Geothermal Power Production Managers
Overview
Geothermal Power Production Managers run power plants that turn underground heat from the Earth into electricity. They plan daily operations, create work schedules, and supervise technicians while monitoring complex systems such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs), pumps, turbines, and cooling systems to keep the plant running safely and efficiently. They also make high-level decisions about maintenance, corrosion control, environmental permits, and budgets, and they look for ways to improve equipment performance, reduce waste, and meet strict safety and environmental regulations.
Did you know?
Job opportunities are primarily located in western states like California, Nevada, and Utah where geothermal resources are abundant.
At a Glance
Growth
Stable
Top Skill
Management of Financial Resources
Key Responsibilities
- Record, review, or maintain daily logs, reports, maintenance, and other records associated with geothermal operations.
- Perform or direct the performance of preventative maintenance on geothermal plant equipment.
- Select and implement corrosion control or mitigation systems for geothermal plants.
- Prepare environmental permit applications or compliance reports.
- Obtain permits for constructing, upgrading, or operating geothermal power plants.
- Supervise employees in geothermal power plants or well fields.
- Negotiate interconnection agreements with other utilities.
- Conduct well field site assessments.
- Identify and evaluate equipment, procedural, or conditional inefficiencies involving geothermal plant systems.
- Identify opportunities to improve plant electrical equipment, controls, or process control methodologies.
- Inspect geothermal plant or injection well fields to verify proper equipment operations.
- Develop operating plans and schedules for geothermal operations.
- Communicate geothermal plant conditions to employees.
- Oversee geothermal plant operations, maintenance, and repairs to ensure compliance with applicable standards or regulations.
- Develop or manage budgets for geothermal operations.
- Troubleshoot and make minor repairs to geothermal plant instrumentation or electrical systems.
- Monitor geothermal operations, using programmable logic controllers.
Career Considerations
Geographic Concentration
Job opportunities are primarily located in western states like California, Nevada, and Utah where geothermal resources are abundant.
Regulatory Compliance Expertise
Success requires navigating complex federal and state environmental regulations specific to geothermal energy production in the US.
Renewable Energy Market Growth
Career prospects are enhanced by federal and state policies promoting clean energy transition and energy independence initiatives.