Energy Systems Engineering Technicians Find Futuristic Solutions to Today’s Problems

A challenge looms in the energy field, as energy systems engineering technicians must learn how to integrate and use modern sustainable energy technologies in a manner consistent with our urban environments. The focus on the environment and global warming is ensuring that the construction industry is adopting new green building initiatives that are quickly becoming mainstream. Manufacturers have many new products that provide ways to implement advanced energy control in commercial and residential structures. They must work with the energy systems technicians if the products are going to succeed. The door is now open to a range innovative energy projects using small-scale sources such as solar, wind, hydro, fuel cells, gas turbines and biomass to feed electricity, heat and air conditioning to our homes and businesses. The door is also open to those who want to change the world by becoming a energy systems engineering technicians.

So what exactly is this door opening up to? Well, to put it frankly, many jobs in the energy systems engineering technician field - which includes heat transfer, fluid mechanics, computational fluid dynamics and mechanics. This is due to a widening skilled-labour shortage and quickly advancing technology in the energy sector that are creating huge demand for technicians who possess a breadth of knowledge. In their varied positions, energy systems technicians work with industries that include moulding and casting, integrated circuit packaging, heat exchanger/ boiler design and manufacture and petrochemical processing. Depending on where they work, these professionals may: implement energy solutions for commercial and residential buildings using knowledge of energy systems, energy efficiency and renewable/distributed energy systems; operate power plants of various sizes; design and maintain heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration units; and work with architectural companies to integrate energy technologies into the latest green buildings.

Clearly, these techs are required to posses a wide range of knowledge across mechanical, electrical, electronic and automation engineering fields. In order to gain that knowledge, they must attend a post-secondary program such as Centennial College's Energy Systems Engineering Technician program, which takes two years to complete. In order to apply, you must have completed at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. You must also have the credits for compulsory English 12C or U or skills assessment, or equivalent and Math 11M or U, or 12C or U, or skills assessment, or equivalent.

Once you have been accepted, you will discover a program that been designed to teach fundamental skills to understand energy and its uses in our society. The energy systems technician undertaking uses applied research and development projects, practical lab experience and the opportunity to work on state-of-the-art energy systems to prepare its students. Its technical curriculum includes courses such as: Technology Mathematics (covers "intermediate" topics in algebra and trigonometry), Electric Circuits (theory and lab course introduces students to the fundamental principles and theorems of D.C. and A.C. series and parallel resistive circuits), Electronic Devices (introduces students to the Electronic Semiconductor Diodes and Transistors and their basic circuits), and many others. Another standout feature of the program is that it is part of the student chapter of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), which allows for networking and other opportunities.

Upon successful completion of the two-year Energy Systems Engineering Technician program, you have the option to enter year three of the Energy Systems Engineering Technology program.