Jobs in Renewable Energy

Jobs in Renewable Energy (RE) are fast becoming a focus of interest for jobseekers. Many who have no previous experience in an energy field want to be a part of the RE fields and they want it bad!

Renewable Energy includes the following sectors:

Solar

One the broadest of the RE categories in terms of career specialties.

Photovoltaic (PV) Engineers design PV cells that convert sunlight to electricity. PVs are a well-established system but there is constant work in redesign for better efficiency, so PV Engineers are in high demand. Most companies looking for PV Engineers want at least five years of design experience and an engineering degree.

Thin film scientists research and develop solar cells. This is a highly technical and scientific position that usually requires and advanced science or physics degree.

PV or solar panel installers. There is a broad range of experience levels wanted for this position. Some job descriptions read that the candidate must only be willing to learn PV installation. Others request one or two years of experience while yet others want certification with many years of experience. If you want to be a PV installer, search out positions within your experience range and go for that certification after you get a couple of years experience. That will propel your career.

Sales - obviously the easiest category to get into for someone who has no experience in the field.

Wind

Wind energy is a fast growing industry and there are many opportunities to be had in this sector of RE.

Research - there are numerous areas of research in the wind energy field to include: analysis of wind patterns, turbine research, wind and weather meteorological forecasting, integration of wind energy into the utility grid, storing the wind energy to use as electricity.

Sales

Manufacturing

Environmental Consulting - typically requires an environmental degree and experience.

Geothermal

Geothermal energy is an interesting area of RE. Major oil companies have the capacity to do the major bore drilling of rocks where we get the heat used to provide the energy we need. This means that companies we typically do not think of as "green" (for example, Exxon), are now getting into this area for energy extraction.

There are definite pros and cons to geothermal energy, but the good news is that we have the technology to extract this energy, it emits no greenhouse gases, and there is pretty much an unlimited source for the world's energy needs.

One of the disadvantages to geothermal extraction is the cost - but this just may be alleviated if more big oil companies get involved with this energy source. After all, if anyone has the money to do this, big oil certainly does.

While geology degrees are especially useful, most jobs in geothermal are for project engineers who may or may not need experience in geothermal energy.

Biofuels

This is heavily science-based and includes research in not only corn-based ethanol (a highly contested form of energy extraction), but also in photosynthesis-types of energy creation studying and using algae and other microbes. This is an exciting and innovative arena and research mostly comes from small research firms focusing on biofuels or university research. There is high-need for microbiologists in these fields.

For those who want to move into RE, the key is focus and research. Focus on the career track you want to take, and research the best avenues to get there. This may mean taking entry-level positions for mid-level individuals. Taking an internship or getting certification within a specific field. Or, you may even need to go back to school for an advanced degree or for to get that degree you never did get.

Keep watching for new and innovative technology growth in the various sectors. We see things growing exponentially in RE now that environmentalism is no longer a dirty word and climate change is now considered fact.

Our current favorite RE source to watch? - Ocean energy… very cool!