Technician training for geothermal power plants in Iceland

Recent developments within the technologies of geothermal power plants have lead to the expansion of technical training in Iceland to cope with the demand for technicians. The Geothermal Power Plant Technician course at the Keilir Institute of Technology is set to address the growing need for skilled geothermal power plant technicians as well as health, safety and environmental issues.

The Geothermal Power Plant Technician course at Keilir is split into two separate programs, which are then spread across two years. The first year is an Associate of Applied Science Degree (worth 60 ECTS), where students receive hands-on training in running and maintaining power plants. The second year is an Associate of Science Degree (also worth 60 ECTS), which is more focused on the academic methods and techniques used for planning daily operations, maintenance and purchasing equipment/spare parts – the combination of the two results in a total of 120 ECTS.

Students will show a great deal of initiative, implement improvements and perform follow-up actions throughout the program. Students will also be trained with a ‘sense of ownership’ towards running, operating and maintaining geothermal power plants. This will of course be beneficial towards the impact of long-term employment opportunities.

In addition, students will learn how to significantly reduce maintenance costs through specialist training, without the need for a manufacturer’s service. The Geothermal Power Plant Technician Program is available from September 2011 at the Keilir Institute of Technology in Keflavik, Iceland.

To find out more regarding geothermal power in Iceland, the course and Keilir visit http://en.keilir.net.