Graduate File - Key Sectors in Energy

Click the links below to get an idea of what each sector involves and an overview of what positions are available within each sector.

Oil & Gas
Nuclear
Wind
Biofuel / Biomass / EfW
Solar
Hyro – Tidal, Wave and Hyroelectric
Geothermal

OIL & GAS

Oil and gas are the world's most important energy sources, producing power and fuel for factories, homes, cars, ships, aircraft and railways, they are also used in manufacturing plastics and other synthetic materials.
With demand for oil and gas increasing, and greater care being taken of our natural resources,
There are many different career paths within the Oil & Gas Industry, with a variety of employment roles and opportunities available. The industry life cycle is as follows;

Exploration and production - This phase of oil and gas operations involves with the discovery and extraction of crude oil before it is separated, treated and measured prior to being transported to the refinery. Looking for new oil reserves involves geo-science, seismic surveying and data analysis before a decision is made whether or not to enter the production phase. Production incorporates more specialist jobs in areas such as drilling, piping, process, electrical, chemical, mechanical and reservoir engineering.

Refining – This phase uses physical separation and chemical conversion processes to create products and by-products. Job roles range from scientific specialists to general technical assistants including operators, maintenance staff and instrumentation & control system experts.

Marketing and Distribution - A variety of opportunities also exist in this area. From junior accounts assistant to marketing director, from oil depot manager to systems analyst, this is an area where sales, marketing and supply chain professionals can make their mark in the oil industry.

Research and Development - The search for new and better ways of finding and using oil is very important. Some of the most specialized jobs in the whole industry are to be found here. Scientists with degrees of postgraduate qualifications usually lead the work, although there are some opportunities for laboratory and technical assistants.

Commercial Services - The efficient running of all parts of the industry depends on staff specializing in areas such as personnel, finance, contracts, trading, purchase and supply, and information technology.

NUCLEAR

There are currently 436 nuclear power plants operating across 31 countries (2009), accounting for around 15% of the worlds electricity production with the US, France, and Japan together accounting for 56.5% of nuclear generated electricity.

Worldwide, there are 44 power plants in development and a global consensus for increased investment in nuclear power. Power stations in the UK have long outlived their 20-25 year life expectancy and need replacing. Of of the 16 power stations in Britain those operated by BNFL shall be closed down by 2010, and those operated by British Energy by 2023 - leaving one power plant running until 2035.

In a recent speech to the Unite conference, Secretary of State John Hutton called for not just “replacement new build” but for nuclear to take a far greater role in future energy production. He stated that Britain was in a position to lead a nuclear renaissance across Europe, which would create 100,000 jobs and boost the economy by more than £20 billion. Britain will decommission all nuclear power stations over the next 20 years and have plans to develop 20 new facilities.

There is a compelling argument for Nuclear Power to become the most viable and cost effective means of electricity production. A well-constructed power plant is extremely clean, where traditional coal-fired power plants can emit more radioactive waste into the atmosphere. Additionally, nuclear power stations produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions than fossil-fuelled power stations.

Engineering, commissioning and scientific jobs all exist within the Nuclear sector, including chemical/process, civil, structural, mechanical, piping, electrical and instrumentation, operations and maintenance.

WIND

Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into electricity via wind turbines both on and off shore.. Although wind produces only about 1.5% of worldwide electricity use, it is growing rapidly, having doubled in the three years between 2005 and 2008. The wind power industry employs around 200,000 people and has develped over 100,000 wind turbines across 70 countries. It is now a major energy source for several of these countries, in Denmark wind power accounts for approximately 19% of electricity production, 7% in Germany and the Republic of Ireland and 10% in Spain and Portugal (2008). In early 2009, for a brief period during high winds, Spain generated 40% of is electricity needs from wind turbines.

Wind energy is an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels as it is plentiful, renewable, widely distributed, clean and produces very low greenhouse gas emissions.

Renewable energy is growing faster than ever, and wind energy is at the forefront of this growth. There are opportunities within wind farm development, turbine design, manufacturing, installation and maintenance.
New wind projects require people with business, meteorological, and engineering experience to plan and build projects. The research and development (R&D) stage requires mechanical, electrical, and aeronautical engineers with advanced degrees, as well as experienced technicians.

HYDRO – Hydro Electric, Tidal, Wave

Hydropower incorporates energy production via the means of hydro-electric power, tidal power and wave power.

Hydro-electric power converts the energy in moving water to electricity through turbines connected to electrical generators. On a larger scale, hydro-electric power plants involve the construction of dams or weirs. Currently, this energy source produces 19% of the worlds electricity and large dams are still being designed to increase the industry’s status as an energy producer.

Tidal power uses the motion of the tide to convert energy into electricity. The water turns turbines as it is released through the Tidal Barrage or passes a Tidal Blade in either direction. Tidal power is a practically inexhaustible renewable energy source.

Wave power uses generators either coupled to floating devices or turned by air displaced by waves in a hollow concrete structure to produce electricity.

Unlike burning fossil fuels, hydropower produces no carbon dioxide or other harmful emissions and is not a significant contributor to global warming through CO2. It can also be far less expensive than electricity generated from fossil fuels or nuclear energy.

With the design, construction, and maintenance of hydropower plants there is a requirement for electrical and mechanical engineers, technicians, and skilled workers. Recreation planners, resource managers, and educators are also required when managing dammed reservoirs and surrounding land. The hydropower industry also employs environmental scientists such as hydrologists, biologists and ecologists. Environmental scientists, as well as engineers, play a major role through private companies, national laboratories, and universities.

SOLAR

Knowledge of the sun's ability to produce both heat and electricity has led to the invention of numerous technologies for capturing the sun's energy. The most commonly used is are solar panels, built using Photovoltaic (PV) cells (also known as solar cells) to produce electricity directly from sunlight.

Individuals employed in solar R&D generally have professional degrees in electrical, mechanical, and chemical engineering; materials science, and/or physics. As each technology progresses from the R&D phase toward full-scale commercialization, an increasing number of both professional and skilled workers are needed to sell, manufacture, design, install, and maintain equipment. Solar Towers are another means of producing electricity from the sun. This involves funnelling air heated by the Sun to a central tower where turbines are powered by the thermal air as it rises upwards.

BIOENERGY – Biomass, Bio-fuel, Energy from Waste

Bio-energy is the energy extracted from biomass and waste. Biomass is any organic material which has stored sunlight in the form of chemical energy such as wood, wood waste, sugarcane, manure, straw, and many others.

Energy-from-waste (EfW) is the process of creating energy (electricity or heat) from the incineration of waste matter. Waste can have important environmental benefits and provides a safe and cost-effective way of waste disposal.

This sector of renewable energy requires chemists, biochemists, agricultural specialists, microbiologists, and engineers. Because of the location of biomass sources the bio-energy industry compliments existing forestry and agricultural companies.

As with most energy industries, engineers and construction workers are needed to design and build bio-energy plants, while electrical/electronic technicians, mechanical technicians, mechanics, and equipment operators are required to run and maintain these plants.

GEOTHERMAL

Geothermal power is energy generated from heat stored in the earth, using the absorbed heat drawn from underground. Geothermal resources include shallow ground and deeper underground reservoirs.

Geologists, geochemists, geophysicists, hydrologists, reservoir engineers, mud loggers and hydraulic engineers are required for developing hot water reservoirs. Drillers are needed to locate, assess, and access the reservoirs. Environmental scientists are also required within this industry.

The design and construction of the power plants requires engineers (electrical and mechanical) and construction workers such as technicians, electricians, welders and riggers, as well as HVAC engineers for manufacturing GSHPs.

• Working in Energy • Key Sectors in Energy • Energy: The Future