An energy company employs a renewable energy engineer. Some engineers work primarily in the maintenance of power plants, while others work on developing new ways to generate renewable energy. Governments in many countries are encouraging new and existing energy producers to focus on renewable energy production in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other forms of pollution associated with fossil fuels. Energy engineer jobs were once primarily found at universities and companies that were solely focused on research, but they are now becoming more common at major energy companies.
Prior to working as a renewable energy engineer, one must first earn a bachelor’s degree in engineering, though some employers prefer applicants to have a degree that focuses on green or renewable energy specifically. Renewable energy degrees teach engineering fundamentals as well as many aspects of science, such as chemistry and physics, that may be useful in the energy field. Some students pursue Masters degrees (MAs) that focus on a specific type of renewable energy, such as solar or hydroelectric power.
College graduates are hired as researchers by both small and large businesses. Governments in many countries award grants to companies that seek to make renewable energy more accessible to consumers and small businesses. Many small businesses focus on developing energy-generating technology that consumers can use at home, such as solar panels and biofuel generators. A renewable energy researcher must strive to create new technologies that are both simple to use and operate while also being affordable to a large number of consumers and businesses.
Major energy companies hire a large number of engineers to produce renewable energy on a large scale in order to secure new energy-production contracts with governments and communities. Engineers working for such companies must design and build wind farms and dams that require significant government and private-sector funding and can take years to complete. The project is usually overseen by a team of engineers led by a seasoned renewable energy engineer.
Renewable engineers earn a wide range of salaries. Some colleges hire post-graduate students to work as part-time researchers, and these students are frequently given free tuition or a small stipend to help with living expenses. Engineers who work on major projects for multinational corporations are frequently among the highest paid in the energy industry, and employers from all over the world aggressively recruit them.