Senior Wind Resource Analyst

RWE Clean Energy, LLC
To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent

Functional area: Engineering
Remuneration: Exempt

The Onshore Wind Turbine Systems department is a key technical interface to the RWE Clean Energy project development organization and their new and repower wind development projects. To strengthen the team, we are looking for a Senior Wind Resource Analyst, responsible for wind resource assessment and site suitability.

The successful candidate will be responsible for analyzing onsite meteorological data, creating turbine layouts, and calculating energy production estimates for North American utility-scale wind projects.  They will also be responsible for selecting specific turbine models with respect to site suitability constraints and for analyzing and approving turbine power performance testing by 3rd parties.

Role Responsibilities:

• Design state of the art measurement campaigns with a focus on deriving results that minimize uncertainty while supporting the energy assessment throughout the project development cycle
• Analyze large amounts of measured and reanalysis datasets using advanced modeling and analysis techniques; data may require specialized handling and/or software
• Understand project constraints when optimizing proposed wind farm layouts to maximize the project’s value. This includes software simulations as well as desktop and field micrositing
• Develop and apply, at an expert level, an understanding of wind flow modelling tools, e.g., linear, CFD, and their application to specific project layouts and energy assessment
• Evaluate competing results of the impact of various wake models for a wind farm design and apply the most representative technical outcome(s)
• Perform and advocate for uncertainty analysis on energy production estimates
• Use diligence and consistency in reporting analysis, assumptions, methods, and results
• Qualify, quantify, and communicate project-specific risks and opportunities to a broad, non-technical audience
• Compare pre-construction energy estimates with operational data and recommend and implement improvements to the pre-construction analysis technique
• Project manage and/or technically support the department
• Mentor more junior colleagues, perform peer reviews, and act as a sparring partner
• Lead internal improvement & development programs with a goal of maintaining industry-leading technical standards
• Manage third-party layout and energy assessment vendors to include scope, schedule, deliverable QC, and approval/release in line with RWECE standards
• Evaluate site conditions used as input into turbine supplier site suitability assessments
• Perform site suitability and lifetime assessments including load, fatigue, and Wind Sector Management (WSM). This role will include management of all site suitability related tasks for projects in all stages of development
• Participate in the pre-selection of wind turbines suitable for specific project sites and establish a wind turbine short list
• Perform terrain and measurement sector assessments for power performance tests, and review 3rd party testing entity reports and conclusions

Job Requirements and Experiences:

• Bachelor's degree in Atmospheric Science, Meteorology, Engineering, Physics, Math, or similar/related technical (STEM) discipline
• Minimum of 8 years experience, with 4 years of relevant work experience in wind resource assessment
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant work experience in turbine and/or site suitability
• Comprehensive knowledge of wind yield assessment, wind turbine concepts, wind turbine loads, CFD analysis, and wake loss analysis
• Advanced knowledge and experience with Windographer, Openwind, windPRO, CFD, and/or related software
• Working knowledge of international regulations applicable to wind resource assessment and wind turbines, including IEC 61400, UL, and DNV
• Excellent proficiency with Microsoft p