Biomass Plant Technicians

Control and monitor biomass plant activities and perform maintenance as needed.

The occupation "Biomass Plant Technicians" has an automation risk of 53.5%, which is closely aligned with its base risk of 54.2%. This moderate level of risk suggests that while certain aspects of the job are susceptible to automation, a significant portion still relies on human operation and decision-making. The role involves a mix of routine, highly procedural tasks and more nuanced responsibilities that require adaptation and human judgment. Advances in industrial automation have made it increasingly feasible to automate many technical functions in power-generation settings, but complete automation is still limited by current technological constraints and the complex, variable environments of many biomass facilities. The top three most automatable tasks for biomass plant technicians reflect repetitive, rule-based activities. Operating biomass fuel-burning boiler or gasification system equipment in accordance with specifications, performing standard water chemistry tests in boilers, and managing high-pressure equipment for cogeneration operations are all highly structured tasks. These are amenable to automation through programmable logic controllers, sensors, and advanced monitoring systems. Such technologies can be programmed to follow strict operational parameters, and automated systems can typically handle routine testing, monitoring, and adjustment tasks with minimal human intervention, thereby driving up the overall automation risk for the occupation. However, parts of the job remain resistant to machine takeover due to the requirement for flexibility, problem-solving, or physical dexterity. Tasks such as managing parts and supply inventories, preprocessing diverse biomass feedstock, and operating heavy machinery like bulldozers and front-end loaders are less easily automated. These tasks often involve improvisation, adaptation to unfamiliar situations, and coordination with variable human teams—skills where humans still outperform machines. The identified bottleneck skills are originality, which measures at low levels of 2.8% and 2.1%, suggesting that novelty and creative problem-solving are not major components of the role, but are still essential for those tasks that cannot yet be replaced by automation. Thus, while the bulk of repetitive technical duties may be automated, the occupation still demands a human touch for tasks requiring nuanced decision-making and adaptability.