Energy Systems Engineering Program Sees Students Graduate in Just Four Semesters

Are you ready to take on the challenge of learning how to integrate and use all modern sustainable energy technologies in a manner consistent with our urban environments? Do you want to possess a breadth of knowledge across the mechanical, electrical, electronic and automation engineering fields? If you answered ‘yes’ to these questions, your ideal career path may be as an energy systems technician.

At Centennial College, students are prepared for the industry in just four semesters by attending the Energy Systems Engineering Technician program. The undertaking’s reputation is build off of the fact that 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.

A strong focus in the Energy Systems Engineering program is placed on practical labs to enhance classroom learning as well as applied research, and development projects to promote innovation skills. Technical curriculum is complemented by project management skills and the opportunity for students to work on state-of-the-art energy systems. These state-of-the-art energy systems mimic the ones currently in the industry. Specific courses within this undertaking include: Electric Circuits, Computer Aided Drafting, Physics, Chemistry Applications and Climate, Applied Statistics, Electronic Devices, Digital & Power Electronics, Mechanics and Materials and more.

Once they have completed the Energy Systems Engineering program, students are presented with the opportunity to obtain further education. That’s because graduates of the two-year offering, have the option to enter year three of the Energy Systems Engineering Technology program.

If, however, they should choose to pursue their career right away, graduates enter a field that has a widening skilled-labour shortage and quickly advancing technology in the energy sector, which are creating huge demand for energy systems technicians. These Energy System Technicians have a number of 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.