Science & ResearchISCO 2149

Geothermal engineer

A geothermal engineer is a person who researches, designs, plans and operates the processes and the equipment that turn heat energy into electricity or into heating and cooling, using the natural sources of heat below ground to generate power and to cool industrial, commercial and residential buildings in summer and heat them in winter.

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Check yourself in a minute: geothermal engineer

Rate 5 of the 32 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

ensure compliance with environmental legislation

perform laboratory tests

apply statistical analysis techniques

perform a feasibility study on heat pumps

advise on building matters

About geothermal engineer

The resource decides the project. Whether a site has usable heat at a reachable depth, at what temperature and with what flow is established before anything is designed, which is why the engineer conducts geothermal energy feasibility studies and heat pump feasibility studies and operates scientific measuring instruments to establish what is actually there.

Design follows. The engineer designs geothermal energy systems and designs the thermal equipment, and works from a knowledge of geothermal power plant operations and of electric current.

Two obligations are permanent. The engineer develops strategies for generating energy more efficiently, and works to environmental law and analyses the environmental consequences. A geothermal scheme reaches into the ground water and the subsurface pressure regime, so its effect on the surroundings has to be considered at the design stage.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (32)

energy transformationenergy transformationThe processes undergone by energy when changing its form from one state into the other.geothermal power plant operationsgeothermal power plant operationsThe different steps in the production of electricity from geothermal energy and the function of all the components of the required equipment such as pumps, compressors, heat exchangers and turbines.CAM softwareCAM softwareDifferent tools for computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) to control machinery and machine tools in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation as part of the manufacturing processes of workpie...geographic information systemsgeographic information systemsThe tools involved in geographical mapping and positioning, such as GPS (global positioning systems), GIS (geographical information systems), and RS (remote sensing).geothermal energy systemsgeothermal energy systemsLow temperature heating and high temperature cooling, generated by use of geothermal energy, and their contribution to energy performance.electric currentelectric currentFlow of electric charge, carried by electrons or ions in a medium such as an electrolyte or a plasma.technical drawingstechnical drawingsDrawing software and the various symbols, perspectives, units of measurement, notation systems, visual styles and page layouts used in technical drawings.electrical power safety regulationselectrical power safety regulationsThe compliance with safety measures which need to be taken during the installation, operation, and maintenance of constructions and equipment which function in the generation, transmission, and distri...environmental legislationenvironmental legislationThe environmental policies and legislation applicable in a certain domain.energy efficiencyenergy efficiencyField of information concerning the reduction of the use of energy. It encompasses calculating the consumption of energy, providing certificates and support measures, saving energy by reducing the dem...thermodynamicsthermodynamicsThe branch of physics that deals with the relationships between heat and other forms of energy.geologygeologySolid earth, rock types, structures and the processes by which they are altered.CAD softwareCAD softwareThe computer-aided design (CAD) software for creating, modifying, analysing or optimising a design.geothermal power generation methodsgeothermal power generation methodsDifferent ways to extract the thermal energy stored in the earth in order to produce electricity by extracting steam to activate turbines, by extracting hot water and converting it into steam, or by u...electricityelectricityThe principles of electricity and electrical power circuits, as well as the associated risks.electric generatorselectric generatorsThe principles and operations of devices that can convert mechanical energy into electrical energy, such as dynamos and alternators, rotors, stators, armatures, and fields.renewable energyrenewable energyThe different types of energy sources which cannot be depleted, such as wind, solar, water, biomass, and biofuel energy. The different technologies used to implement these types of energy to an increa...ensure compliance with environmental legislationensure compliance with environmental legislationMonitor activities and perform tasks ensuring compliance with standards involving environmental protection and sustainability, and amend activities in the case of changes in environmental legislation....perform laboratory testsperform laboratory testsCarry out tests in a laboratory to produce reliable and precise data to support scientific research and product testing.apply statistical analysis techniquesapply statistical analysis techniquesUse models (descriptive or inferential statistics) and techniques (data mining or machine learning) for statistical analysis and ICT tools to analyse data, uncover correlations and forecast trends.perform a feasibility study on heat pumpsperform a feasibility study on heat pumpsPerform the evaluation and assessment of the potential of a heat pump system. Realise a standardised study to determine costs and restrictions, and conduct research to support the process of decision ...advise on building mattersadvise on building mattersProvide advice on building matters to the various parties involved in construction projects. Bring to their awareness important building considerations and consult on construction budgets.design heat pump installationsdesign heat pump installationsDesign a heat pump system, including calculations of heat loss or transmission, needed capacity, mono- or bivalent, energy balances, and noise reduction.adjust engineering designsadjust engineering designsAdjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.perform feasibility study on geothermal energyperform feasibility study on geothermal energyPerform the evaluation and assessment of the potential of a geothermal energy system. Realise a standardised study to determine the costs, restrictions, and available components and conduct research t...operate scientific measuring equipmentoperate scientific measuring equipmentOperate devices, machinery, and equipment designed for scientific measurement. Scientific equipment consists of specialised measuring instruments refined to facilitate the acquisition of data.apply health and safety standardsapply health and safety standardsAdhere to standards of hygiene and safety established by respective authorities.assess environmental impactassess environmental impactMonitor environmental impacts and carry out assessments in order to identify and to reduce the organisation's environmental risks while taking costs into account.design thermal equipmentdesign thermal equipmentConceptually design equipment for healing and cooling using heat transfer principles such as conduction, convection, radiation and combustion. The temperature for these devices should stay stable and ...design thermal requirementsdesign thermal requirementsEngineer level design requirements for thermal products such as telecom systems. Improve and optimize these designs by using thermal solutions or experimentation and validation techniques.approve engineering designapprove engineering designGive consent to the finished engineering design to go over to the actual manufacturing and assembly of the product.design geothermal energy systemsdesign geothermal energy systemsDesign in detail a geothermal energy system. Determine construction site boundaries e.g., needed space, area, depth. Make detailed descriptions and drawings of the design.

Optional (15) — show

oversee construction projectoversee construction projectMake sure that the construction project is carried out in compliance with the building permit, the execution plans, the performance and design specifications, and the relevant regulations.assess heating and cooling systemsassess heating and cooling systemsSelect heating and cooling systems, specifically in relation with the buildings' architectural design and building functions. Discuss the relation between architectural design and selection of heating...perform a feasibility study on electric heatingperform a feasibility study on electric heatingPerform the evaluation and assessment of the potential of electric heating. Realise a standardised study to determine whether the application of electric heating is appropriate under the given conditi...inspect facility sitesinspect facility sitesInspect the land of a possible construction site for distribution facilities by measuring and interpreting various data and calculations by using the appropriate equipment. Check if the field work is ...define energy profilesdefine energy profilesDefine the energy profile of buildings. This includes identifying the energy demand and supply of the building, and its storage capacity.design district heating and cooling energy systemsdesign district heating and cooling energy systemsDesign a district heating and cooling system, including calculations of heat loss and cooling load, determining of capacity, flow, temperatures, hydraulic concepts etc.design an electric heating systemdesign an electric heating systemDesign the details of electric heating systems. Calculate the needed capacity for space heating under given conditions complying with available electrical power supply.use testing equipmentuse testing equipmentUse equipment to test performance and operation of machinery.develop strategies for electricity contingenciesdevelop strategies for electricity contingenciesDevelop and implement strategies which ensure that swift and efficient actions can be taken in the event of a disruption in the generation, transmission, or distribution of electrical energy, such as ...perform a feasibility study on combined heat and powerperform a feasibility study on combined heat and powerPerform the evaluation and assessment of the potential of combined heat and power (CHP). Realise a standardised study to determine technical demands, regulation and costs. Estimate the needed electric...coordinate electricity generationcoordinate electricity generationCommunicate the current demand of electricity generation to electricity generation workers and facilities in order to ensure that the generation of electrical power can be increased or decreased accor...design heating and cooling emission systemsdesign heating and cooling emission systemsInvestigate and select the appropriate system according to the heating and cooling generation system. Design and evaluate solutions for different types of rooms and spaces regarding square metres, hei...design a combined heat and power systemdesign a combined heat and power systemEstimate the heating and cooling demands of the building, determine the demands of domestic hot water. Make a hydraulic scheme to fit in the CHP unit with a guaranteed return temperature and acceptabl...perform smart grid feasibility studyperform smart grid feasibility studyPerform the evaluation and assessment of the potential of a smart grid within the project. Realise a standardised study to determine the energy saving contribution, costs and restrictions, and conduct...perform energy simulationsperform energy simulationsReplicate the building's energy performance by running computer based, mathematical models.

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

hydropower engineer10 shared essential skills hydropower technician10 shared essential skills alternative fuels engineer9 shared essential skills geothermal power plant operator9 shared essential skills geothermal technician9 shared essential skills electric power generation engineer8 shared essential skills energy engineer8 shared essential skills geological engineer8 shared essential skills

Frequently asked questions

What does a geothermal engineer do?

Geothermal engineers research, design, plan and operate processes and equipment that convert thermal energy into electricity or heating and cooling. They use natural heat sources from underground to generate power, to cool in the summer and heat in the winter industrial, commercial and residential buildings. Geothermal engineers develop strategies for more efficient energy production and analyse environmental consequences.

What skills does a geothermal engineer need?

A geothermal engineer needs 32 essential skills, including energy transformation, geothermal power plant operations, CAM software, geographic information systems, geothermal energy systems.

Will AI replace geothermal engineer jobs?

The AI disruption score for geothermal engineer is 78/100 (very high risk). Skills most exposed to automation: environmental legislation, energy efficiency, apply statistical analysis techniques. Most resilient: electricity, electric generators, geothermal power generation methods.

AI Replacement Risk

78/ 100

Very High Risk

Low riskHigh risk

Skills most at risk from AI

environmental legislation energy efficiency apply statistical analysis techniques

Skills resilient to automation

electricity electric generators geothermal power generation methods

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Quick Facts

SectorScience & Research

ISCO GroupScience and engineering professionals

Essential Skills32

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