Introduction
The job opportunity for component manufacturing facilities and their suppliers could be a significant portion of the offshore wind energy workforce (see the U.S. Department of Energy’s wind energy career map). Average annual employment levels (full-time equivalent [FTE]/year) from 2024 to 2030 are estimated at 12,300 and 49,000 based on 25% and 100% domestic content scenarios, respectively, to fabricate and assemble components to reach 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy by 2030.[1] The extent to which domestic jobs are realized depends on the building of U.S. manufacturing facilities and those facilities leveraging a U.S. supply chain to source subassemblies, parts, and materials.
In recent years, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory have conducted a research effort, supported by the Wind Energy Technologies Office, to better understand the job needs for major component manufacturing facilities (e.g., Tier 1 facilities). Many useful insights have been shared in different reports, including:
- Offshore Wind Energy Workforce Assessment (Stefek, 2022)[1]
- The Demand for a Domestic Offshore Wind Energy Supply Chain (Shields, 2022)[2]
- A Supply Chain Road Map for Offshore Wind Energy in the United States (Shields, 2023).[3]
This resource compiles insights from these reports to estimate the number of workers within facilities, list roles and certifications, and show the magnitude of supplier job opportunities for each major component, including array cables, blades, export cables, monopiles, nacelles, towers, and transition pieces.
Array Cables
The figure below shows the estimated number of direct jobs in the major component manufacturing facility based on the number of workers needed, and facilities opening over time to fabricate components to reach a target of 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030. The jobs count below represents any person working in a facility who produces or oversees the fabrication and assembly of the component, including tradespeople, managers, engineers, and professional service performers.
The number of FTEs available is based on the number of direct FTE per facility multiplied by the number of facilities to produce supply 4–6 GW of projects per year. Direct FTEs are estimated from interviews and surveys of facility operators.
The workers in each major component facility include different types of roles with various levels of education and experience requirements. The table below shows four different workforce categories and lists the types of occupations that exist to fabricate and assemble the major component, listed in alphabetical order by name.
Table 1. Array Cable Roles
RESPONSIBILITY LEVEL JOB POSITIONS Factory-Level Management - Cable production manager
Design and Engineering - Composite materials engineer
- Cable design drafter/engineer
- Coil worker/coil design engineer
- Crane operator/crane engineer
Quality and Safety - Cable design drafter/engineer
Factory-Level Work - Composite materials engineer
- Cable splicer
- Electrical technician
- Metal cutters
- Milling machinist
- Production supervisor/manager
- Rolling machine setters
The employees fabricating a component may have to complete a workforce certification based on the scope of work. Certification needs specific to the component are listed in the table below in alphabetical order by name. Additional research is needed to align the certifications with a specific occupation and understand the training needs for certifications.
Table 2. Array Cable Job Certifications
CERTIFICATION LENGTH OF TIME Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/QE) 10-15 years Certified Quality Improvement Associate (CQIA) 2 years Certified Quality Process Analyst (CQPA) 2 years Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE) 11 years Certified Quality Technician (CQT) 4 years Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) 2-8 weeks Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Lathe Operations 37 hours Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Lathe Programming Setup and Operations Varies by program Computer numerical control (CNC) Mill Operation 38 hours Global Wind Organization Basic Safety Training (GWO BST) 2 days ICS: 29.020 Electrical Engineering Varies by program ISO 9001: 2015 Certified Lead Auditor 2 weeks Lean Certification 8–16 weeks Milling I Less than a year National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) 1 year Nondestructive Testing (NDT) 8 months OSHA 10 2 days OSHA 30 4 days Six Sigma Green Belt Certification 10 weeks Jobs within the supply chain could be the largest contributor of employment in the offshore wind industry across all job sectors. For every job created in major component manufacturing facilities, there is an opportunity space to train and hire up to five supplier jobs to produce subassemblies, parts, and materials. In addition, workers with relevant skills and capabilities at existing businesses across the country participate in the offshore wind supply chain. The number of supplier jobs will depend on the level of domestic content in the supporting supply chain, with the numbers below assuming 25% to 100% domestic content (i.e., how many of these products are made in the United States instead of being imported). The figure below maps component-by-component flowcharts with a breakdown of workforce magnitude for each subassembly or subcomponent.
Blades
The figure below estimates the direct job needs in the major component manufacturing facility based on the number of workers needed, and facilities opening over time to fabricate components to reach a 30 GW by 2030 target. The jobs count below represent any person working in the facility to produce or oversee the fabrication and assembly, including tradespeople, managers, engineers, and professional services.
The number of FTEs available is based on the number of direct FTE per facility multiplied by the number of facilities to produce supply 4–6 GW of projects per year. Direct FTEs are estimated from interviews and surveys of facility operators.
The workers in each major component facility include different types of roles with various levels of education and experience requirements. The table below shows four different workforce categories and lists the types of occupations that exist to fabricate and assemble the major component, listed in alphabetical order by name.
Table 1. Blade Roles
RESPONSIBILITY LEVEL JOB POSITIONS Factory-Level Management - Manufacturing manager
Design and Engineering - Drafter
- Software developer for wind turbine control systems
- Turbine load and validation engineer
- Thermoplastics engineer
Quality and Safety - Blade core engineer
- Nondestructive test and inspection technician
- Quality assurance/control inspector
- Quality control manager
Factory-Level Work - Aerospace engineer and operations technologists and technicians
- Assemblers
- Blasting technician (applier)
- Computer numerical control (CNC)machinist
- Composite materials engineer
- Crane operator/engineer
- Driller
- Fiberglass technician/mold worker
- Laser operator
- Mechanical support
- Metal grinder
- Milling machinist
- Plater
- Production supervisor/manager
- Specialist coating technician (applier)
- Surface engineer
The employees fabricating a component may have to complete a workforce certification based on the scope of work. Certification needs specific to the component are listed in the table below in alphabetical order by name. Additional research is needed to align the certifications with a specific occupation and understand the training needs for certifications.
Table 2. Blade Job Certifications
Supplier jobs represent the greater job market opportunity in the offshore wind workforce across all sectors. For every job created in these major component manufacturing facilities, there is an opportunity space to train and hire up to five supplier jobs to produce subassemblies, parts, and materials. In addition, existing businesses with relevant skills and capabilities across the country participate in the offshore wind supply chain. The number of supplier jobs will depend on the level of domestic content in the supporting supply chain, with the numbers below assuming 25% to 100% domestic content (i.e., how many of these products are made in the United States instead of being imported). The figure below maps component-by-component flowcharts with a breakdown of workforce magnitude for each subassembly or subcomponent.
Export Cables
The figure below estimates the direct job needs in the major component manufacturing facility based on the number of workers needed, and facilities opening over time to fabricate components to reach a 30 GW by 2030 target. The jobs count below represents any person working in the facility to produce or oversee the fabrication and assembly, including tradespeople, managers, engineers, and professional services.
The number of FTEs available is based on the number of direct FTE per facility multiplied by the number of facilities to produce supply 4–6 GW of projects per year. Direct FTEs are estimated from interviews and surveys of facility operators.
The workers in each major component facility include different types of roles with various levels of education and experience requirements. The table below shows four different workforce categories and lists the types of occupations that exist to fabricate and assemble the major component, listed in alphabetical order by name.
Table 1. Export Cable Roles
RESPONSIBILITY LEVEL JOB POSITIONS Factory-Level Management - Cable production manager
Design and Engineering - Cable design drafter/engineer
- Coil worker/ Coil design engineer
- Crane operator/crane engineer
Quality and Safety - Cable testing inspector
- Nondestructive test and inspection tester
- Quality control manager
Factory-Level Work - Cable machine operator
- Cable splicer
- Electrical technician
- Insulating machine operator
- Metal cutters
- Milling machinist
- Production supervisor/manager
- Rolling machine setters
The employees fabricating a component may have to complete a workforce certification based on the scope of work. Certification needs specific to the component are listed in the table below in alphabetical order by name. Additional research is needed to align the certifications with a specific occupation and understand the training needs for certifications.
Table 2. Export Cable Job Certifications
CERTIFICATION LENGTH OF TIME Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/QE) 10-15 years Certified Reliability Engineer (CRE) 11 years Certified Quality Improvement Associate (CQIA) 2 years Certified Quality Process Analyst (CQPA) 2 years Certified Quality Technician (CQT) 4 years Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) 2-8 weeks Computer numerical control (CNC) Lathe Operations 37 hours Computer numerical control (CNC) Lathe Programming Setup and Operations Varies by program Computer numerical control (CNC) Mill Operation 38 hours Global Wind Organization Basic Safety Training (GWO BST) 2 days ICS: 29.020 Electrical Engineering Varies by program ISO 9001: 2015 Certified Lead Auditor 2 weeks ISO/AWI 15513: Cranes Varies by program Lean Certification 8–16 weeks Milling I Less than a year National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) 1 year Nondestructive Testing (NDT) 8 months OSHA 10 2 days OSHA 30 4 days Six Sigma Green Belt Certification 10 weeks Supplier jobs represent the greater job market opportunity in offshore wind workforce across all job sectors. For every job created in these major component manufacturing facilities, there is an opportunity space to train and hire up to 5 five supplier jobs to produce subassemblies, parts, and materials. In addition, existing businesses with relevant skills and capabilities across the country participate in the offshore wind supply chain. The number of supplier jobs will depend on the level of domestic content in the supporting supply chain, with the numbers below assuming 25% to 100% domestic content (i.e., how many of these products are made in the United States instead of being imported). The figure below maps component-by-component flowcharts with a breakdown of workforce magnitude for each subassembly or subcomponent.
Monopiles
The figure below estimates the direct job needs in the major component manufacturing facility based on the number of workers needed, and facilities opening over time to fabricate components to reach a 30 GW by 2030 target. The jobs count below represent any person working in the facility to produce or oversee the fabrication and assembly, including tradespeople, mangers, engineers, and professional services.
The number of FTEs available is based on the number of direct FTE per facility multiplied by the number of facilities to produce supply 4–6 GW of projects per year. Direct FTEs are estimated from interviews and surveys of facility operators.
The workers in each major component facility include different types of roles with various levels of education and experience requirements. The table below shows four different workforce categories and lists the types of occupations that exist to fabricate and assemble the major component, listed in alphabetical order by name.
Table 1. Monopile Roles
RESPONSIBILITY LEVEL JOB POSITIONS Factory-Level Management - Manufacturing manager
Design and Engineering - Drafter
Quality and Safety - Ultrasonic welding tester
Factory-Level Work - Blasting technician (applier)
- Composite materials engineer
- Concrete pourer
- Crane engineer
- Crane operator
- Heavy lift specialist
- Metal cutter
- Milling machinist
- Production supervisor/manager
- Rolling machine setter
- Senior lifting engineer
- Specialist coating technician (applier)
- Steel worker
- Structural metal fabricator
- Welder
- Welding machinist/engineer
The employees fabricating a component may have to complete a workforce certification based on the scope of work. Certification needs specific to the component are listed in the table below in alphabetical order by name. Additional research is needed to align the certifications with a specific occupation and understand the training needs for certifications.
Table 2. Monopile Job Certifications
CERTIFICATION LENGTH OF TIME API 577: Welding Inspection and Metallurgy 1–5 years ASME Practical Welding Technology 8 days Certified Construction Manager (CCM) 4–8 years Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) 6–11 years Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) 5–10 years Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) 2-8 weeks Certified Welder Program 1–4 years Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/QE) 10–15 years Global Wind Organization Basic Safety Training (GWO BST) 2 days ISO/AWI 15513: Cranes Varies by program National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) 1 year OSHA 10 2 days OSHA 30 4 days Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) 10–60 days Supplier jobs represent the greater job market opportunity in offshore wind workforce across all job sectors. For every job created in these major component manufacturing facilities, there is an opportunity space to train and hire up to 5 five supplier jobs to produce subassemblies, parts, and materials. In addition, existing businesses with relevant skills and capabilities across the country participate in the offshore wind supply chain. The number of supplier jobs will depend on the level of domestic content in the supporting supply chain, with the numbers below assuming 25% to 100% domestic content (i.e., how many of these products are made in the United States instead of being imported). The figure below maps component-by-component flowcharts with a breakdown of workforce magnitude for each subassembly or subcomponent.
Nacelles
The figure below estimates the direct job needs in the major component manufacturing facility based on the number of workers needed, and facilities opening over time to fabricate components to reach a 30 GW by 2030 target. The jobs count below represent any person working in the facility to produce or oversee the fabrication and assembly, including tradespeople, mangers, engineers, and professional services.
The number of FTEs available is based on the number of direct FTE per facility multiplied by the number of facilities to produce supply 4–6 GW of projects per year. Direct FTEs are estimated from interviews and surveys of facility operators.
The workers in each major component facility include different types of roles with various levels of education and experience requirements. The table below shows four different workforce categories and lists the types of occupations that exist to fabricate and assemble the major component, listed in alphabetical order by name.
Table 1. Nacelle Roles
RESPONSIBILITY LEVEL JOB POSITIONS Factory-Level Management - Nacelle production manager
Design and Engineering - Nacelle structure engineer
- Rotor design engineer
- Hydraulics engineer
- Direct-drive generator specialist/turbine generator engineer
- Poles design engineer
- Nacelle design engineer
- Electrical engineer
- Mechanical engineer
- Rotor design assistant
- Structural engineer
- Bearing engineer
Quality and Safety - Nondestructive test and inspection technician
- Nacelle quality inspector
- Hub test engineer/hub inspector
- Quality control manager
- Quality control assistant
Factory-Level Work - Blasting technician (applier)
- Casting machinist
- Civil engineer technician
- Crane operator/crane engineer
- Computer numerical control (CNC) machinist
- Computer numerical control (CNC) machinist
- Direct-drive generator assembler
- Driller
- Electrical assemblers
- Electrical control system engineering assistant
- Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Electrical technician
- Gear machinist
- Generator assembler
- Heavy lift specialist/senior lifting engineer
- Hydraulic system assembler/mechanical filter
- Metal grinder
- Milling machinist
- Metal refiners
- Production supervisor/manager
- Surface engineer
- Steel worker
- Specialist coating technician (applier)
- Steel workers/casting engineer
The employees fabricating a component may have to complete a workforce certification based on the scope of work. Certification needs specific to the component are listed in the table below in alphabetical order by name. Additional research is needed to align the certifications with a specific occupation and understand the training needs for certifications.
Table 2. Nacelle Job Certifications
Supplier jobs represent the greater job market opportunity in offshore wind workforce across all job sectors. For every job created in these major component manufacturing facilities, there is an opportunity space to train and hire up to 5 five supplier jobs to produce subassemblies, parts, and materials. In addition, existing businesses with relevant skills and capabilities across the country participate in the offshore wind supply chain. The number of supplier jobs will depend on the level of domestic content in the supporting supply chain, with the numbers below assuming 25% to 100% domestic content (i.e., how many of these products are made in the United States instead of being imported). The figure below maps component-by-component flowcharts with a breakdown of workforce magnitude for each subassembly or subcomponent.
Towers
The figure below estimates the direct job needs in the major component manufacturing facility based on the number of workers needed, and facilities opening over time to fabricate components to reach a 30 GW by 2030 target. The jobs count below represent any person working in the facility to produce or oversee the fabrication and assembly, including tradespeople, mangers, engineers, and professional services.
The number of FTEs available is based on the number of direct FTE per facility multiplied by the number of facilities to produce supply 4–6 GW of projects per year. Direct FTEs are estimated from interviews and surveys of facility operators.
The number of FTEs available is based on the number of direct FTE per facility multiplied by the number of facilities to produce supply 4–6 GW of projects per year. Direct FTEs are estimated from interviews and surveys of facility operators.
The workers in each major component facility include different types of roles with various levels of education and experience requirements. The table below shows four different workforce categories and lists the types of occupations that exist to fabricate and assemble the major component, listed in alphabetical order by name.
Table 1. Tower Roles
RESPONSIBILITY LEVEL JOB POSITIONS Factory-Level Management - Manufacturing manager
Design and Engineering - Cable engineer
- Structural engineer
- Tower design engineer
Quality and Safety - Nondestructive test and inspection technician
- Platform structure inspection
- Quality control assistant
- Quality control manager
Factory-Level Work - Blasting technician (applier)
- Computer numerical control (CNC) machinist
- Crane operator and crane engineer
- Driller
- Electrical control system engineering assistant
- Electrical support
- Heavy lift specialist/senior lifting engineer
- Metal grinder
- Metal refiners
- Milling machinist
- Millwrights
- Specialist coating technician (applier)
- Steel worker
- Surface engineer
The employees fabricating a component may have to complete a workforce certification based on the scope of work. Certification needs specific to the component are listed in the table below in alphabetical order by name. Additional research is needed to align the certifications with a specific occupation and understand the training needs for certifications.
Table 2. Tower Job Certifications
Supplier jobs represent the greater job market opportunity in the offshore wind workforce across all job sectors. For every job created in these major component manufacturing facilities, there is an opportunity space to train and hire up to 5 five supplier jobs to produce subassemblies, parts, and materials. In addition, existing businesses with relevant skills and capabilities across the country participate in the offshore wind supply chain. The number of supplier jobs will depend on the level of domestic content in the supporting supply chain, with the numbers below assuming 25% to 100% domestic content (i.e., how many of these products are made in the United States instead of being imported). The figure below maps component-by-component flowcharts with a breakdown of workforce magnitude for each subassembly or subcomponent.
Transition Pieces
The figure below estimates the direct job needs in the major component manufacturing facility based on the number of workers needed, and facilities opening over time to fabricate components to reach a 30 GW by 2030 target. The jobs count below represent any person working in the facility to produce or oversee the fabrication and assembly, including tradespeople, mangers, engineers, and professional services.
The number of FTEs available is based on the number of direct FTE per facility multiplied by the number of facilities to produce supply 4–6 GW of projects per year. Direct FTEs are estimated from interviews and surveys of facility operators.
The workers in each major component facility include different types of roles with various levels of education and experience requirements. The table below shows four different workforce categories and lists the types of occupations that exist to fabricate and assemble the major component, listed in alphabetical order by name.
Table 1. Transition Piece Roles
RESPONSIBILITY LEVEL JOB POSITIONS Factory-Level Management - Manufacturing manager
Design and Engineering - Drafter
Quality and Safety - Ultrasonic welding tester
Factory-Level Work - Blasting technician (applier)
- Composite materials engineer
- Concrete pourer
- Crane operator
- Crane engineer
- Heavy lift specialist
- Metal cutter
- Milling machinist
- Production supervisor/manager
- Rolling machine setter
- Senior lifting engineer
- Specialist coating technician (applier)
- Steel worker
- Structural metal fabricator
- Welder
- Welding machinist/engineer
The employees fabricating a component may have to complete a workforce certification based on the scope of work. Certification needs specific to the component are listed in the table below in alphabetical order by name. Additional research is needed to align the certifications with a specific occupation and understand the training needs for certifications.
Table 2. Transition Piece Certifications
CERTIFICATION LENGTH OF TIME API 577: Welding Inspection and Metallurgy 1-5 years ASME Practical Welding Technology 8 Days Certified Construction Manager (CCM) 4–8 years Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/QE) 10-15 years Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) 5–10 years Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) 6–11 years Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) 2-8 weeks Certified Welder Program 1–4 years Global Wind Organization Basic Safety Training (GWO BST) 2 days ISO/AWI 15513: Cranes Varies by program National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (NCCCO) 1 year OSHA 10 2 days OSHA 30 4 days Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) 10–60 days Supplier jobs represent the greater job market opportunity in offshore wind workforce across all job sectors. For every job created in these major component manufacturing facilities, there is an opportunity space to train and hire up to 5 five supplier jobs to produce subassemblies, parts, and materials. In addition, existing businesses with relevant skills and capabilities across the country participate in the offshore wind supply chain. The number of supplier jobs will depend on the level of domestic content in the supporting supply chain, with the numbers below assuming 25% to 100% domestic content (i.e., how many of these products are made in the United States instead of being imported). The figure below maps component-by-component flowcharts with a breakdown of workforce magnitude for each subassembly or subcomponent.
More Information
[1] Stefek, Jeremy, Chloe Constant, Caitlyn Clark, Heidi Tinnesand, Corrie Christol, Ruth Baranowski. 2022. U.S. Offshore Wind Workforce Assessment. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory. NREL/TP-5000-81798. https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy23osti/81798.pdf.
[2] Shields, Matt, Ruth Marsh, Jeremy Stefek, Frank Oteri, Ross Gould, Noé Rouxel, Katherine Diaz, Javier Molinero, Abigayle Moser, Courtney Malvik, and Sam Tirone. 2022. The Demand for a Domestic Offshore Wind Energy Supply Chain. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory. NREL/TP-5000-81602. https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy22osti/81602.pdf.
[3] Shields, Matt, Jeremy Stefek, Frank Oteri, Sabina Maniak, Matilda Kreider, Elizabeth Gill, Ross Gould, Courtney Malvik, Sam Tirone, Eric Hines. 2023. A Supply Chain Road Map for Offshore Wind Energy in the United States. Golden, CO: National Renewable Energy Laboratory. NREL/TP-5000-84710. https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy23osti/84710.pdf.
Publication number NREL/FS-5000-87098
This factsheet was sponsored by DOE Wind Energy Technologies Office and created by NREL to compile data and insights on manufacturing and supply chain opportunities within offshore wind energy industry by Caitlyn Clark, Brinn McDowell, Bailey Pons, Jeremy Stefek at NREL for the U.S. Department of Energy Wind Energy Technologies Office. If you would like to get involved in the Offshore Wind Workforce Network or feel your organization is misrepresented or not included in this factsheet, please contact us at WindWorkforce@nrel.gov.
This work was authored by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, operated by Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308. Funding provided by U.S. Department of Energy Wind Energy Technologies Office. The views expressed in the article do not necessarily represent the views of the DOE or the U.S. Government. The U.S. Government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the U.S. Government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this work, or allow others to do so, for U.S. Government purposes.
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