Renewable energy engineer

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

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

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

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Physics - Renewable energy engineers need a deep understanding of energy, thermodynamics, electricity, and how forces like wind and solar radiation can be converted into usable power. They apply physics principles when designing turbines, solar panels, and other generation equipment to maximise efficiency.
• Mathematics - Renewable energy engineers use advanced maths daily – from calculating energy yields and power loads to modelling how efficiently a wind farm or solar array will perform at a given site. Statistical analysis is also essential when collecting and interpreting energy production data.
• Engineering - Renewable energy engineers design and build power plants, instruments, and equipment for generating sustainable energy. They apply engineering principles to scale up technology from small trials to full-size installations, and manage the maintenance of complex systems like wind turbines and solar arrays.
• Chemistry - Renewable energy engineers work with battery technology, hydrogen fuel cells, and biomass conversion processes, all of which rely on chemical reactions and material science. Understanding how different materials behave helps them improve the efficiency and lifespan of solar cells and energy storage systems.
• Environmental Science - Renewable energy engineers assess the environmental impact of energy projects and study how sites interact with local ecosystems. They need to understand climate patterns, carbon cycles, and sustainability principles to advise companies on transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable sources.

Also relevant

• Geography - Renewable energy engineers carry out site assessments to determine whether a location is suitable for wind, solar, or other energy generation. Understanding weather systems, terrain, land use, and natural resource distribution helps them identify the best places to build renewable energy infrastructure.
• Geology - Renewable energy engineers consider ground conditions when planning installations like wind turbine foundations or geothermal energy systems. Understanding rock types, soil stability, and subsurface structures is important for ensuring sites are safe and suitable for construction.
• Computer Science - Renewable energy engineers use computational modelling and simulations to predict energy output, optimise system designs, and analyse large datasets from power generation sites. Understanding programming and data analysis tools helps them build more accurate models and automate monitoring processes.
• Business - Renewable energy engineers often work on contracts, bids, and tenders for energy projects, and may progress into consultancy or asset management roles. Understanding project budgets, cost-benefit analysis, and how the energy market works helps them make commercially viable decisions.
• Electronics - Renewable energy engineers work with electronic control systems, inverters, and sensors that monitor and regulate power generation equipment. Understanding how electronic circuits function is useful when designing, testing, and troubleshooting the systems that connect renewable sources to the electricity grid.