What are the key skills and competencies for power generation professionals in the future?

As I progress in my career, and as sexy as those topics are, I'm convinced that power engineers also need to practice and maintain strong fundamental skills. Can you do the calculation without the software? Can you trace a circuit from elementary to schematic to wiring? Can what you are designing be physically built? Are you working with the safety of the operator in mind? I am lucky enough to have had outstanding "old school" mentors and I try to continue that as I enter my 18th year in the industry.

As the energy landscape undergoes rapid transformations, professionals who invest in their education and training to understand and apply these emerging technologies will be better positioned to address the challenges and opportunities presented by the evolving global energy paradigm. The commitment to staying updated on world-class trends is not only a personal and professional development strategy but also a strategic move to contribute meaningfully to the industry's evolution towards a more sustainable and efficient future.

The advancement of AI technologies is rapidly and intelligently revolutionizing power generation. Key skills include expertise in renewable energy technologies, grid integration, and energy storage systems are the future. ? Renewable Energy: Solar, wind, and tidal power innovations. ? Hydrogen Power: Using hydrogen as a clean fuel for electricity generation. ? Advanced Nuclear Reactors: Safer, smaller modular reactors with higher efficiency. ? Energy Storage: Advanced battery systems to store excess power. ? Smart Grids: Real-time monitoring and automation for efficient energy distribution. Microgrid operation, integrating local power sources, like solar, wind, fossil or batteries, to supply energy independently or with the main grid.

My comment above has (bars); should have been (vars). See NRELs report for VAR Support from Distributed Wind Energy Resources

N?o só no setor elétrico como em todos os setores produtivos do mundo será indispensável o uso de inteligência artificial. Destaco o ChatGPT da OpenAI e o Microsoft Copilot: O ChatGPT da OpenAI entrega: capacidade de cria??o (criatividade), cálculos matemáticos, gera??o de códigos de programa??o e uso de idiomas é praticamente ilimitada. Já o Microsoft Copilot promete revolucionar o mercado profissional tanto quanto o pacote office e a internet revolucionaram. Com a proposta de ser um assistente pessoal robusto, a parte mais operacional do trabalho tende a ser feita toda pela AI. E-mail lidos e respondidos automaticamente, textos resumidos em segundos, anota??es de uma reuni?o… a lista de fun??es prometidas é extensa...

Both technical and soft skills are essential for success in a professional setting, and this also holds true for the power generation industry. Soft skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability are essential because they enhance collaboration, build relationships, and improve problem-solving in any field. Together, these skills enable adaptability in a rapidly changing energy sector.

The power generation leadership team needs to have a clarity about local regulatory and market demand. Understanding the PPA (power purchase agreement ) with the end user is very important. They must be aware of the laws, rules, standards, and incentives that govern the sector, such as environmental regulations to ensure compliance, grid codes for system reliability, tariffs and subsidies to optimize financial performance, and carbon pricing to manage emissions. Staying informed on these factors is critical to counter challenges and opportunities in the evolving power industry.

Sustainability and resilience skills are critical in power generation. They help ensure long-lasting, reliable energy solutions. We need to utilize alternative energy sources that minimize their environmental impact. Resilience skills help us adapt to climate change, natural disasters, and grid disruptions, ensuring stable energy systems. Together, these skills promote eco-friendly, long-lasting power generation for future needs.

I would say sustainability is one area that people in the power industry should really consider. Fuels are non renewable and emit too much CO2 in the atmosphere. We should adapt emerging technologies that are much cleaner and sustainable such as solar, wind, hydrogen, tide or current, waves, and other forms of green energy sources. We should remember the basic law that energy can be transferred from anywhere and therefore can be harnessed from anywhere as well. Although maturities in these areas are still way far from fossil fuels, technology, adaptation, R&D are keys to unlocking gaps and challenges that hinders these techs to foster.

Continuous learning is essential in the energy industry. We must stay updated on technology trends and best practices, such as smart grids and energy storage systems. This allows us to adapt to new regulations, integrate innovative solutions, and improve operational efficiency. By staying informed and continuously learning, professionals can ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of the power generation industry. Learning is a lifelong journey, and having a mindset for development is essential.