Episode 19 - ENGINEERING/SUSTAINABLE ENERGY - Ruth Heffernan-Marsh

Principle Engineer for Off-Shore Wind in the ENGINEERING/SUSTAINABLE ENERGY industry, Ruth Heffernan-Marsh joins us for the 19th episode. Her job working with off-shore turbines in the renewable energy field is completely fascinating. Ruth tells us about her path to her career through personal inspirations, through MIT, Stanford, NASA, Google and more.

Documentary about the Makani wind energy kite: https://youtu.be/qd_hEja6bzE?si=2Yr8CXVbwtKQt314

Short clip of the Makani energy kite making the first first-ever flight offshore: https://youtu.be/F6NW0QeKLZA?si=94ymDWTSYomTUXeE

And one more short clip of the energy kite: https://youtu.be/An8vtD1FDqs?si=zUvjpKSpveYEdDyj

Training Programs and Certifications for Offshore Wind

  1. Global Wind Organization (GWO) Training Programs:

    • Many technical schools and training centers in the U.S. offer GWO-certified courses in safety, working at heights, and other specialized skills required for offshore wind work.

  2. Massachusetts Maritime Academy:

    • Offers a comprehensive Offshore Wind Training Program that includes courses on safety, project management, and technical skills specific to the offshore wind industry.

  3. New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA):

    • Provides support for various training programs through partnerships with community colleges and other institutions to prepare workers for careers in offshore wind.

  4. National Offshore Wind Training Center (NOWTC):

    • Based in Virginia, NOWTC offers training in offshore wind construction, operations, and maintenance, with a focus on developing a local workforce.

  5. Rhode Island's Wind Energy Training Programs:

    • Institutions like the University of Rhode Island and the Community College of Rhode Island offer specialized training programs in wind energy, including offshore wind.

College Degrees

  1. University of Massachusetts Amherst:

    • Offers a Graduate Certificate in Wind Power Engineering. This program covers wind energy systems, including offshore wind, with courses in engineering, environmental impacts, and policy.

  2. University of Delaware:

    • Offers a Master’s Degree in Energy and Environmental Policy with a concentration in offshore wind energy. The program integrates technical, economic, and policy perspectives.

  3. Stony Brook University:

    • The Offshore Wind Training Institute (OWTI), in partnership with NYSERDA, provides education and research opportunities, including courses that can be part of engineering or environmental science degrees.

  4. University of Rhode Island (URI):

    • Offers a Bachelor’s Degree in Ocean Engineering with electives and specializations in offshore wind energy. URI also has research initiatives focused on offshore wind technology and policy.

  5. Cornell University:

    • Through its College of Engineering, Cornell offers courses and research opportunities related to offshore wind energy, particularly in the context of renewable energy systems and environmental impacts.

Workforce Development Programs

  1. Building a Better Future Program (BPU):

    • Supported by New Jersey’s Board of Public Utilities, this program partners with local community colleges to offer training in offshore wind, targeting workforce development in the state.

  2. The Wind Energy Workforce (WEW) Program:

    • Hosted by the Texas State Technical College, this program provides technical training specifically focused on wind energy, with modules relevant to offshore wind.

These programs and degrees are part of broader efforts to prepare the workforce needed to support the rapidly growing offshore wind industry in the United States.

andy Jagolinzerwind, energy, solar, MIT, Stanford, NASA, Google, Worcester, Renewable