Details Report for:
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.
This title represents an occupation for which data collection is currently underway.
Tasks | Tools & Technology | Education | Wages & Employment | Additional Information
Tasks Save Table (XLS/CSV)
- Conduct field inspections of biomass plants, stations, or substations to ensure normal and safe operating conditions.
- Monitor the operating status of biomass plants by observing control system parameters, distributed control systems, switchboard gauges, dials, or other indicators.
- Supervise biomass plant or substation operations, maintenance, repair, or testing activities.
- Evaluate power production or demand trends to identify opportunities for improved operations.
- Inspect biomass gasification processes, equipment, and facilities for ways to maximize capacity and minimize operating costs.
- Operate controls to start, stop, or regulate biomass-fueled generators, generator units, boilers, engines, or auxiliary systems.
- Plan and schedule plant activities such as wood, waste, or refuse fuel deliveries, ash removal, and regular maintenance.
- Prepare and manage biomass plant budgets.
- Prepare reports on biomass plant operations, status, maintenance, and other information.
- Review biomass operations performance specifications to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Review logs, datasheets, or reports to ensure adequate production levels and safe production environments or to identify abnormalities with power production equipment or processes.
- Shut down and restart biomass power plants or equipment in emergency situations or for equipment maintenance, repairs, or replacements.
- Supervise operations or maintenance employees in the production of power from biomass such as wood, coal, paper sludge, or other waste or refuse.
- Adjust equipment controls to generate specified amounts of electrical power.
- Compile and record operational data on forms or in log books.
- Manage parts and supply inventories for biomass plants.
- Monitor and operate communications systems, such as mobile radios.
- Test, maintain, or repair electrical power distribution machinery or equipment, using hand tools, power tools, and testing devices.
Tools & Technology Save Table (XLS/CSV)
Tools used in this occupation:
| Batching plants or feeders — Wood feed systems |
| Desktop computers |
| Evaporative coolers — Cooling towers |
| Fire tube boilers — Biomass boilers; Bubbling fluidized bed boilers; Circulating fluidized bed boilers |
| Notebook computers — Laptop computers |
| Personal computers |
| Steam engines — Steam turbines |
| Steam generators — Heat recovery steam generators |
| Water samplers |
| Water tube boiler — Steam boilers |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Calendar and scheduling software — Employee scheduling software |
| Computer aided design CAD software |
| Electronic mail software — Microsoft Outlook |
| Facilities management software — Computerized maintenance management system CMMS software |
| Industrial control software — Distributed control systems DCS software |
| Inventory management software — Inventory control software |
| Office suite software — Microsoft Office software |
| Presentation software — Microsoft PowerPoint |
| Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel |
| Word processing software — Microsoft Word |
Education
This occupation may require a background in the following science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) educational disciplines:
Wages & Employment Trends
National
Median wages data collected from Industrial Production Managers.
Employment data collected from Industrial Production Managers.
Industry data collected from Industrial Production Managers.
| Median wages (2010) | $41.91 hourly, $87,160 annual |
| Employment (2008) | 156,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2008-2018) | 
Decline slowly or moderately (-3% to -9%)
|
| Projected job openings (2008-2018) | 54,700 |
| Top industries (2008) | Manufacturing (80% employed in this sector)
|
State & National
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2010 wage data
and 2008-2018 employment projections
.
"Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2008-2018). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.
Sources of Additional Information
Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.
- Industrial production managers
. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition.