A hydropower engineer is typically involved in the design, construction, and maintenance of hydropower facilities such as hydropower plants, dams, and other water conduction sites. A hydropower engineer is usually in charge of overseeing daily operations at a hydropower facility because he or she is in charge of ensuring employee safety. This could include providing safety training for employees and other professionals, reviewing and reporting mechanical defects at the plant, and educating employees on occupational safety. A hydropower engineer is involved in the planning and implementation of plant and/or hydropower construction designs, in addition to enforcing safety regulations.
Lestor Pelton, who was interested in mining during America’s gold rush, introduced hydropower engineering in the late 1800s. Pelton built a water wheel to provide power to the mining industry’s tools and transportation systems while exploring and studying mining on the west coast of the United States. As this renewable energy source grew in popularity, so did the demand for hydropower engineers. Many variations of the water wheel have appeared since the late 1800s, but they are still primarily based on Pelton’s design. Engineers in this field have spent the last century tweaking the original renewable energy source model to create a more efficient model, which is still in need of tweaking in the future.
Although this energy concept is widely used today because it is environmentally friendly, there are still a few flaws that a hydropower engineer must address. The hydropower industry is always changing, and this job requires you to come up with new ideas to make this energy source less expensive and less prone to flooding. Most companies or government agencies require a hydropower engineer to have at least a bachelor’s degree, preferably in civil engineering, and several years of experience due to the complicated nature of the job.
The responsibilities of this profession vary greatly depending on the facility for which he or she works, but designing and construction are far the most important tasks for this position. A hydropower engineer is responsible for assisting in the construction of a hydropower machine while staying within a set budget and ensuring that the product meets all legal requirements. He or she should be extremely familiar with a variety of design software, other hydropower projects, and all modern technology used in the construction of these facilities, as the design process is extremely complex.