Roles in renewable Energy

The winds of change are rapidly transforming the UK energy sector. Renewables are sweeping the market, combating the carbon emissions that have been choking our atmosphere, polluting our seas, and literally laying waste to our wildlife habitats for nigh on a century. 

As the government works towards its target of sourcing 15% of energy from renewable sources by 2020, it’s pouring billions of pounds into sustainable energy production to meet growing demands for eco-friendly gas and electricity.

Powering these wind, solar, hydroelectric and biomass plants are a brigade of professionals who plan, design, manufacturer and install new technology, as well as consultants, solicitors, sales and marketing experts pushing this frontier forward.

Fossil fuels have long dominated the UK energy market but, as finite resources, there’s always been a time bomb on energy sources like coal and oil. By nature, renewable energy has unlimited potential; as our understanding of renewables deepens, along with investment into the sector, career opportunities are rife in renewable energy.

As a graduate entering the market today, you’ll be joining the front line of engineers, planners, consultants and managers working for the future, influencing the infrastructure of the next generation of energy. This makes it an indelibly attractive career path for graduates interested in gas and electricity.

Ambitious projects require ambitious individuals, leaving scope for graduates from a variety of backgrounds to enter the industry. Here are a few popular roles: 

• Project manager: Extensive developments rely on project managers to stay on track, co-ordinating the workforce and solving problems along the way. 
• Quantity surveyor: It’s important to keep a tight leash on both public and private sector contracts. Quantity surveyors manage the finances around a project from start to finish.
• Analyst: The impact of renewable energy on climate change, as well as its ability to meet the demands of the UK market, are just some focuses of an analyst.
• Engineer: Applying scientific and technological know-how to the project at hand, engineers put blueprints into action to create reliable, efficient plants and facilities.
• Technician: Responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of renewable energy facilities, technicians assist with the finer details of putting a plan into action.
• Environmental consultant: Experts on environmental regulations and best practices, consultants offer guidance and support to ensure a project delivers on its objectives. 

The route you take in renewable energy will depend on your interests, experience and qualifications. While a biomass engineering graduate might naturally slip into employment, the sector also attracts talent in marketing, PR, sales, management and more.

You only need to start exploring the graduate schemes and job opportunities in energy to realise just how diverse the sector is. Once that’s accomplished, you can narrow down your options to find a role that’s just right.

• Jobs in renewable energy are growing 7 times faster than the national average for employment growth, according to the Renewable Energy Association.
• In 2015, biomass was the fastest growing niche in renewables, with a 19% increase in jobs.
• The renewable energy sector received a staggering £29.8bn of investment between 2010 and 2013 alone, according to PwC.

If you’re thinking about embarking a career in energy, hopefully we’ve given you an insight into the opportunities provided by renewables, and the types of roles you could expect to find in the sector.