Renewable energy engineer
Renewable energy engineers research and develop ways to generate sustainable power from wind, solar, hydrogen and biomass resources.
Also known as: Sustainable energy engineer, green energy engineer
- Starter salary£31,000 a year
- Experienced£61,000 a year
- Typical hours37 to 42 a week
- Green jobYes
What you'll do
As a renewable energy engineer, you could:
- research ways to harness renewable sources of energy
- work on increasing energy production trials to a larger scale
- do studies to see if a location can be used as a potential generation site
- help to design and build power plants, instruments and equipment
- advise companies on how to move from fossil fuels to renewable energy
- find ways to make current technology like solar panels and batteries more efficient
- collect, analyse and present data on energy production
- manage maintenance and service schedules, fix problems and co-ordinate staff
Working environment
You could work in an office, in a laboratory, at a power station or on a rig.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- knowledge of engineering science and technology
- maths knowledge
- analytical thinking skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- thinking and reasoning skills
- excellent verbal communication skills
- the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
- to be flexible and open to change
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently
How to become a renewable energy engineer
You can get into this job by studying for a degree qualification.
University
You can do a degree in an engineering or a scientific subject. Some employers might expect you to have a postgraduate qualification.
Relevant subjects include:
- energy engineering
- Earth sciences
- environmental engineering
- geophysics
- renewable or sustainable energy
Getting work experience during your studies through a summer internship or year placement scheme can give you an advantage when you start looking for work.
Your university careers service can help you find opportunities.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including maths and a science for a degree
- a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
Career path and progression
With experience, you could become a senior engineer or asset manager. You could be responsible for a number of power generation sites across a particular area, for example a wind farm.
You could also move into:
- energy planning
- policy development
- contracts, bids and tenders for renewable energy technology
- freelance consultancy
Professional and industry bodies
You can join the Energy Institute for training and professional development opportunities. You can also apply for chartered engineer status, for recognition of your skills and expertise in the industry.
Guides for this industry
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