Stories of practice

Ruben is working on sustainable energy from waste

Ruben is studying to become an All-Round Operational Technician at Noorderpoort in Farmsum and works at EEW, a waste-to-energy plant. There, he contributes to generating energy from household and commercial waste and helps reduce CO₂ emissions. Ruben joined EEW through an internship in his second year. He enjoyed it so much that he switched from the full-time (BOL) program to a part-time (BBL) program, allowing him to combine work and study.

A smiling man with a white safety helmet, blue safety glasses, and a dark blue work jacket with orange accents. He has a walkie-talkie on his chest, and in the background, wind turbines are visible under a cloudy sky. - GreenCareer

All-round Operational Technician

Ruben chose the All-round Operational Technician program because of its broad scope. During the program, he learned welding, turning, milling, and a wealth of steam technology. He can immediately apply what he learns in school in practice. Subjects like thermodynamics and heat balances are a good fit for his work at the power plant.

EEW

At EEW, waste is incinerated to generate heat, which is used to produce steam for companies at the chemical park and to generate electricity for households. Ruben starts his day with an inspection round, alternating between working with the crane and monitoring the installation from the control room. It's precisely this variety and working with large-scale technology that appeals to him, as does the focus on CO₂ reduction. In the future, he wants to further develop his skills and contribute to sustainability.

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To students who are hesitant, I say: just go for it. There's plenty of work in technology.

- Ruben Roffelsen