Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Wind Shear • SCADA System • Aerodynamic Load

Wind Class

Term from Wind Energy Production industry explained for recruiters

Wind Class is a rating system that describes how suitable a wind turbine is for different wind conditions. Think of it like a safety rating for cars, but for wind turbines. These classes (usually numbered from I to IV) tell us how strong the winds can be for a turbine to operate safely. Class I turbines are built for areas with very strong winds, while Class III or IV are for places with gentler winds. When reading resumes, you might see this term when candidates talk about selecting, installing, or maintaining wind turbines for specific locations.

Examples in Resumes

Supervised installation of 50 Wind Class II turbines in coastal wind farm

Conducted site assessments to determine appropriate Wind Class requirements for new installations

Optimized turbine performance by matching Wind Class specifications to local wind conditions

Typical job title: "Wind Energy Engineers"

Also try searching for:

Wind Resource Engineer Wind Farm Developer Wind Turbine Technician Renewable Energy Engineer Wind Energy Specialist Wind Farm Project Manager

Where to Find Wind Energy Engineers

Professional Organizations

Online Communities

Job Boards

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you determine the appropriate Wind Class for a new wind farm site?

Expected Answer: A strong answer should mention analyzing wind speed data, considering environmental factors like turbulence, evaluating site conditions, and explaining how these factors impact turbine selection and project economics.

Q: Can you explain how Wind Class affects project costs and return on investment?

Expected Answer: Look for understanding of how turbine class selection impacts initial costs, maintenance requirements, energy production, and long-term project viability. They should mention balancing equipment costs with expected energy output.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What are the main differences between Wind Class I and Wind Class III turbines?

Expected Answer: Should explain that Class I turbines are designed for higher wind speeds and are typically more robust, while Class III turbines are for lower wind speeds and usually have longer blades to capture more energy in lighter winds.

Q: How does Wind Class influence maintenance schedules?

Expected Answer: Should discuss how different wind classes require different maintenance approaches, with higher class (stronger wind) turbines typically needing more frequent inspections and maintenance.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What are the basic Wind Classes and what do they mean?

Expected Answer: Should be able to explain that Wind Classes range from I to IV, with Class I designed for highest wind speeds and Class IV for lowest, and give basic wind speed ranges for each class.

Q: Why is Wind Class important in turbine selection?

Expected Answer: Should explain that matching the right Wind Class to a site ensures safe operation and optimal power generation, like choosing the right tool for the job.