1 Concepts of Engineering and Technology Green Energy Careers (Biomass, Geothermal, Hydropower, Petroleum, Solar, Wind) Copyright © Texas Education Agency,

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Concepts of Engineering and Technology

Green Energy Careers(Biomass, Geothermal, Hydropower,

Petroleum, Solar, Wind)

Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2012. All rights reserved.

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Technical Communication

130.362.9 The student understands the opportunities and careers in fields related to physical and mechanical systems.

Engineers must possess strong technical communication skills. To interview for an engineering career, the engineer must first research the career opportunities available in engineering.

Green Energy is a growing field in the engineering industry.


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Technical Terms & Definitions

The terms and definitions listed below are discussed in this lesson. Please review before proceeding with this lesson.

Is the capability of a physical system to perform work. It exists in several forms such as heat, kinetic or mechanical energy, light, potential energy, electrical or other forms.

Energy

An occupation or profession, especially one requiring special training, followed as one's lifework: He sought a career as an engineer.

Career

DefinitionsTerms


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Is a renewable energy source. Is heat from within the Earth. The word geothermal comes from the Greek words geo (earth) and therme (heat).

Geothermal Energy

Is a renewable energy source. It is organic material made from plants and animals; contains stored energy from the sun.

Biomass Energy

DefinitionsTerms


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Is a renewable energy source. Produces the most electricity in the United States. Accounts for 6% of total U.S. electricity generation and 67% of generation from renewables in 2008.

Hydropower Energy

DefinitionsTerms


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Is a non-renewable energy source. It is gasoline, diesel fuel, and propane. Most gasoline is made from crude oil, formed from remains of plants and animals (diatoms) that lived hundreds of millions of years ago. Diesel fuel is used in diesel engines found in most freight trucks, trains, buses, boats, and farm and construction vehicles. Propane is an energy-rich gas that is found mixed with natural gas and oil.

Petroleum Energy

DefinitionsTerms


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Is a renewable energy source. Is the sun’s rays (solar radiation) that reach the Earth. May be converted into other forms of energy, such as heat and electricity.

Solar Energy

DefinitionsTerms


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Is a renewable energy. Is energy from the wind caused by moving air masses. The movement is caused by temperature and pressure differences in the atmosphere, which are tied to the non-uniform distribution of solar heat.

Wind Energy

DefinitionsTerms


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What is a Career?

A career is an occupation or profession, especially one requiring special training, followed as one's lifework: She sought a career as an engineer.

A career is one’s calling in life.

A career is one’s chosen pursuit.


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What are Green Energy Careers?

Few industries are guaranteed such fast global growth as Green Energy.

Green Energy Careers help preserve or enhance the environment. They help reduce the use of natural resources, such as oil and gas, while improving energy efficiency, and/or lowering pollution.

Individuals with traditional workforce skills may only need to acquire some additional knowledge about green practices or minimal training to become an active participant in the green economy.


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Green Energy Careers

In this lesson, we will explore Green Energy Careers which currently exist in the areas of:

1. Biomass Energy2. Geothermal Energy3. Hydropower Energy4. Petroleum Energy5. Solar Energy6. Wind Energy


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Biomass Energy


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Biomass Energy

Biomass is plant matter and animal waste that can be harvested to create bioenergy in the form of electricity, heat, steam and fuels.


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Biomass Energy

A career in bioenergy requires a variety of specialties and skills.

If bioenergy becomes more commercially profitable, the number of bioenergy-related jobs could increase.

More farmers and foresters will be necessary to produce and harvest biomass resources.


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Biomass Energy

Additional transportation resources to the power and fuel plants, and more operators to run facilities will also be in demand.

Biofuel, biopower, and bio-based product plants are most cost-effective when located near their source of biomass.


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Biomass Energy

The bioenergy industry development creates direct and indirect careers in rural areas of the country.

Agricultural Specialist - serve as expert and technical consultants in the inspection, intelligence, analysis, examination, and law enforcement activities related to the importation of agricultural/commercial commodities and conveyances at the various ports of entry.


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Biomass Energy

Bioenergy industry development creates direct and indirect careers in rural areas of the country.

Biochemist - a scientist who works in the field of how chemical processes occur in living things.

Chemist - a scientist who specializes in chemistry.


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Biomass Energy

Additional direct and indirect careers in rural areas of the country.

Engineer - build bioenergy plants.

Engineers (mechanical, electrical, and chemical) - run and maintain these plants.


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Biomass Energy


Farmers - a person who raises living organisms for food or raw materials.

Foresters - a person who practices forestry, or the science, art, and profession of managing forests.


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Biomass Energy


Machine Operators - run and maintain these plants.

Mechanics - run and maintain these plants.


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Biomass Energy Exercises

Complete the Did U Know? Bioenergy Turning Gas into Grass exercise.

http://bioenergycenter.org/students-and-kids/did-you-know/

Tune into BioTV for all the latest innovations and insights making news in the world of bioenergy.

http://bioenergycenter.org/biotv/


http://bioenergycenter.org/students-and-kids/did-you-know/

http://bioenergycenter.org/biotv/

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Geothermal Energy


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Geothermal Energy

Geothermal Energy is a form of renewable energy derived from heat deep in the earth’s crust.

Geothermal Energy is also used for electricity production.

Geothermal Power Generation is used today throughout the world where good geothermal resources exist, including many locations in the western United States.


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Geothermal Energy

The Geothermal Energy industry employs both skilled workers and those with professional degrees. Developing hot water reservoirs requires the following types of employees.

Geologist - scientist who gathers and interprets data pertaining to the rocks of the Earth's crust.


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Geothermal Energy


Geochemist - a chemist or geologist who specializes in geochemistry.

Geophysicist - geologist who uses physical principles to study the properties of the earth.


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Geothermal Energy

The Geothermal Energy industry employs both skilled workers and those with professional degrees. Developing hot water reservoirs requires the following types of employees:

Hydrologist - a geologist skilled in hydrology.

Hydrology - the branch of geology that studies water on the earth and in the atmosphere: its distribution and uses and conservation.


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Geothermal Energy


Reservoir engineer - responsible for what goes on thousands of feet below the surface of the Earth. Evaluate field performance by performing reservoir modeling studies and explore opportunities to maximize the value of both exploration and production properties to enhance hydrocarbon production.


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Geothermal Energy


Mud loggers - monitor natural gas entering the drilling mud stream, and draw well logs for use by oil company geologists. Rock cuttings circulated to the surface in drilling mud are sampled and analyzed.


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Geothermal Energy


Hydraulic engineer – an engineer that studies hydraulics. The branch of civil engineering dealing with the use and control of water in motion and with the design and construction of such public works as dams or bridges.


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Geothermal Energy


Driller - locate, assess, and access reservoirs.

Environmental scientist - prepare environmental impact studies, and permit and leasing specialists obtain the land rights.


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Geothermal Energy Exercise

Review the Geothermal Energy Geothermal Education Office presentation

http://geothermal.marin.org/GEOpresentation/sld097.htm




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Hydropower Energy


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Hydropower Energy

Hydropower Energy is a renewable energy source. Produces the most electricity in the United States. Accounts for 6% of total U.S. electricity generation and 67% of generation from renewables in 2008.


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Hydropower Energy

As with many of the other renewable energy technologies, the design, construction, and maintenance of Hydropower plants requires electrical and mechanical engineers.

The Hydropower industry also employs environmental scientists to assess the environmental effects of their operation.


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Hydropower Energy

Environmental scientists and engineers may participate in research and development (R&D) efforts through private companies, national laboratories, and universities.

Biologist - a scientist devoted to and producing results in biology through the study of life.

Ecologist - a biologist who studies the relation between organisms and their environment.


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Hydropower Energy


Hydrologist - a geologist skilled in hydrology. The science and study of underground water resources and the study and treatment of above-ground water, its systems and cycles. Hydrology pertains to the science of surface water and ground water.


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Hydropower Energy


Electrical Engineer - an engineer that designs the electrical and communications systems for a building.


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Hydropower Energy


Mechanical Engineer - a person trained to design and construct machines.


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Hydropower Energy

If the Hydropower project also involves managing the reservoir and the surrounding land, the developer will also hire:

Recreation planner - concerned with developing and protecting natural resources to assure recreational opportunities for the general public.


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Hydropower Energy

If the Hydropower project also involves managing the reservoir and the surrounding land, the developer will also hire:

Resource manager - identifies sources of funding, determining cost, acquiring funds, distributing and controlling funds, tracking costs and obligations, cost capturing and reimbursement procedures, and establishing a management control process.


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Hydropower Energy

Hydropower is a domestic source of renewable, reliable, and affordable electricity.

No other energy source offers so many advantages.

Review the advantages offered by Hydropower.

http://www.hydro.org/hydrofacts/docs/general_hydro.pdf


http://www.hydro.org/hydrofacts/docs/general_hydro.pdf

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Petroleum Energy Careers


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Petroleum Engineers will:

1. Discover oil and gas in the future.

2. Determine best drilling methods to find oil and gas deep in the earth.

3. Manage production when oil and gas are drained from underground.


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Petroleum Engineers work in teams to:

1. Use creative solutions to find oil and gas

2. Understand rock formations

3. Analyze oil and gas fields’ qualities

4. Monitor drilling and production

5. Design equipment, processes so maximum amount of oil and gas is recovered

6. Manage drilling of oil and gas wells

7. Ensure operation runs smoothly and safely


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Petroleum Engineers…

1. Are good communicators2. Enjoy creative problem solving3. Like working with people4. Excel at math and science5. Are analytical6. Adapt easily to change7. Thrive on challenges


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Petroleum Engineers work in a variety of settings:

High seas Remote jungles Vast deserts Mountain ranges In laboratories Offices Outdoor sites


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Petroleum Energy Careers Opportunities for Petroleum Engineers are great!

1. Hot job marketSevere worker shortage for the next 10 years and more

2. Excellent payHighest starting salary of any engineering degree

3. Graduates in demandScholarships available

4. Choice of work environmentVaried work situations, global locations, field or office

5. Fast track careerIndustry promotes from “within” to fill managerial positions


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To prepare for a Petroleum Engineers job:

Take college preparatory courses, including advanced math and science courses

Participate in engineering and technology student organizations

Take part in science fairs and math competitions

Read about petroleum engineers on Energy4me.org


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Solar Energy Careers


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Solar Energy transition projected to create around 350,000 new jobs by the end of 2010, the biggest problem has been finding workers to meet the increasing demand.

Those who do gather the information and experience they need to take advantage of the opportunities in this industry will be well-paid and highly regarded.

This solar energy revolution could be America’s best hope for the future of our labor force.


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Let’s take a look at some of the top jobs in the solar energy industry.

1. Urban Planner: Careers in this field are in huge demand. The skill set of urban planners who conduct contingency planning are badly needed in our pursuit to reduce our carbon footprint. Positions in Urban Planning are expected to rise by over 15% over the next 5+ years.


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2. Solar Operations Engineer: Engineers in this position are faced with the task of designing new solar systems, then supervising and inspecting the structures during construction, which makes them the architects of the entire facility operation. They are also involved in monitoring and testing the correlation between old and new solar energy facilities.


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3. Environmental Engineer: This position has some pretty big shoes to fill. The objective of these engineers is to prevent further deterioration of our planet by limiting soil erosion, global warming, acid rain and ozone depletion. The next 7 or so years should see employment opportunities in this field rise by as much as 25%.


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4. Solar Lab Technician: Companies are seeking technicians with design, production, installation and testing skills involved with solar energy technologies. With the increase of homes and commercial buildings investing in solar energy, so increases the need to find skilled professionals with the knowledge to get the job done.


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5. Solar Power Installer: This is a relatively high-paying position within the solar energy spectrum of jobs, and opportunities abound. If you have a background in construction, you may want to look into some of these positions to install solar-thermal water heaters and solar panels on rooftops.


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6. Wind Turbine Fabricator: Because wind is the leading source of alternate energy, these wind turbines are in higher demand than ever. And because they are garnering considerable financial support and tax rebates, wind farms are appearing everywhere. These jobs offer a great opportunity.


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7. Energy Efficiency Builder: Our existing buildings are one of the greatest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, making them energy “guzzlers”. If you’re a skilled engineer, architect or retrofitter, your skills are in high demand to not only convert existing structures but also new buildings that are energy efficient.


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8. Sustainability Systems Developer: In order to design, build and maintain the network required to support solar energy sources such as smart energy grids and wind farms, software developers and engineers are in high demand. This is a particularly golden opportunity for those with experience in web 2.0 applications and open source programming.


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9. Solar Hot Water Installer: With a surge in the number of homeowners and business owners purchasing solar heating systems, the demand for professionals in this area is escalating with it, in both residential and commercial buildings. As the technological advances in this area grow, so does the number of people required to fill these positions.


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Solar Energy Training Programs

Solar Training & Renewable Energy Education

Solar Energy International (SEI) has provided

hands-on and online training in renewable technologies.

http://www.solarenergy.org/


http://www.solarenergy.org/

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Wind Energy Careers


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Wind Energy Careers

The wind industry has grown at a rate of 30 - 45% each year. This explosive growth opens up more and more jobs every year.

The American Wind Energy Association (

awea.org), the U.S. wind industry already employs about 50,000 domestic workers.


http://www.awea.org/

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Wind Energy Careers

The American Wind Energy Association estimates that by the year 2030, the wind industry could support 500,000 jobs across a variety of fields including construction, manufacturing, engineering, marketing, consulting, environmental services, technicians, and more.


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Wind Energy Careers

The field of Wind Energy research require a mechanical, computer, or electrical engineering background.

Students who study technical skills, business, science, public policy, or even liberal arts can all find jobs in the wind industry.


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Wind Energy Careers

There is currently a very high demand for wind turbine technicians, design engineers, proposal writers, construction managers, large load transportation specialists, utility program managers, and much more.


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Wind Energy Training Programs

There are several schools offering degrees in wind energy technology or renewable energy science.

Review the schools offering degrees in wind energy technology or renewable energy science.

http://www.kidwind.org/lessons/windTraining.html


http://www.kidwind.org/lessons/windTraining.html

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Assignment 1: What is Inside a Career? Exercise

Research and create a presentation about a career that you are interested in pursuing.


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Assignment 2: What Do You Like? Exercise

Exploring Career Information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics -- 2010-11 by visiting the BLS Career Information website below.

http://www.bls.gov/k12/


http://www.bls.gov/k12/

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Quiz: Career Planner

CareerPath.comGet a snapshot of jobs that are a fit for you by

completing the career planning quiz.

http://www.careerpath.com/career-tests/


http://www.careerpath.com/career-tests/

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References

dictionary.com

http://www.dictionary.com

Bioenergy Center

http://bioenergycenter.org

Green Energy Jobshttp://www.greenenergyjobs.com/career-guide/

greenmap.orghttp://www.greenmap.org/greenhouse/home


http://www.dictionary.com/

http://bioenergycenter.org/

http://www.greenenergyjobs.com/career-guide/

http://www.greenmap.org/greenhouse/home

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References

Solar Cooler Planethttp://solar.coolerplanet.com/News/2010041301-the-top-9-solar-energy-jobs-this-year.aspx

Energy4Me.orghttp://www.energy4me.org/educators/Teacheractivities.htm

Khake.comhttp://www.khake.com/page49.html


http://solar.coolerplanet.com/News/2010041301-the-top-9-solar-energy-jobs-this-year.aspx

http://solar.coolerplanet.com/News/2010041301-the-top-9-solar-energy-jobs-this-year.aspx

http://www.energy4me.org/educators/Teacheractivities.htm

http://www.khake.com/page49.html

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References

U.S. Department of Energyhttp://www1.eere.energy.gov


http://www1.eere.energy.gov/

1 Concepts of Engineering and Technology Green Energy Careers (Biomass, Geothermal, Hydropower, Petroleum, Solar, Wind) Copyright © Texas Education Agency,

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