What Do Biomass Plant Technicians Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Biomass Plant Technicians control and monitor biomass plant activities and perform maintenance as needed. They also operate high-pressure steam boiler or water chiller equipment for electrical cogeneration operations.

Other tasks include:

• Operate biomass fuel-burning boiler or biomass fuel gasification system equipment in accordance with specifications or instructions.
• Operate valves, pumps, engines, or generators to control and adjust production of biofuels or biomass-fueled power.
• Operate equipment to heat biomass, using knowledge of controls, combustion, and firing mechanisms.
• Operate equipment to start, stop, or regulate biomass-fueled generators, generator units, boilers, engines, or auxiliary systems.
• Inspect biomass power plant or processing equipment, recording or reporting damage and mechanical problems.
• Record or report operational data, such as readings on meters, instruments, and gauges.

We asked Biomass Plant Technicians how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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61% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Biomass Plant Technicians clean work areas to ensure compliance with safety regulations. They preprocess feedstock to prepare for biochemical or thermochemical production processes.

A typical day for a Biomass Plant Technician will also include:

• Manage parts and supply inventories for biomass plants.
• Operate equipment to heat biomass, using knowledge of controls, combustion, and firing mechanisms.
• Operate high-pressure steam boiler or water chiller equipment for electrical cogeneration operations.
• Operate biomass fuel-burning boiler or biomass fuel gasification system equipment in accordance with specifications or instructions.
• Operate equipment to start, stop, or regulate biomass-fueled generators, generator units, boilers, engines, or auxiliary systems.

We asked some Biomass Plant Technicians a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	44% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	48% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	91% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	6% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	2% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	47% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Biomass Plant Technicians also read and interpret instruction manuals or technical drawings related to biomass-fueled power or biofuels production equipment or processes. They may also perform routine maintenance or make minor repairs to mechanical, electrical, or electronic equipment in biomass plants.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Biomass Plant Technicians Manage parts and supply inventories for biomass plants. They might also Calculate, measure, load, or mix biomass feedstock for power generation.

In addition, they Preprocess feedstock to prepare for biochemical or thermochemical production processes.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Assess quality of biomass feedstock.

To some Biomass Plant Technicians, it is also their responsibility to Operate biomass fuel-burning boiler or biomass fuel gasification system equipment in accordance with specifications or instructions.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Biomass Plant Technician, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/green/biofuels/biofuels.pdf