Geothermal Technicians

What the job really is

Perform technical activities at power plants or individual installations necessary for the generation of power from geothermal energy sources. Monitor and control operating activities at geothermal power generation facilities and perform maintenance and repairs as necessary. Install, test, and maintain residential and commercial geothermal heat pumps.

At a glance

• Sector: Installation, Maintenance & Repair
• O*NET-SOC code: 49-9099
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Monitor and adjust operations of geothermal power plant equipment or systems.
• Prepare and maintain logs, reports, or other documentation of work performed.
• Identify and correct malfunctions of geothermal plant equipment, electrical systems, instrumentation, or controls.
• Collect and record data associated with operating geothermal power plants or well fields.
• Determine whether emergency or auxiliary systems will be needed to keep properties heated or cooled in extreme weather conditions.
• Perform pre- and post-installation pressure, flow, and related tests of vertical and horizontal geothermal loop piping.
• Identify equipment options, such as compressors, and make appropriate selections.
• Adjust power production systems to meet load and distribution demands.
• Maintain electrical switchgear, process controls, transmitters, gauges, and control equipment in accordance with geothermal plant procedures.
• Calculate heat loss and heat gain factors for residential properties to determine heating and cooling required by installed geothermal systems.
• Maintain, calibrate, or repair plant instrumentation, control, and electronic devices in geothermal plants.
• Install and maintain geothermal plant electrical protection equipment.

Tools and technology

Autodesk AutoCAD, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, SAP software, Adjustable hand wrenches, Adjustable pipe wrenches, Air monitoring equipment, Air wrenches, Alignment clamps, Butt fusion machines

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
• Geothermal Production Managers
• Power Plant Operators
• Biomass Plant Technicians
• Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
• Wind Turbine Service Technicians
• Gas Plant Operators
• Power Distributors and Dispatchers

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Geothermal Technicians — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.