About This Career

Performs technical activities at power plants or individual installations necessary for the generation of power from geothermal energy sources. Monitors and controls operating activities at geothermal power generation facilities and performs maintenance and repairs as necessary. Installs, tests, and maintains residential and commercial geothermal heat pumps.

This career is part of the Manufacturing cluster Maintenance, Installation and Repair pathway.

A person in this career:

• Monitors and adjusts operations of geothermal power plant equipment or systems.
• Prepares and maintains logs, reports, or other documentation of work performed.
• Identifies and corrects malfunctions of geothermal plant equipment, electrical systems, instrumentation, or controls.
• Collects and records data associated with operating geothermal power plants or well fields.
• Determines whether emergency or auxiliary systems will be needed to keep properties heated or cooled in extreme weather conditions.
• Performs pre- and post-installation pressure, flow, and related tests of vertical and horizontal geothermal loop piping.
• Identifies equipment options, such as compressors, and makes appropriate selections.
• Adjusts power production systems to meet load and distribution demands.
• Calculates heat loss and heat gain factors for residential properties to determine heating and cooling required by installed geothermal systems.
• Maintains electrical switchgear, process controls, transmitters, gauges, and control equipment in accordance with geothermal plant procedures.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
• Conditions are very hot (above 90 F) or very cold (under 32 F)
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Exposed to conditions such as high voltage electricity, combustibles, explosives, and chemicals more than once a month
• Exposed to hazardous equipment such as saws, machinery, or vehicular traffic more than once a month
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
• Work in this occupation requires being outside most of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Identifying color and seeing differences in color, including shades and brightness
• Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching
• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Seeing clearly up close
• Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
• Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
• Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring

Work Hours and Travel

• Irregular hours
• Overtime work
• Rotating shift work
• Weekend work