Mail adress: alexander.hofer@powerup.at
Phone number: +43 676 845 905 218
Position: Head of technology
Core competencies & areas of responsibility
Head of Component Development (all engine core components and blowby filters)
These words come to mind when I think of my job
Versatile, demanding
Work experience and qualifications
HTL Innsbruck Anichstraße – Track: Electrical Engineering (Energy Engineering & Power Electronics)
Technical University of Munich (TUM) – Mechanical Engineering, specializations: “Environmentally Compatible Energy Systems”, “Hydraulic Machines”, and “Engine Technology”
Diploma thesis – GE Jenbacher, Thermodynamics Department: “Validation of a Gas Injection Valve for the J920”
Performance Engineer – GE Jenbacher, Thermodynamics Department (responsible for combustion process development for J3 and J4; main product-programme owner at GE Jenbacher)
Team Lead, Development – PowerUP
Certifications
Leadership skills training (WiFi Innsbruck) – completed (5 modules, 3 days each; 2020)
Various engine- and engine-control-related trainings at INNIO Jenbacher
Publications & technical contributions
PowerUP Sales Conference 06/2024: presentation “Hydrogen & Application”
PowerUP internal Management Review 01/2023: presentation “Alternative Fuels”
Various internal PowerUP trainings on:
Engine thermodynamics
Turbocharger sizing/design
Engine mechanics “Cylinder heads”
Engine mechanics “Pistons” – Q1/26
What drives me
“Nothing moves me—I move myself 😉.” I’d rather act than wait for a solution.
One tip/advice I would give a plant operator to increase the efficiency of their gas engine?
Perform maintenance as scheduled
Review daily/weekly data (and make life easier with digital platforms, e.g., myplant)
Keep the engine and engine room clean
Using the engine’s waste heat improves the business case massively (process heat, district heating, etc.)
My most important takeaway from working with our customers/partners is…
Clean, well-maintained plants run far more reliably and longer than messy plants where every cent is scrutinized three times.
Hydraulic circuits (oil, water) and cooling systems (cooling water, oil, GMK, etc.) are often undersized and neglected to save costs—especially as the engine/unit ages, this can cause issues up to and including repeated shutdowns.
Customers need robust, reliable products and a supplier who actually picks up the phone when problems arise—instead of routing them into a call center or a ticket workflow.