Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wind Consultant

🎯 Role Definition

This role requires an experienced Wind Consultant to provide technical leadership and commercial advisory services across the full lifecycle of wind energy projects. The Wind Consultant will specialize in wind resource assessment, energy yield and uncertainty analysis, micrositing and wake modeling, performance verification and technical due diligence, while supporting business development, permitting and stakeholder engagement. The role requires a blend of meteorology, engineering, modelling and project management skills, and the ability to present clear technical recommendations to developers, utilities, investors and permitting authorities.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Wind Resource Analyst / Meteorologist
Renewable Energy Engineer (Junior)
Data Analyst with wind or meteorology background

Advancement To:

Senior Wind Consultant / Lead Wind Resource Engineer
Technical Manager - Wind Energy
Head of Wind Consulting / Principal Consultant

Lateral Moves:

Offshore Wind Development Specialist
Grid Connection / Power Systems Engineer
Environmental & Permitting Consultant (Wind)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead end-to-end wind resource assessments for onshore and nearshore wind projects, including siting, measurement campaign design, mesoscale and microscale modelling (WRF, WindPRO, WAsP, CFD), and uncertainty characterization to inform feasibility and investment decisions.
Develop detailed energy yield assessments (AEP) and probabilistic P50/P90/P99 estimates using industry-standard tools, incorporating atmospheric stability analysis, Weibull fitting, long-term adjustment, and interannual variability to produce bankable results.
Design, scope and supervise met mast, LiDAR and SODAR measurement campaigns; perform QA/QC on raw time series, apply cleaning and gap-filling routines, and produce validated measurement summaries and correction factors.
Perform wake loss modelling and micrositing optimisation for turbine layout design using commercial software (WindPRO, WindFarmer, Fuga, OpenWind) and CFD where required to reduce energy losses and balance turbine availability with site constraints.
Conduct SCADA data analysis and power curve verification to validate manufacturer power curves and inform performance guarantees; quantify technical losses, curtailment, and availability impacts on project economics.
Lead technical due diligence and performance audits for project acquisitions and refinancing, including review of resource assessments, SCADA, O&M records, civil and electrical design, and contractual guarantees (PPA, EPC, O&M).
Prepare technical chapters and inputs for Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), consents and permitting submissions with regard to noise, shadow flicker, visual impact and ornithology constraints as they relate to micro-siting and layout.
Conduct grid connection studies and liaise with transmission system operators on constraints, reinforcement requirements, reactive power, and curtailment risk; integrate grid connection outcomes into energy yield and dispatch modelling.
Produce high-quality client-facing deliverables: technical reports, executive summaries, slide decks and GIS deliverables that clearly communicate methodology, assumptions, uncertainties and recommended next steps.
Support procurement and tender processes by defining technical specifications for turbine supply, balance-of-plant, met masts and remote sensing equipment; review bids and evaluate technical compliance.
Perform lifecycle LCOE and financial modelling inputs in collaboration with commercial teams, quantifying sensitivity to energy yield, losses, availability and O&M strategies to support investment decisions.
Lead site feasibility studies that integrate topography, soil investigations, geotechnical constraints, access and construction logistics with micro-siting recommendations to minimize civil and grid costs.
Develop and apply advanced data analytics and scripting (Python, R, MATLAB, SQL) for large-scale time series processing, automated reporting, reproducible modelling workflows and customised diagnostic tools.
Coordinate multi-disciplinary teams (geotechnical, electrical, environmental, civil) during design review and construction phases to ensure wind-specific requirements are captured and implemented.
Provide construction and commissioning support including oversight of turbine delivery, commissioning checks, vibration and power performance acceptance tests, and HSE compliance during installation.
Monitor operational wind farms and develop O&M optimisation strategies through performance benchmarking, root cause analysis and corrective action planning to restore shortfalls and improve energy capture.
Deliver independent expert opinions and respond to technical queries in disputes, regulatory filings and insurance claims related to wind performance, measurement uncertainty or contractual compliance.
Lead stakeholder engagement and community consultation sessions to explain technical implications of siting decisions, noise, visual and shadow impacts, and to address local concerns.
Maintain up-to-date best practice and regulatory knowledge (national permitting regimes, grid codes, IEC standards) and integrate changes into internal methodologies and client advice.
Mentor and train junior staff, providing technical guidance on modelling approaches, data handling, report writing and client communications to build internal capability.
Support business development through preparation of technical proposals, statements of work, time and cost estimates and by contributing to client pitches and sector thought leadership (whitepapers, webinars).

Secondary Functions

Support bid teams by producing technical appendices, scope of work, risk registers and resource estimates for proposals and RFP responses.
Maintain internal project databases and knowledge repositories for met mast data, modelling assumptions, templates and historical performance case studies to ensure consistent delivery quality.
Coordinate with third-party consultants (ecology, archaeology, noise) to integrate technical findings into consenting packages and to de-risk planning outcomes.
Represent the consultancy at industry conferences, investor meetings and regulatory consultations to raise profile and secure new client engagements.
Conduct periodic performance reviews of implemented projects and capture lessons learned to refine methodologies and improve future project delivery.
Provide ad-hoc training and client workshops on wind resource fundamentals, energy yield interpretation and SCADA diagnostics to empower client technical teams.
Assist legal and commercial teams with technical input to contract negotiations (EPC, PPA, O&M) and support warranty and guarantee discussions with turbine manufacturers.
Undertake health, safety and environmental due diligence during site surveys and construction oversight, ensuring compliance with company HSE policies and local regulations.
Maintain and validate in-house model libraries, templates and GIS layers to ensure consistent and efficient project setup and delivery.
Engage with grid operators and regulators on policy, curtailment scenarios and balancing considerations to keep clients informed of evolving operational risks.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Wind resource assessment and long-term energy yield modelling (AEP, P50/P90) using industry-standard tools and methodologies.
Mesoscale and microscale modelling experience: WRF, WindPRO, WAsP, WindFarmer, Fuga and/or CFD modelling for complex terrain and coastal sites.
Remote sensing expertise: processing and correction of LiDAR and SODAR data, met mast QA/QC and uncertainty analysis.
SCADA and power performance analysis: power curve verification, availability analysis, curtailment quantification and turbine-level diagnostics.
Wake loss modelling and micrositing optimisation for turbine layout design and loss minimisation.
Statistical and time-series analysis skills including Weibull fitting, binning techniques, Gumbel/GEV familiarity, and interannual variability assessment.
Proficiency with scripting and data tools for reproducible analysis: Python (pandas, numpy), R, MATLAB, SQL; experience automating workflows and reporting.
GIS and spatial analysis skills (ArcGIS/QGIS) for topographic assessments, setback analysis and deliverable map production.
Familiarity with electrical system studies, grid connection requirements, reactive power, GAD studies and curtailment modelling.
Financial and risk modelling inputs for LCOE, sensitivity analysis and commercial due diligence.
Experience preparing technical documentation to bankable standards for investors and lenders; familiarity with industry standards (IEC, IEA/IRENA best practice).
Construction, commissioning and operational experience: turbine acceptance testing, vibration checks, and O&M optimisation methods.
Knowledge of permitting, consenting processes and environmental constraints relevant to wind projects (noise, ornithology, shadow flicker).
Project management skills with tools such as MS Project, Primavera, or equivalent and experience managing multi-disciplinary deliverables.
Familiarity with cloud platforms and data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau) for KPI dashboards and client reporting.

Soft Skills

Excellent client-facing communication and presentation skills with the ability to translate technical findings into clear commercial recommendations.
Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving capability, with meticulous attention to data quality and modelling assumptions.
Effective stakeholder management and negotiation skills when balancing developer, regulator, community and investor interests.
Team leadership and mentoring experience to coach junior analysts and build cross-functional capability.
Time management and prioritisation skills to deliver multiple concurrent projects under tight deadlines.
Adaptability and continuous learning mindset; able to adopt new modelling tools and respond to regulatory changes.
Commercial awareness and ability to contribute to proposal development and client relationship growth.
Clear report-writing skills and editorial attention to produce concise executive summaries for non-technical audiences.
Resilience and practical mindset for site visits and fieldwork in remote and challenging environments.
Collaborative approach with cross-discipline teams including civil, electrical, environmental and permitting specialists.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Meteorology, Physics or Environmental Science.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Wind Energy, Renewable Energy Engineering, Meteorology, Applied Physics or similar discipline.
Professional certifications (e.g., Chartered Engineer, Certified Energy Manager) and project management accreditation (PMP/Prince2) are advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Wind Energy / Renewable Energy Engineering
Meteorology & Atmospheric Science
Mechanical, Civil or Electrical Engineering
Environmental Science (with focus on energy projects)
Applied Mathematics, Data Science or Physics

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3–10 years in wind energy consultancy, wind farm development, or related technical roles.

Preferred:

5+ years experience for a consultant role; 8+ years for senior or lead consultant roles with demonstrable track record delivering bankable resource assessments, due diligence and operational performance improvement.
Proven delivery of multiple full-lifecycle projects (feasibility → construction → operations), experience with both onshore and nearshore / coastal wind projects is highly desirable.