Energy Systems Engineering Programs Produce In-Demand Graduates
Did you know that a widening
skilled-labour shortage and quickly advancing technology in the energy
sector are creating huge demand for energy systems technicians
who possess a breadth of knowledge across the mechanical, electrical,
electronic and automation engineering fields? The job of these
professionals entails a few responsibilities. Overall, they implement
energy solutions for commercial and residential buildings using
knowledge of energy systems, energy efficiency and renewable/distributed
energy systems. This is achieved through heat transfer, fluid
mechanics, computational fluid dynamics and mechanics to industries such
as: moulding and casting, integrated circuit packaging, heat exchanger/
boiler design and manufacture and petrochemical processing. In
addition, energy systems technicians may operate power plants of various
sizes; design and maintain heating, ventilating, air conditioning and
refrigeration units; and work with architectural companies to integrate
energy technologies into the latest green buildings.
In Canada, one of the respected Energy
Systems Engineering programs is offered at Centennial College. It
teaches students the fundamental skills to understand energy and its
uses in modern society. The program is reputable as it offers a unique
blend of technical, managerial and entrepreneurial skills that are
highly sought after in the industry. To apply, students are required to
have completed at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or
equivalent or be 19 years of age or older. They must also have the
credits for compulsory English 12C or U or skills assessment, or
equivalent and Math 11M or U, or 12C or U, or skills assessment, or
equivalent.
Once are accepted to the Energy Systems
Engineering Technician program (as it is officially known), they will
discover a strong focus on practical labs to enhance classroom rooms and
applied research, and development projects to promote innovation
skills. In addition, the opportunity exists for students to work on
state-of-the-art energy systems. Throughout these learning methods,
experienced faculty members, who teach a technical curriculum that is
complemented by project management skills, lead students. Courses within
the energy systems technician training include: Electrics Circuits
(introduces the students to the fundamental principles and theorems of
D.C. and A.C. series and parallel resistive circuits); Renewable Energy
Systems (involves the description, theory design and operation of
renewable energy systems. The renewable energy systems presented are:
wind energy, solar systems, geothermal heat pumps, biomass, small
hydraulics and fuel cells); Digital and Power Electronics (introduces
the student to digital circuit’s theory and lab practice. Topics
include number systems and codes, all common gates, Boolean algebra,
mapping, basic arithmetic circuits, gated latches, counters, and shift
registers); and more.
Upon completion of the Energy Systems
Engineering program, students are prepared to enter the field. If
however, they want to pursue further students, as graduates of the
two-year energy systems engineering program, they have the option to enter year three of the Energy Systems Engineering Technology program.
