Jobs in the renewable energy industry

The winds of change are rapidly transforming the UK energy sector. Renewables are sweeping the market, set to combat the carbon emissions that have had long-term negative impacts on our atmosphere, our seas and our wildlife habitats.

But just what does a sustainable energy career involve?

As the government works towards its plan for achieving clean power by 2030, 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, manufacture and install new technology, as well as the consultants, solicitors, and sales and marketing experts needed to push this sector forward.

Fossil fuels have long dominated the UK energy market but, as they’re finite resources, there’s always been a time limit on energy sources like coal and oil. By its nature, renewable energy has unlimited potential; as our understanding of renewables deepens, along with investment into the sector, renewable energy industry jobs are abundant.

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 careers in this industry an increasingly attractive option 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 sustainable energy careers:

• 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, is just one focus 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 your renewable energy career will depend on your interests, experience and qualifications. While a biomass engineering graduate will have a direct route into a sustainability role, 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.

• Between 2015 and 2022, 75,000 new jobs were created in the green energy sector according to UK renewable energy statistics.
• The UK’s wind energy capacity grew from 11,282MW to 30,215MW between 2013 and 2023, almost tripling in the space of decade.
• The second quarter of 2024 saw the renewables portion of electricity generation reach a new record of 51.6%.

If you’re thinking about embarking on 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.

This article was last updated in December 2024.