Every low-cost scenario the Committee on Climate Change recommends in order to meet our climate targets involves new onshore wind. Meet Hazel, one of our Site Managers who is doing her part to meet Net Zero by 2050.
What does your job involve?
As a Site Manager for RES I look after wind farms in the North of Scotland. I am involved in the maintaining of sites as well as ensuring that the turbines are kept spinning. We need to make sure that anybody coming on to site is ok to be there, so we need to check their certification and paperwork are all in place before any work starts. Both the sites and turbines must remain compliant and part of my job is making sure that all servicing, statutory inspections, HV works, etc. are all up-to-date. I get to work from home when there isn’t much going on on-site and I’m lucky enough to be in a role where I can take my dog to work.
What attracted you to work in the wind industry?
When I first joined the wind industry in 2011, in all honesty it was just a job. However, as the years progressed, I moved to varying roles within the industry from administration to becoming a technician, a supervisor and then a manager, it became a passion. I love wind turbines and the clean energy they produce. We all have to do our bit for climate change and I feel I am doing mine by making sure my wind farms run as smoothly as possible.
What is a typical day like for you?
Well that would depend on whether we had any major works on site. If we had major component changes then I would get to site around 7am to check everyone was inducted and booked on to site. Make sure the crane was set up in the right place and that they were working to the lift plan. I would monitor the weather because we have certain wind speeds that we can lift different components in. Assist where I could on tag lines to steady the load as it comes down. I wouldn’t leave site until the works were completed and everyone was safe. If it was a normal day I would catch up on paperwork, reporting and make sure that I am ready for the next lot of work.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
There are lots of things I enjoy about my job really, so this is a tricky one. It’s varied and I get to work in the most beautiful part of the world, on hills with the most stunning views. Being a former technician, I like to go into the turbines and have a look about to make sure everything is ok. The people within RES are amazing, right from the top down. RES feels like a family and I think that makes you own your role more. Having great respect for the people you work with is key I think. I like that we are making a difference to the world one rotation at a time.
