For most people, the daily commute means a short drive or a train ride to the office. For Jayden Ballintyne, a Travelling Electrical Technician at Stanwell Asset Maintenance Company (SAMCo), it means hopping between wind farms, solar sites and remote landscapes across Australia, with a toolbag in one hand and his favourite playlist ready to go.

“I love the travel,” Jayden enthuses. “You get to see the country, experience different worksites, and finish the day somewhere completely new. Each new location offers something unique, especially if you take the time to explore.”

But the road to renewables wasn’t always mapped out for Jayden. His journey started in a small South Australian town, where an early knack for fixing things led him to an electrical apprenticeship.

“I was always a hands-on sort of person,” he says. “In high school, I did a week of work experience with an electrician, and I was hooked.”

That initial exposure turned into more work placements during school holidays, which eventually led to a full-time apprenticeship. Working for a local electrical contractor, Jayden mastered a broad array of electrical skills across domestic, commercial, industrial and agricultural sectors.

“That gave me an awesome foundation to jump into different parts of the industry,” he explains. “It set me up to go anywhere.”

And ‘anywhere’ quickly became the theme of his career.

Life on the road

Last year, Jayden began his new role on the road with SAMCo – a wholly owned subsidiary of Stanwell Corporation that provides operation and maintenance (O&M) services for renewable energy assets. 

Jayden is nominally based out of Brisbane, but in reality, he rarely finds himself in one place for long.

“My actual home base is wherever the job takes me,” he laughs.

His typical day starts with a morning coffee (a must-have), followed by site meetings and a check in on the day’s priorities – tackling any faults first, and then moving into routine maintenance and compliance. 

Working on renewable sites often means working in some of the most remote places in Australia, which Jayden says comes with its own set of challenges.

‘The hardest part is getting parts out to us,” he explains. “Something as simple as danger tags – in the city, you’d just pop down to a store. But out here that can be a mission so we have to plan ahead.”

Jayden says communication is the key to success in these settings, especially when team members are spread out.

“You have to be really clear about keeping everyone in the loop,” he explains. “We rely on constant phone calls to our supervisors. It can feel like you’re calling them all day, but that continuous communication is vital. It’s just part of the job.”

The focus on teamwork extends to safety, a core value at SAMCo. “Adhering to safety procedures is non-negotiable,” Jayden asserts. “When you’re involved in massive lifts with heavy machinery, every detail – every communication – has to be precise. There’s no room for shortcuts.”

Jayden warns the isolation can be a challenge, especially for those new to FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) work. “You need to stay in touch with home,” Jayden warns, “otherwise it can get lonely.” 

But despite the challenges, the rewards far outweigh the struggles.

 “The views from the top of a wind turbine are pretty unreal,” he smiles. “Not a bad place for a smoko break. And the work itself is incredibly satisfying. 

“There’s a lot of planning that goes into changing out a critical component in a turbine, for instance. Big cranes, intricate detail, and a huge team effort. But getting a damaged turbine back into service within a few days – it’s an amazing feeling.”

The road ahead

With the renewables industry growing at a rapid rate, Jayden is excited about what lies ahead.

“There are solar and wind farms popping up everywhere now,” he says. “It’s a cool space to be in because you’re always learning. Technology is evolving, and you have to evolve with it.”

For those considering a career in renewables, Jayden says to just give it a go.

“You should definitely jump in,” he urges. “The variety, the constant learning – you’ll never be bored. It’s an industry that keeps you on your toes, and that’s what makes it exciting.”