Summary 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
- 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.
Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Evaporative coolers — Cooling towers |
| Fire tube boilers — Biomass boilers; Bubbling fluidized bed boilers; Circulating fluidized bed boilers |
| Notebook computers — Laptop computers |
| Steam engines — Steam turbines |
| Water tube boiler — Steam boilers |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Electronic mail software — Microsoft Outlook |
| Facilities management software — Computerized maintenance management system CMMS software |
| Office suite software — Microsoft Office software |
| 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) |
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.