Coal Power Generation Careers

Coal power generation is under fire by many groups. Recently, it was noted that the 100th coal fire plant announced since 2002 was canceled. If you work in a coal firec power plant does this mean your future in in trouble?

With coal power plants being one of the largest producers of electrcity, your job is relatively safe. There are billions invested in hundreds of currently operating plants. It would take decades to repalce these plants. They provide an important source of low cost electricity and is only match in its low cost by hydro-electric and nuclear power.

Aging of the work force is taking on toll on plants with a tough task for these plants to hire and train replacements. Power companies need to invest in all levels of plant staff to get them ready to promote to the next level of responsibility. Training shift supervisors can cost $20,000 to $100,000 per person. So selecting the best candidates and then supporting them through the training process is crucial.

Coal plants do face a few obstacles mainly around environmental controls. The past few years have seen increased plant investments in emissions controls with costs of hundreds of millions per site. New limitations on Mercury and carbon are being refined. Multiple technologies for mercury reductions are being deployed and tested. Carbon is tougher. The ability to remove carbon is well understood in the concept of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). It is more difficult to cost effectlively store the carbon that is stripped out. The final EPA rules on carbon are yet to be seen whether mandated by a national cap and trade law such as Waxman-Markey or in the form of a carbon tax.

Let's get back to the initial question.....Is a career in coal projects still possible and a place to be....The answer is yes. You can be assured that existing coal projects will not be easy to replaced. You should track the levelized cost of all power generation for all technologies and look out 5 years ahead to see if a new technology is forecasted to produce power cheaper that coal plants.

 

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