of the renewable energy industry, along with solar, hydropower, geothermal, and biomass energy (2). The global wind energy industry has grown rapidly over the past two decades, driven by concerns over climate change and energy security (1). In the US, wind power surpassed hydroelectricity in 2019 to become the largest source of renewable electricity generation after solar power, producing over 7% of total US electricity supply (2). The wind energy industry involves manufacturing wind turbine components, project development and construction, operations and maintenance, logistics, professional services, and more.
(1) https://cleanpower.org/facts/wind-power/
(2) https://www.nrel.gov/research/re-wind.html
Manufacturing Industry
The manufacturing of wind turbines, blades, towers, and other wind power components makes up a significant part of the wind power industry. Major wind turbine manufacturers include Vestas, Siemens Gamesa, GE Renewable Energy, Enercon, Nordex, and Goldwind [1]. In 2016, over 500 factories were involved in wind turbine production and related parts manufacturing across 44 states [1]. Some of the largest wind turbine blade manufacturing facilities are located in Iowa, Arkansas, Colorado, and South Dakota [2]. Major tower manufacturing companies include Broadwind Towers, Katana Summit, and Marmen Tower.
The U.S. domestic supply chain provides over 70% of content for turbines installed in the country as of 2021, but there are still many wind power components sourced from other countries [3]. Continued growth in wind power manufacturing capacity will support economic development and job creation across America.
Construction Industry
The construction of wind farms involves extensive civil engineering work, construction labor, heavy machinery operation, and infrastructure development. Wind turbines themselves are enormous structures, often reaching heights of over 300 feet, that must be assembled onsite. Constructing the foundations and towers to support these massive turbines requires concrete, steel, cranes, and specialized equipment.
In addition to the turbines, the site infrastructure must be built to support the wind farm. Access roads, transmission lines, substations, operations buildings, and other facilities are required. For offshore wind farms, undersea transmission cables must be laid to bring the power to shore. The scale of these construction projects rivals major infrastructure undertakings like bridges or dams. Thousands of construction workers are employed in building a large wind farm.
Major engineering and construction firms have become involved in the wind power industry due to the complexities of building these large-scale renewable energy projects. The expertise of civil engineers is needed for site planning and geotechnical work. Heavy construction equipment like pile drivers, cranes, and trenchers are required. Wind farm construction has become a booming business for many companies. Windfarmbop highlights the breadth of infrastructure involved in wind farm construction beyond just the wind turbines.
Maintenance Industry
The wind power industry requires ongoing maintenance of wind turbines and their components in order to operate efficiently and avoid downtime. This involves regular preventative maintenance as well as repairs when issues arise. Companies that specialize in wind turbine maintenance employ technicians to service equipment both on and offsite.
Preventative maintenance involves routine inspections, testing, and replacement of parts to minimize the risk of failure. Common tasks include lubricating parts, tightening bolts, replacing filters, testing control systems, and inspecting blades and gearboxes for wear and cracks. Maintenance schedules follow recommendations from turbine manufacturers and can occur daily, monthly, yearly, or at designated operating intervals.
When turbines malfunction or break down unexpectedly, technicians are dispatched to troubleshoot issues and perform corrective maintenance. This can involve electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic repairs on parts like generators, gearboxes, blades, controllers, brakes, and sensors. Major overhauls or replacement of components may be needed in cases of severe damage or failure.
The maintenance industry provides the skilled workforce and infrastructure to keep turbines operating optimally. With the growth in wind power capacity around the world, there is increasing demand for qualified wind turbine technicians and expanded maintenance capabilities.
Sources:
https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/wind-turbine-maintenance-repair-overhaul-mro-market
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/wind-turbine-operations-maintenance-market-size-3f
Professional Services
The wind power industry relies heavily on professional services firms to provide expert consulting, engineering, legal, and financial services. Large multidisciplinary firms like Westwood Professional Services and WSP have dedicated teams that support wind farm development projects. They conduct feasibility studies, site assessments, permitting, grid integration analysis, turbine design, and construction management. Law firms advise on project financing, permitting, regulatory compliance, and drafting of power purchase agreements. Accounting and finance firms help secure financing for projects through debt and equity offerings. Professional services make up a significant component of the wind industry value chain by providing critical expertise and skills.
Logistics Industry
The logistics of transporting large wind turbine components like blades, towers, nacelles, and other parts requires extensive logistical support and infrastructure (https://www.energy.gov/eere/wind/infrastructure-and-logistics). As wind turbines increase in size and capacity, managing the transportation logistics from manufacturing facilities to installation sites becomes more complex. Specialized trucks, trailers, cranes, and other equipment are often needed to move these oversized components safely and efficiently.
Warehousing and distribution roles are also critical for managing inventory and coordinating the wind energy supply chain. With globalized manufacturing, key logistics hubs assist with consolidating and staging major components before final delivery to wind farms. Logistical planning ensures turbines are delivered on time, undamaged, and ready for installation (https://www.utilitydive.com/spons/wind-turbine-blade-sizes-and-transport-a-guide/623444/). The growth of the wind industry continues to create logistics and transportation jobs focused on supporting the unique needs of this renewable sector.
Information Technology
Information technology plays a vital role in operating and managing wind farms. Advanced software and data analytics assist in optimizing performance, predicting maintenance needs, and controlling turbines remotely. 1 For example, AI can analyze sensor data from turbines to detect anomalies and faults early. IT infrastructure also enables remote monitoring and control of wind farms from a central location, reducing the need for on-site staff. 2 As wind power expands, these IT systems will become even more critical to efficient operations and grid integration.
Environmental Industry
Wind power is considered part of the environmental industry as it provides environmental benefits compared to fossil fuel energy sources. Wind turbines generate electricity without producing greenhouse gas emissions or air pollution during operation. According to the Local Government Association, generating energy from wind power does not release carbon emissions, helping combat climate change.1 WindEurope states that wind energy offers big environmental benefits by generating electricity without emitting CO2 or polluting the air.2
Wind power is also considered part of the green or sustainable industry. It reduces dependence on fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas, which produce substantial greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change. The renewable nature of wind power aligns it with sustainability objectives. Overall, wind power provides environmental advantages that position it as part of the environmental and green industry.
Conclusion
Wind power spans a diverse set of industries including energy, manufacturing, construction, maintenance, professional services, logistics, information technology, and environmental. The breadth highlights wind power’s growing importance as a renewable energy source. Wind power accounted for 22% of new electricity capacity installed in the United States in 2022, second only to solar power. Projections show continued strong growth, with wind power capacity expected to reach 404 GW across 48 states by 2050, an increase of 180 GW from 2030 levels. Major wind power states include Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, California, Illinois, and Minnesota. As wind power expands, so too will the web of industries supporting its development, operation, and maintenance. Key players range from wind turbine manufacturers like Vestas and GE Renewable Energy to construction firms building wind farms to IT companies analyzing wind data. The growth across industries confirms wind power’s vital role in building a clean energy future.
