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Description

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.

Tasks

  • 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.

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Centre per al desenvolupament professional Porta22

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Llacuna, 156-162, 08018 Barcelona
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Generalitat de Catalunya
Unió Europea FEDER
Unió Europea FSE