From hell to heaven. Miners climb windmills and earn good money
This may not be for everyone, but it is a tempting proposition. The “Wind – a mine of opportunities” program gives miners the opportunity to obtain qualifications as wind turbine technicians.
To want is to be able – a wind turbine technician is a new synonym for the word “miner”. Instead of working 1,300 meters underground, service technicians work at heights, e.g. 120 meters above the ground. With the phasing out of part of the mining sector, the importance of renewable energy sources is growing in Poland (and in the world), and they need new staff.
The wind energy industry is developing dynamically and will need hundreds of thousands of new employees in the coming years, which opens up wide opportunities for laid-off miners, but not only for them.
What do you need to know about a wind turbine?
According to industry estimates, by 2030 the offshore wind energy sector may need approximately 30,000 employees, and by 2040, the demand in the entire sector – both land and sea – may reach up to 200,000 people. The advantage is technical experience, knowledge of working in demanding conditions, teamwork and competences related to occupational safety – which miners have at their fingertips.
The “Wind – Mine Opportunities” program is implemented by EDF Power Solutions in cooperation with Spółka Restrukturyzacji Kopalń. This is the sixth and last edition, in which almost 60 miners are to obtain qualifications as wind turbine technicians. They learn the rules of working at heights, safety procedures in accordance with Global Wind Organization standards, as well as the basics of operation of electrical and hydraulic systems. Participants will also learn the principles of operation of the wind turbine itself and language skills that may be useful in international work.
The training will last one month – from June 22 to July 13, 2026.
How much does a wind turbine technician earn?
– Working at windmills is less scary than working underground – argued Bogdan Groborz, a former miner from the Budryk mine, the deepest underground mine in Poland, in wnp.pl. Before he replaced the mine with a windmill, he worked in mining for 23 years. – I knew that in the near future the mining industry would begin to come to an end – said Groborz.
He did not lose financially. The median salary in this profession is approximately PLN 8,330 gross per month, and experienced specialists earn from PLN 6,000. PLN to over 10 thousand PLN on land. On the water, earnings increase even more: they fluctuate within limits 18 thousand PLN –28 thousand PLN netand experienced specialists (e.g. in high voltage) can earn even more. The turbines on which Bogdan Groborz works are located in Scandinavia. – In the first month of working on the turbine, I earned twice as much as I received month after month as an underground shift foreman for 24 years – said the former miner.
Orlen and Northland Power have started the construction of the first wind farm in the Polish Baltic Sea. The Baltic Power farm is being built on an area of approximately 130 km2, comparable to the area of Gdynia.
