Will AI replace Geothermal Technicians?

AI can do 21% of the work Geothermal Technicians do at least twice as fast. Real use has not caught up: none of their tasks show up in real AI use yet, but AI could speed up 6 of them. Robots can technically handle 8 physical tasks. 10 still need a person.

AI is already doing this0 · 0% of time

People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.

  • Real AI use has not reached any of this job's tasks yet.

AI could do this next6 · 21% of time

AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.

  • Prepare and maintain logs, reports, or other documentation of work performed.8% of time
  • Collect and record data associated with operating geothermal power plants or well fields.5% of time
  • Design and lay out geothermal heat systems according to property characteristics, heating and cooling requirements, piping and equipment requirements, applicable regulations, or other factors.4% of time
  • Determine the type of geothermal loop system most suitable to a specific property and its heating and cooling needs.1% of time
  • Identify equipment options, such as compressors, and make appropriate selections.1% of time
  • Determine whether emergency or auxiliary systems will be needed to keep properties heated or cooled in extreme weather conditions.1% of time

Robots can technically do this8 · 35% of time

Physical tasks that today's robots can perform in at least some settings. Robots are cost competitive for very few tasks so far, so this change moves slower.

  • Monitor and adjust operations of geothermal power plant equipment or systems.Robots: purpose built settings13% of time
  • Operate equipment, such as excavators, backhoes, rock hammers, trench compactors, pavement saws, grout mixers or pumps, geothermal loop reels, and coil tubing units (CTU).Robots: structured workplaces5% of time
  • Install and maintain geothermal system instrumentation or controls.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
  • Weld piping, such as high density polyethylene (HDPE) piping, using techniques such as butt, socket, side-wall, and electro-fusion welding.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
  • Backfill piping trenches to protect pipes from damage.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
  • Prepare newly installed geothermal heat systems for operation by flushing, purging, or other actions.Robots: purpose built settings3% of time
  • Apply coatings or operate systems to mitigate corrosion of geothermal plant equipment or structures.Robots: purpose built settings1% of time
  • Test water sources for factors, such as flow volume and contaminant presence.Robots: purpose built settings1% of time

Still needs a person10 · 44% of time

No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.

  • Install, maintain, or repair ground or water source-coupled heat pumps to heat and cool residential or commercial building air or water.13% of time
  • Identify and correct malfunctions of geothermal plant equipment, electrical systems, instrumentation, or controls.7% of time
  • Dig trenches for system piping to appropriate depths and lay piping in trenches.4% of time
  • Maintain electrical switchgear, process controls, transmitters, gauges, and control equipment in accordance with geothermal plant procedures.4% of time
  • Maintain, calibrate, or repair plant instrumentation, control, and electronic devices in geothermal plants.4% of time
  • Perform pre- and post-installation pressure, flow, and related tests of vertical and horizontal geothermal loop piping.4% of time
  • Adjust power production systems to meet load and distribution demands.3% of time
  • Calculate heat loss and heat gain factors for residential properties to determine heating and cooling required by installed geothermal systems.3% of time
  • Install and maintain geothermal plant electrical protection equipment.1% of time
  • Integrate hot water heater systems with geothermal heat exchange systems.1% of time

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What this means

AI can speed up parts of this job, mostly the paperwork and information work around it. The core still depends on hands, presence or relationships. Robots are the other change to watch: they can technically do 40% of the working time.

What to do next

  • Get ahead on the 6 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
  • Keep an eye on the 8 physical tasks robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
  • Build on the 10 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
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