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11-3051.04 - Biomass Power Plant Managers


Manage operations at biomass power generation facilities. Direct work activities at plant, including supervision of operations and maintenance staff.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
1
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
173,400
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
167,000
Estimate
Change in Employment
-6,300
Estimate
Change in Employment %
-3.7%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Manage parts and supply inventories for biomass plants.
  • Monitor and operate communications systems, such as mobile radios.
  • Supervise operations or maintenance employees in the production of power from biomass, such as wood, coal, paper sludge, or other waste or refuse.
  • Review logs, datasheets, or reports to ensure adequate production levels and safe production environments or to identify abnormalities with power production equipment or processes.
  • Review biomass operations performance specifications to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
  • Prepare reports on biomass plant operations, status, maintenance, and other information.
  • Prepare and manage biomass plant budgets.
  • Plan and schedule plant activities, such as wood, waste, or refuse fuel deliveries, ash removal, and regular maintenance.
  • Inspect biomass gasification processes, equipment, and facilities for ways to maximize capacity and minimize operating costs.
  • Evaluate power production or demand trends to identify opportunities for improved operations.
  • Supervise biomass plant or substation operations, maintenance, repair, or testing activities.
  • Conduct field inspections of biomass plants, stations, or substations to ensure normal and safe operating conditions.
  • Manage safety programs at power generation facilities.
Supplemental
  • Test, maintain, or repair electrical power distribution machinery or equipment, using hand tools, power tools, and testing devices.
  • Compile and record operational data on forms or in log books.
  • Adjust equipment controls to generate specified amounts of electrical power.
  • Shut down and restart biomass power plants or equipment in emergency situations or for equipment maintenance, repairs, or replacements.
  • Operate controls to start, stop, or regulate biomass-fueled generators, generator units, boilers, engines, or auxiliary systems.
  • Monitor the operating status of biomass plants by observing control system parameters, distributed control systems, switchboard gauges, dials, or other indicators.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Mechanical
  • 86%
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 82%
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
 Production and Processing
  • 81%
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
 Administration and Management
  • 81%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Personnel and Human Resources
  • 77%
    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 74%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 Clerical
  • 72%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Education and Training
  • 72%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Mathematics
  • 71%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 69%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Chemistry
  • 67%
    Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
 English Language
  • 67%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Design
  • 64%
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
 Physics
  • 64%
    Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
 Economics and Accounting
  • 63%
    Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
 Building and Construction
  • 62%
    Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 57%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Psychology
  • 57%
    Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
 Transportation
  • 56%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
 Law and Government
  • 53%
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
 Communications and Media
  • 53%
    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Heavy equipment components
  • Wood feed systems
 Conveyors and accessories
  • Radial stackers
 Engines
  • Steam turbines
 Power generators
  • Heat recovery steam generators
 Cooling equipment and parts and accessories
  • Cooling towers
 Boilers
  • Biomass boilers
  • Bubbling fluidized bed boilers
  • Circulating fluidized bed boilers
  • Steam boilers
 Sampling equipment
  • Water samplers
 Computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Personal computers
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Business function specific software
  • Inventory control software
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Employee scheduling software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
 Industry specific software
  • Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
  • Computer aided design CAD softwareHOT
  • Distributed control system DCS
 Information exchange software
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Advanced
 Unknown
 Core
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Peirce College
 Programs
Jobs
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Jobs related to this career may be found on Indeed.com or on the Google Job Search page.