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- Operate and maintain the machinery that runs power stations
- Requires good practical skills, understanding of the science of power generation and good problem solving skills
- Progress into management roles or with further study and training move into engineering
As an electricity generation worker you could work in a variety of types of power generation including coal and gas, nuclear, hydro-electricity, wind, solar, or biomass (burning timber and waste).
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Operating machinery in a power plant or running it remotely from a control room
- Finding and fixing faults
- Handling materials used to generate electricity
- Testing equipment
- Reacting to emergencies, for example shutting down a system
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You may work shifts including nights and weekends or be on standby for emergencies. You could be in a clean control room or a dusty repair workshop and you may wear protective clothing.
You'll need
This role would be ideal for someone with good practical skills to find and fix faults, the ability to read technical drawings and technical manuals, physics and maths to understand electricity generation, and the ability to think and act quickly in an emergency.
You could take a college course, which would teach you some of the skills needed to apply for a trainee job. Relevant courses include Level 2 Certificate in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering and Level 3 Diploma in Maintenance Engineering Technology.
You could also get into this job through an electrical networks power engineer higher apprenticeship.
Some power generation companies run their own training programmes for people who have the potential to become successful trainees.
You could apply directly for vacancies if you've got experience in mechanical or electrical maintenance in another industry, or from the armed forces.
You'll need to follow strict safety procedures and environmental good practice.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience, you could become a supervisor, control and instrumentation engineer or operations or maintenance technician. You could also take a foundation degree, HND or degree in power engineering and become an electrical or mechanical engineer.