Career Details
Career Details
Back to top

Career Details

49-9099.01 - Geothermal Technicians


Perform technical activities at power plants or individual installations necessary for the generation of power from geothermal energy sources. Monitor and control operating activities at geothermal power generation facilities and perform maintenance and repairs as necessary. Install, test, and maintain residential and commercial geothermal heat pumps.


Key Facts
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Bright Outlook
1
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
163,500
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
170,600
Estimate
Change in Employment
+7,100
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+4.3%
Estimate
Tasks
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Identify and correct malfunctions of geothermal plant equipment, electrical systems, instrumentation, or controls.
  • Monitor and adjust operations of geothermal power plant equipment or systems.
  • Identify equipment options, such as compressors, and make appropriate selections.
  • Perform pre- and post-installation pressure, flow, and related tests of vertical and horizontal geothermal loop piping.
  • Collect and record data associated with operating geothermal power plants or well fields.
  • Determine whether emergency or auxiliary systems will be needed to keep properties heated or cooled in extreme weather conditions.
  • Prepare and maintain logs, reports, or other documentation of work performed.
Supplemental
  • Install, maintain, or repair ground or water source-coupled heat pumps to heat and cool residential or commercial building air or water.
  • Adjust power production systems to meet load and distribution demands.
  • Backfill piping trenches to protect pipes from damage.
  • Calculate heat loss and heat gain factors for residential properties to determine heating and cooling required by installed geothermal systems.
  • Design and lay out geothermal heat systems according to property characteristics, heating and cooling requirements, piping and equipment requirements, applicable regulations, or other factors.
  • Determine the type of geothermal loop system most suitable to a specific property and its heating and cooling needs.
  • Dig trenches for system piping to appropriate depths and lay piping in trenches.
  • Prepare newly installed geothermal heat systems for operation by flushing, purging, or other actions.
  • Install and maintain geothermal system instrumentation or controls.
  • Maintain electrical switchgear, process controls, transmitters, gauges, and control equipment in accordance with geothermal plant procedures.
  • Maintain, calibrate, or repair plant instrumentation, control, and electronic devices in geothermal plants.
  • Apply coatings or operate systems to mitigate corrosion of geothermal plant equipment or structures.
  • Install and maintain geothermal plant electrical protection equipment.
  • Integrate hot water heater systems with geothermal heat exchange systems.
  • Operate equipment, such as excavators, backhoes, rock hammers, trench compactors, pavement saws, grout mixers or pumps, geothermal loop reels, and coil tubing units (CTU).
  • Test water sources for factors, such as flow volume and contaminant presence.
  • Weld piping, such as high density polyethylene (HDPE) piping, using techniques such as butt, socket, side-wall, and electro-fusion welding.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
Expand or Shrink Accordion
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
  • 88%
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
 English Language
  • 76%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Physics
  • 74%
    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.
 Education and Training
  • 73%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 69%
    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.
 Chemistry
  • 66%
    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.
 Telecommunications
  • 66%
    Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
 Design
  • 66%
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
 Mathematics
  • 66%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Production and Processing
  • 64%
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
 Administration and Management
  • 64%
    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.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 63%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Clerical
  • 61%
    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.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 61%
    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.
 Building and Construction
  • 54%
    Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
 Law and Government
  • 53%
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Wrenches and drivers
  • Adjustable hand wrenches
  • Adjustable pipe wrenches
  • Phillips head screwdrivers
  • Ratchet sets
  • Socket wrench sets
  • Straight screwdrivers
  • Valve wrenches
 Sampling equipment
  • Air monitoring equipment
 Pneumatic tools
  • Air wrenches
 Holding and clamping tools
  • Alignment clamps
  • Channel lock pliers
 Welding machinery
  • Butt fusion machines
  • Portable welding equipment
 Forming tools
  • Claw hammers
 Coiled tubing equipment
  • Coil tubing units
 Cutting and crimping and punching tools
  • Deburring tools
  • Wire cutters
  • Wire strippers
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
 Pumps
  • Grout pumps
 Power tools
  • Pavement saws
 Prying and bending tools
  • Pipe squeeze off tools
 Integrated circuits
  • Programmable logic controllers PLC
 Respiratory protection
  • Protective respirators
 Safety apparel
  • Safety gloves
 Earth moving machinery
  • Tracked excavators
  • Trench compacters
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Industry specific software
  • Autodesk AutoCADHOT
  • ClimateMaster GeoDesigner
  • Distributed control system DCS
  • Geothermal Properties Measurement Tool
  • Thermal Dynamics Ground Loop Design GLD
  • WaterFurnace International Ground Loop Design PREMIER
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Certifications
FastForward at Virginia's Community Colleges is a short-term training program for high-demand industries, like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades and infrastructure, helping Virginians get the jobs and salaries they need. Our goal is to get you trained, help you earn your certification, and get you into a career that can support you and your family. Explore the latest training program offerings by visiting FastForward
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Advanced
 Core
  • Fenestration Installation Technician
    8501 East Pleasant Valley Road Independence, OH, 44131-55161-877-235-9791

All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
Expand or Shrink Accordion
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
Expand or Shrink Accordion
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
Tidewater Community College