You can follow a number of different paths to become a power systems engineer and work for a power generation company. An associate’s degree, for example, can be obtained to pursue a career as a power systems engineer. You could also pursue a bachelor’s degree in power system engineering if you want more education. Alternatively, you could earn an ABET-accredited bachelor’s degree in engineering, work for two years, and then earn a certificate of specialization in power system engineering.
Power system engineers typically work for power generation companies directly or for suppliers, contractors, or consultants who service power plants. They also work in high-voltage and substation-equipped manufacturing facilities, such as large chemical plants. Power system engineers work on the design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure related to power supply. Furthermore, power systems engineers are responsible for the safety and health of the general public as well as their coworkers.
All aspects of power station work are covered in this field’s coursework. Coursework in engineering and high voltage, electric power qualities, and photovoltaic power, for example, is required to become a power systems engineer. Topics like economics in power system operation and power system protection could be covered in class.
Higher voltage classes cover the generation and measurement of high voltage and current. It is not uncommon for students to visit businesses and conduct high-voltage lab testing. Electric power courses teach students interested in becoming a power systems engineer about various types of power quality issues, such as sags or overvoltage, harmonic control principles, and ways to improve power quality.
The physics or characteristics of solar cell technology, alternative energy sourcing control, array design, methods of storing energy, code compliance, and grid intertie system-related issues are all covered in photovoltaic power coursework. Economic coursework focuses on the economic loading of thermal plants, the evaluation of matrix elements, the extension of the loading criterion to include system loss, and the economic impact of hydro plants.
Protective relaying, solid state repaying methods for high voltage transmissions, power line carriers, circuit breaker interruptions, synchronizing, and relaying are all topics covered in power system protection coursework. Power systems engineering courses cover topics like power system stability, network analysis, synchronous machine reactance, and surge phenomena as they occur in power systems.
If you want to be a power systems engineer, you’ll need to develop the ability to learn quickly, understand how motors, transformers, and generators work, and understand three-phase theory in school. It is necessary to learn project management skills. Also, because power systems engineers work with everyone from cable jointers to farmers who own the land around substations, you must learn to have good interpersonal skills.