Biomass is the technical name of the fuel of vegetable origin that is obtained from forests through maintenance and logging, and that is consumed in boilers that run on this type of fuel. Normally, it is used to generate heat for air conditioning homes, buildings, facilities and equipment for public or private use (for example, a school, a sports facility or an industrial district).

In recent decades, due to the abandonment of the traditional activity in the forest (coal production, obtaining wood for homes or for artisanal production, hunting) the forest mass has grown uncontrollably, as well as the risk of forest fire. In this context, biomass represents an opportunity to ensure forest sanitation, prevent fires, create jobs linked to the territory and obtain local and renewable fuel, that is, sustainable. Therefore, both public administrations and private initiative have collaborated in the implementation of this market.

The engineer specialist in biomass facilitates is a technical profile who knows the market and its products (type of boiler, supply systems, types of biomass), the technical characteristics of biomass facilities (use regime during the year, adequate ambient temperature, construction characteristics of the buildings) as well as the costs and economic viability of the operation. In this sense, these professionals have the necessary knowledge to ensure the start-up, exploitation, performance and maintenance of devices and mechanisms that work with biomass.

Professionally, they can work as technicians in a public entity (mostly in a town hall) or in an engineering company that carries out biomass installation projects. Likewise, they can work in an industrial company that manufactures heat production equipment that works with biomass.

• Design new projects for the implementation of biomass facilities, making the corresponding technical reports.
• Advise the organizations for which they work on which is the most optimal solution from the technical point of view to implement a system for obtaining heat through biomass, especially regarding the type of boiler since the market provides several options and they have to choose the most appropriate one.
• Lead and monitor the biomass systems installation process, dealing with suppliers and establishing the management of the cost of purchase, installation, maintenance and fuel supply for the boiler.
• Ensure the economic sustainability of the biomass equipment installed (its maintenance, fuel supply, etc.).
• Ensure the correct operation of the fuel supply system (manual, mechanized, directly from the truck, among others).
• Ensure that the supplying companies provide the raw material, fuel in the form of biomass, according to the previously established agreements: origin, size (the size of the biomass grain depends on the efficiency of the boiler¿s performance), degree of humidity of the wood (the degree of humidity also determines the performance of the boiler), delivery times, control of administrative documentation.
• Monitor the operation of the installed biomass heating system (technical parameters, of performance, maintenance, efficiency) and manage costs according to the available budget.
• Treat and manage with suppliers (energy service companies, maintenance companies) and with the users of the installation in order to ensure its proper functioning.

Regulated training and graduates

• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Energia i Aigua: Operacions bàsiques en el muntatge i manteniment d¿instal·lacions d¿energies renovables (Nivell 1)
• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Instal·lació i manteniment: Muntatge i manteniment d'instal·lacions calorífiques (Nivell 2)
• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Instal·lació i manteniment: Muntatge i manteniment d'instal·lacions de climatització i ventilació-extracció (Nivell 2)
• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Instal·lació i manteniment: Desenvolupament de projectes d'instal·lacions calorífiques (Nivell 3)
• Desenvolupament de projectes d'instal·lacions de climatització i ventilació-extracció (Nivell 3)
• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Instal·lació i manteniment: Planificació, gestió i realització del manteniment i supervisió del muntatge d'instal·lacions calorífiques (Nivell 3)
• Professional Training Course (s) ind the field of Faciliites and maintenance services - Intermediate level: Refrigeration and air conditioning
• Professional Training Course (s) ind the field of Faciliites and maintenance services - Intermediate level: Heat production facilities
• Professional Training Course(s) in the professional family of Installation and Maintenance - Advanced Level: Development of thermal and fluid facilities projects
• Professional Training Course(s) in the field of Installation and Maintenance - Advanced Level:Maintenance of thermal and fluid installations
• Professional Training Course(s) in the field of Energy & Water - Advanced Level: Renewable Energies
• Grau: Enginyeria de l'energia
• Grau: Enginyeria en tecnologies industrials
• Grau: Enginyeria mecànica

Complementary training

Initiative: Level 2

Orientation within reach: Level 2

Planning and organisation: Level 3

Concern for order and quality: Level 3

Self-confidence: Level 3

Environment

People who work in this field focus their professional interests on the preservation, improvement or restoration of the environment (vegetation, fauna, flora) in both built-up areas and natural spaces. Some of the activities that represent this field are the detection, analysis and control of pollutants, the carrying out of measurements and tests in relation to climatic or environmental variables and the reduction of the harmful effects of human activity on the environment. The carrying out of these activities requires knowledge of the environment, for its planning and use, and of environmental regulations.

Technician

People who show an interest in the technical field find fulfilment in carrying out activities related to the design and manufacture of objects, machines, vehicles and/or infrastructures. These activities require the application of scientific and technical knowledge (laws of physics, calculations and mathematical formulas, properties of the materials, etc). Creativity is also necessary when coming up with optimal solutions for the functional requirements of the products to be designed. Therefore, the pragmatic application of scientific knowledge in order to develop solutions for the benefit of human beings is the main function of occupations in the technical field.

Geothermal technician

Gas Network Operator

Power facilities designer

Energy facilities designer

Facilities Maintenance Technician

• Work hours

  Usually 40 hours in part-time or intensive working day, depending on the organization in which they work. Punctually, they must also be willing to work after hours when there are incidents that need to be resolved urgently.
  
  

• Salary

  The renumeration may vary depending on the professional experience and the volume of responsibility that the professional assumes in the workplace, being included in a range between 28.000 and 40.000 € gross/year.
  
  
  

• Professional category

  Technician