IBEW LOCAL 300
VERMONT JOINT APPRENTICESHIP
TRAINING COMMITTEE

WIND GENERATION TRAINING

 

The Vermont JATC using the National JATC Wind Generation curriculum has developed a 32 hour training program that is designed to prepare electricians and apprentices to perform their role in the construction of large scale wind-powered generators.  The program focuses on two main topics related to this work; climbing safety and medium voltage power cable, terminating and splicing.  Participants should have their OSHA 10 card, CPR/First Aid certification and Code of Excellence.  The Vermont JATC will offer CPR/First Aid and Code of excellence during the time-frame of the sessions should participants coming from other IBEW Local Unions.

The climbing safety training provides comprehensive, hands-on instruction in the proper use of climbing safety equipment, as well as the established rescue techniques used in high elevation construction.  Participants take part in very realistic team exercises that teach them how to rescue an injured coworker, using a full-size, one hundred seventy pound rescue dummy.  The course also includes a mock tower climb, which is designed to simulate the physical exertion required to climb and descend a one hundred fifty foot wind tower, all within a ten minute time allotment.  Participants will do a number of exercises like emergency evacuation from the tower, self rescuing, and “the leap of faith, a 20 foot free fall on an auto decender”.

The second portion of the training teaches the participants the theory and proper techniques used in the grounding of wind towers to successfully terminate and splice power cable that is rated to carry five thousand volts of electricity and higher, which is used to transmit the power generated by the wind turbine generators to the power grid.  Because the voltage being carried by these cables is so high, it is critical that each splice and termination be performed perfectly, in order to maintain the integrity of the cable insulation value.  Each student is required to prepare and install one splice and one termination, using actual sections of cable and insulation kits.

The medium voltage splicing and termination training is intended for electricians to get the fundamentals of working with medium voltage cables.  The certification training is to be taken seriously by all participants.  Those who pass the course will receive a wallet size certificate from a Raychem training instructor which verifies that the participants have been instructed in and completed cable preparation, and have correctly installed specific splices and terminations of Raychem heat shrink and cold shrink on 15kv #2 cables.  The training typically requires 4 to 5 hours for a single conductor termination and splice.