The direct use of geothermal energy can also be used to generate electricity. Geothermal heat comes from the heat within the earth. Water heated from geothermal energy is tapped from its underground reservoirs and used to heat buildings, grow crops, or melt snow. Most water and steam reservoirs are located in the western United States. However, dry rock drilling, a process that drills deeper into the earth’s magma, is an innovation that will eventually allow geothermal projects to be undertaken almost anywhere.
Geothermal energy resources are developed in the following phases: start-up, exploration, drilling, plant design and construction, and operation and maintenance. Geothermal production managers work in the operation and maintenance field, making sure that geothermal power plants are operating correctly, efficiently, and safely.
They manage and monitor the equipment in geothermal power plants, ensuring that operations, maintenance, and repairs are completed in accordance with industry standards and regulations. They may select the production systems for the power plants, such as corrosion control or mitigation systems. They regularly inspect equipment and workers to make sure all are operating properly. Geothermal production managers also develop operation plans and schedules, create and manage operations budgets, and review, record, and report operations data.
The job requires knowledge of machines and equipment, strong technology skills, and interpersonal abilities. Geothermal production managers use various software programs throughout the workday, including calendar and scheduling software to manage employees, database user interface and query software such as Microsoft Access, RIMBase, and e-mail, spreadsheet, and word processing software.
- Agricultural Scientists
- Arborists
- Astrogeologists
- Bioenergy/Biofuels Workers
- Biofuels Processing Technicians
- Biofuels Production Managers
- Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Biomass Plant Technicians
- Biomass Power Plant Managers
- Boilermakers and Mechanics
- Botanists
- Cartographers
- Chemical Engineers
- Chemical Technicians
- Chemists
- Civil Engineers
- Climate Scientists
- Coal Miners
- Divers and Diving Technicians
- Ecologists
- Electricians
- Energy Brokers
- Energy Conservation Technicians
- Energy Consultants
- Energy Efficiency Engineers
- Energy Transmission and Distribution Workers
- Engineers
- Environmental Engineers
- Environmental Lobbyists
- Environmental Planners
- Environmental Restoration Planners
- Environmental Scientists
- Environmental Technicians
- Forensic Meteorologists
- Fuel Cell Engineers
- Fuel Cell Technicians
- Fuel Cell Technology Workers
- Futurists
- Geodetic Surveyors
- Geographers
- Geographic Information Systems Specialists
- Geological Technicians
- Geologists
- Geophysicists
- Geospatial Analytics Specialists
- Geotechnical Engineers
- Geothermal Energy Industry Workers
- Geothermal Technicians
- Green Builders
- Green Transportation Careers
- Groundwater Professionals
- Horticultural Technicians
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
- Hydroelectric Production Managers
- Hydropower and Marine Energy Industry Workers
- Industrial Ecologists
- Industrial Engineering Technicians
- Landmen
- Line Installers and Cable Splicers
- Materials Engineers
- Meteorologists
- Meter Readers, Utilities
- Methane/Landfill Gas Collection System Operators
- Methane/Landfill Gas Generation System Technicians
- Mining Engineers
- Naturalists
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
- Nuclear Engineers
- Nuclear Reactor Operators and Technicians
- Oceanographers
- Paleontologists
- Petroleum Engineers
- Petroleum Technicians
- Plumbers and Pipefitters
- Power Plant Workers
- Radiation Protection Technicians
- Range Managers
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists
- Remote Sensing Technicians
- Renewable Energy Careers
- Renewable Energy Engineers
- Renewable Energy Site Assessors
- Rewilders
- Roustabouts
- Soil Conservationists and Technicians
- Soil Scientists
- Solar Energy Industry Workers
- Solar Energy Installation Managers
- Solar Energy Sales Representatives
- Solar Engineers
- Solar Thermal Installers and Technicians
- Space Meteorologist
- Surveying and Mapping Technicians
- Surveyors
- Telephone and PBX Installers and Repairers
- Traffic Engineers
- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators and Technicians
- Water/Wastewater Engineers
- Wind Energy Engineers
- Wind Energy Industry Workers
- Wind Energy Operations Managers
- Wind Energy Project Managers