Power Systems Engineering – A Career for the Future
As the demand for electrical power increases worldwide, does this translate into an increase in jobs in power systems engineering? Are the career opportunities going to grow along with the increase in demand for electricity?
The electrical power system, often called the “wires side” of the power industry is the network of equipment and cabling that facilitates the movement and delivery of electrical power from the generators to homes, commercial and industrial customers. It is comprised of a complex network of equipment, including transmission and distribution lines, power substations, transformers, power electronics, switching equipment and many other components. We generally refer to this system as the “power grid” or just “grid.”
Careers in Power Systems Engineering
Power systems careers can be divided into two very broad categories: technicians and engineers.
Technician Positions in Power Systems Engineering
Power systems technicians perform a host of duties. They install and maintain power lines and substations that make up the power grid. These technicians are responsible for the transmission and distribution systems that are the backbone and underlying support structure of the grid.
A technician’s work environment can range anywhere from working outdoors installing high voltage, medium voltage or low voltage transmission lines, power poles and structures and transformers and switching equipment to working in homes or businesses installing power systems that convert and distribute the electricity. Some technicians install, calibrate and test relay, protection, control and metering equipment while others work directly on the power lines erecting poles or “pulling cable” and installing new systems or reestablishing damaged power systems during emergency outage situations.
Typically this type of work requires specialized training involving certifications and an apprenticeship. This specialized training can often be acquired in community technical schools, utilities and through union training programs. Some technician jobs in power systems engineering may even require an associate’s degree depending on the job duties assigned to the position.
Engineer Positions in Power Systems Engineering
Power systems engineers work on the design and implementation of technologies used in the grid. They provide a host of services to the design and operation of the grid such as electric system planning, transmission line design, substation design, relay protection and control, transmission line construction, substation construction, system maintenance, metering, voltage control, fault calculation and relay coordination. They work at utilities, engineering firms, construction firms, original equipment manufacturers and maintenance/service companies. Some power system engineers design and manufacture the equipment used in the system such as transformers, switches, cabling, capacitor banks, battery banks, towers, power electronics and solid state systems while some engineers even design next generation green technologies for the smart grid.
Typically engineering positions within power systems engineering have a minimum requirement of a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering (BSEE), civil engineering (BSCE) or mechanical engineering (BSME). It is not uncommon to find the need for a Masters degree for many of the technical opportunities while a PHD level degree could be required for research positions within the industry.
Job Outlook for Careers in Power Systems Engineering
For both, engineers and technicians, the outlook is good. There are three contributing factors to this increased need for specialists in power systems:
With the introduction of smart grid and green technologies, power systems are undergoing a revolution that has not been seen before. The electrical power business needs the ability to both adapt these new technologies into a grid that handles power generation and handle increasing demand for those services.
Along with new technologies, the workforce is aging. The story of the “baby boomers” exiting the workforce applies to the power systems engineering field. Over the next 10 to 15 years there will be large numbers of retiring engineers and technicians leaving the workforce. This will increase the demand for these skill sets to replace these retiring specialists.
Lack of New Engineers
The field of power systems engineering is a specialized field that many electrical, mechanical and civil engineering students are choosing not to enter. This means the increased demand due to new technologies coupled with retiring engineers and technicians is leaving a developing employment gap needing to be filled.
Growth Means Experts Are Needed
While the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) currently has electrical engineers demand growing only at a rate of 4%, they are including the entire field of electrical engineering and not focusing on particular specialties. Professional organizations like the IEEE project a possible need of over 200,000 full time jobs across the entire industry. These industry experts also say these jobs could be held up by “outdated polices” the government uses to regulate the power industry.
The outlook for electricians, according to the BLS, is much better. They project a growth of 20% over the period from 2012 to 2022. They attribute this increase to the massive growth in housing and business. As recovery from the recession continues, growth will demand more experts to support that growth.
One part of the industry that is projecting only average growth is with line installers. The wiring that exists to support the grid is well maintained and grows at a slow rate. The BLS projects a slower than average growth, about 7%, for the 2012 to 2022 period.
The overall projection for power systems careers is positive. The loss of seasoned workers coupled with a lack of new graduates moving into these specialized positions means a high demand for workers.
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Sources & Related Articles
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014) “Electrical and Electronics Engineers”.
2. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014) “Electricians”.
3. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014) “Line Installers and Repairers”.
4. IEEE PES Career & Energy Society (2014).
5. Platt, J. (2014):Career Focus: Power Engineering”.
6. StudentScholarships.org (2014).
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