Engineering ServicesISCO 3131
Power production plant operator
A power production plant operator is a person who keeps the machinery and equipment of power stations and other generating plants running, and who operates it either directly or from a control room.
Check yourself in a minute: power production plant operator
Rate 5 of the 17 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.
resolve equipment malfunctions
maintain electrical equipment
oversee power equipment operation
use remote control equipment
wear appropriate protective gear
About power production plant operator
The operator carries out routine machine checks, watches the readings, and uses remotely controlled equipment to adjust a plant whose parts are spread across a site. Faults are cleared as they arise, and the materials used in electricity generation are handled in line with the safety and environmental procedures that apply to them.
The operator needs a sound knowledge of the plant, of electric current, generators, mechanics and automation technology, in order to know what a correct reading should be.
The operator also facilitates the interoperation of power installations and ensures safe distribution, because a plant's output has to match what the grid is taking at any moment. The operator follows electrical safety regulations and maintains the electrical equipment. The job calls for the ability to interpret readings. Certification is set by national energy and technical inspection rules.
European Skills Framework
Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.
Essential (17)
electric currentelectric currentFlow of electric charge, carried by electrons or ions in a medium such as an electrolyte or a plasma.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...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.mechanicsmechanicsTheoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.automation technologyautomation technologySet of technologies that make a process, system, or apparatus operate automatically through the use of control systems.resolve equipment malfunctionsresolve equipment malfunctionsIdentify, report and repair equipment damage and malfunctions. Communicate with field representatives and manufacturers to obtain repair and replacement components.maintain electrical equipmentmaintain electrical equipmentTest electrical equipment for malfunctions. Take safety measures, company guidelines, and legislation concerning electrical equipment into account. Clean, repair and replace parts and connections as r...oversee power equipment operationoversee power equipment operationOversee the operation of power equipment. Verify that the equipment is in safe, operating condition.use remote control equipmentuse remote control equipmentUse a remote control to operate equipment. Watch the equipment closely while operating, and use any sensors or cameras to guide your actions.wear appropriate protective gearwear appropriate protective gearWear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.respond to electrical power contingenciesrespond to electrical power contingenciesSet in motion the strategies created for responding to emergency situations, as well as respond to unforeseen problems, in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electrical power, such as p...conduct routine machinery checksconduct routine machinery checksCheck machinery and equipment to ensure reliable performance during use and operations in worksites.maintain power plant machinerymaintain power plant machineryMaintain and repair power plant machinery and equipment to prevent operational problems and ensure all machines perform sufficiently.monitor automated machinesmonitor automated machinesContinuously check up on the automated machine's set-up and execution or make regular control rounds. If necessary, record and interpret data on the operating conditions of installations and equipment...ensure equipment maintenanceensure equipment maintenanceEnsure that the equipment required for operations is regularly checked for faults, that routine maintenance tasks are performed, and that repairs are scheduled and performed in the case of damage or f...monitor electric generatorsmonitor electric generatorsMonitor the operation of electric generators in power stations in order to ensure functionality and safety, and to identify need for repairs and maintenance.
Optional (46) — show
battery fluidsbattery fluidsThe characteristics and properties of battery fluids.electricity consumptionelectricity consumptionThe different factors which are involved in the calculation and estimation of electricity consumption in a residence or facility, and methods in which electricity consumption can be lowered or made mo...chemical productschemical productsThe offered chemical products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.hydroelectricityhydroelectricityThe generation of electrical power through the usage of hydropower, which uses gravitational force of moving water, and the benefits and negative aspects of using hydropower as a renewable source of e...types of wind turbinestypes of wind turbinesThe two main types of wind turbines, namely those which rotate along a horizontal or those which rotate along a vertical axis, and their subtypes. The properties and uses of each.hydraulicshydraulicsThe power transmission systems that use the force of flowing liquids to transmit power.sensorssensorsSensors are transducers that can detect or sense characteristics in their environment. They detect changes in the apparatus or environment and provide a corresponding optical or electrical signal. Sen...smart grids systemssmart grids systemsSmart grids are a digital electricity network. The system involves the electronic digital control of production, distribution and use of electricity, information management of the components and energ...fuel gasfuel gasThe various qualities, hazards and applications of gaseous fuels, such as oxy-acetylene, oxy-gasoline, oxy-hydrogen and others.nuclear energynuclear energyThe generation of electrical energy through the use of nuclear reactors, by converting the energy released from nuclei of atoms in reactors which generate heat. This heat subsequently generates steam ...battery chemistrybattery chemistryThe different battery types according to the representative chemical components used in the anode or the cathode such as zinc-carbon, nickel-metal hydride, lead-acid, or lithium-ion.battery componentsbattery componentsThe physical components, such as wiring, electronics and voltaic cells that can be found in batteries. The components vary according to size and type of battery.offshore constructions and facilitiesoffshore constructions and facilitiesStructures and facilities installed in a marine environment, usually for the production and transmission of electricity, oil, gas and other resources.offshore renewable energy technologiesoffshore renewable energy technologiesThe different technologies used to implement the marine renewable energy to an increasing degree, such as wind, wave and tidal turbines, floating photovoltaics, hydrocratic generators and ocean therma...statistical analysis system softwarestatistical analysis system softwareSpecific software system (SAS) used for advanced analytics, business intelligence, data management, and predictive analytics.biomass conversionbiomass conversionConversion process whereby biological material becomes heat through combustion or biofuel through chemical, thermal, and biochemical methods.maritime meteorologymaritime meteorologyThe scientific field of study that interprets meteorological information and applies it to ensure the safety of marine traffic.fossil fuelsfossil fuelsThe types of fuels which contain high doses of carbon and include gas, coal, and petroleum, and the processes by which they are formed, such as the anaerobic decomposition of organisms, as well as the...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...cooperate with colleaguescooperate with colleaguesCooperate with colleagues in order to ensure that operations run effectively.operate automated process controloperate automated process controlOperate process control or automation system (PAS) used to control a production process automatically.gather datagather dataExtract exportable data from multiple sources.maintain records of maintenance interventionsmaintain records of maintenance interventionsKeep written records of all repairs and maintenance interventions undertaken, including information on the parts and materials used, etc.ensure safety in electrical power operationsensure safety in electrical power operationsMonitor and control operations on an electrical power transmission and distribution system in order to ensure that major risks are controlled and prevented, such as electrocution risks, damage to prop...inspect wind turbinesinspect wind turbinesPerform routine inspections on wind turbines by climbing the turbines and carefully inspecting all parts to identify any problems, and to assess whether repairs have to be arranged.arrange equipment repairsarrange equipment repairsArrange for equipment repairs when necessary.maintain sensor equipmentmaintain sensor equipmentDiagnose and detect malfunctions in sensor components, systems, and products using sensors and remove, replace, or repair these components when necessary. Execute preventative equipment maintenance ta...operate boileroperate boilerOperate sealed vessels which contain fluids which are heated or vaporised, not always up to boiling, for heating or power generation, such as in utilities. Ensure safe procedures by monitoring the blo...ensure compliance with electricity distribution scheduleensure compliance with electricity distribution scheduleMonitor the operations of an electrical energy distribution facility and electricity distribution systems in order to ensure that the distribution goals are met, and the electricity supply demands are...install hydraulic systemsinstall hydraulic systemsInstall systems and components that use liquid fluid power to create mechanical movements such as hydraulic pumps, valves, hydraulic motors, hydraulic cylinders and other elements that power hydraulic...operate steam turbineoperate steam turbineOperate equipment which uses thermal energy, extracted from pressurised steam, to generate rotary motion. Ensure that the turbine is balanced, and operates according to safety regulations and legislat...repair battery componentsrepair battery componentsRepair battery components through replacing cells, repairing wiring, or spot-welding cells.operate battery test equipmentoperate battery test equipmentOperate equipment used for battery testing, such as a soldering iron, a battery tester, or a multimeter. Detect flaws affecting the battery's performance, test the battery's capacity for accumulating ...use communication techniquesuse communication techniquesApply techniques of communication which allow interlocutors to better understand each other and communicate accurately in the transmission of messages.maintain hydraulic systemsmaintain hydraulic systemsPerform routine maintenance and repairs on systems which use pressurised fluids to provide power to machines and equipment.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 ...survive at sea in the event of ship abandonmentsurvive at sea in the event of ship abandonmentIdentify muster signals and what emergencies they signal. Comply with established procedures. Don and use a lifejacket or an immersion suit. Safely jump into the water from a height. Swim and right an...manage datamanage dataAdminister all types of data resources through their lifecycle by performing data profiling, parsing, standardisation, identity resolution, cleansing, enhancement and auditing. Ensure the data is fit ...operate hydraulic pumpsoperate hydraulic pumpsOperate hydraulic pumping systems.address problems criticallyaddress problems criticallyIdentify the strengths and weaknesses of various abstract, rational concepts, such as issues, opinions, and approaches related to a specific problematic situation in order to formulate solutions and a...operate hydraulic machinery controlsoperate hydraulic machinery controlsUse correctly the controls of specialized machinery by turning valves, handwheels, or rheostats to move and control flow of fuels, water, and dry or liquid binders to machines.perform minor repairs to equipmentperform minor repairs to equipmentConduct routine maintenance on equipment. Recognise and identify minor defects in equipment and make repairs if appropriate.liaise with engineersliaise with engineersCollaborate with engineers to ensure common understanding and discuss product design, development and improvement.operate hydrogen extraction equipmentoperate hydrogen extraction equipmentOperate the equipment used in hydrogen extraction and processing.control temperaturecontrol temperatureMeasure and adjust temperature of a given space or object.prevent marine pollutionprevent marine pollutionConduct inspections and take measures in order to prevent or mitigate marine pollution. Adhere to international codes and resolutions.
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Frequently asked questions
What does a power production plant operator do?
Power production plant operators maintain and operate the equipment in power stations and other energy production plants. They repair faults, operate machinery directly or from a control room, and handle materials related to electricity production in compliance with safety and environmental procedures. They facilitate interaction between electrical energy facilities, ensuring that distribution occurs safely.
What skills does a power production plant operator need?
A power production plant operator needs 17 essential skills, including electric current, electrical power safety regulations, electricity, electric generators, mechanics.
Will AI replace power production plant operator jobs?
The AI disruption score for power production plant operator is 28/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: electricity consumption, sensors, battery components. Most resilient: electricity, survive at sea in the event of ship abandonment, electric generators.
AI Replacement Risk
28/ 100
Low Risk
Low riskHigh risk
Quick Facts
SectorEngineering Services
ISCO GroupScience and engineering associate professionals
Essential Skills17
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