Renewable energy careers

Playing a central role in helping to offset the impact of climate change, the UK's renewable energy industry is at the forefront of technological development, with a range of careers available for graduates

From wind turbines to solar panels and tidal barrages to biofuels, clean and renewable energy sources are increasingly familiar to all of us. They're now more important than ever as world governments attempt to meet international targets for reducing carbon emissions.

With the renewable energy sector likely to see huge growth in the coming years, discover more about graduate opportunities in a field that encompasses aspects of both energy and the environment.

Renewable energy jobs

The Offshore Wind Industry Council's (OWIC) UK Offshore Wind Skills Intelligence Report 2023 shows that offshore wind alone currently supports over 32,000 direct and indirect jobs across the UK with most (17,394) working solely in this subsector. This is set to rise to over 104,000 roles by 2030, with 56,296 of these expected to be direct jobs.

Nearly a third of the workforce is based in Scotland (29%), followed by Yorkshire and the Humber (16%), London (15%) and the North East (11%), with all parts of the UK benefitting from the green industrial revolution.

In terms of solar energy, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has revealed through its Renewables 2023 report that renewables are set to account for over 42% of global electricity generation by 2028.

This growth is spearheaded by onshore wind and the solar PV (photovoltaic) system, which consists of solar panels, doubling to a quarter (25%) of the total. The trend towards a reliance on renewables is likely to lead to the creation of UK jobs.

'It's an exciting time to join the industry,' says Juliette Sanders, director of strategic communications at Energy UK, the UK's trade body for the sector. 'The renewables sector is growing rapidly and we're on the cusp of the scale-up and roll out of new technologies like hydrogen, carbon capture and floating offshore wind. Alongside that, we'll see big growth in flexibility and storage solutions, as well as home decarbonisation like heat pumps.'

A huge breadth of roles and career pathways are now available in renewable energy, with hundreds of thousands of new jobs set to open up across the country over the coming years.

A single renewable energy project requires contributions from a range of backgrounds and skillsets, from ecologists, planners and project managers to engineers, communications professionals, business developers and even helicopter pilots.

You could work outdoors on land or at sea, in an office or in a laboratory. Many roles provide opportunities to travel and work across the globe. Working in renewables offers the chance to be part of a growing industry as well as playing a part in the protection of the environment.

Juliette reveals that 'Not all of those jobs require a STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) background. Yes, we're going to need engineers and technicians but there are a whole host of other professions supporting and within the sector - from lawyers, accountants and medics to digital media, public affairs and policy.'

If your passion lies in this area, read more about environmental careers.

Greater diversity in the workforce

Promoting diversity is a priority for the sector, as it seeks to secure the best talent from the greatest variety of backgrounds.

While over a fifth (21%) of those working in offshore wind are women - an increase of nearly 5% since 2019 - there's still room for improvement, as the industry hopes to achieve its target of 33% by 2030.

In the solar PV industry, an International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) report showed how the number of full-time women employees has reached 40%.

More girls are being encouraged to study STEM subjects at school, so that they can go on to study them at university. The aim is to achieve a representative gender mix at all levels, as well as fostering diversity in areas such as ethnicity and sexual orientation.

The industry is collaborating to improve the diversity of its workforce through Tackling Inclusion and Diversity in Energy (TIDE), which looks across all forms of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), and is aimed at making it as easy as possible to improve this within the energy sector.

Read about opportunities for women in engineering and diversity in the workplace.

A bright future for renewables

Another attraction of working in the industry is its expected longevity as the UK makes its transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. 'The UK has halved its emissions since 1990, largely thanks to the power sector,' says Juliette. 'The actions over the course of the next decade will shape our future, and whichever part of the industry you work in, you’re contributing to that.'

Renewable energy is now the country's largest source of electricity, generating around 47% of our annual power needs, according to the government's Energy Trends (December 2023) report.

The production levels will need to be ramped up in the years ahead to meet the UK's carbon reduction targets, but this means there should be more options available in terms of getting a foothold in the industry.

Many smaller energy companies are challenging the so-called 'big six' traditional suppliers, with around 6,500 companies now operating within this sector, with newly created jobs spread around the country.

Renewable energy internships, graduate schemes and apprenticeships are offered by leading employers engaged in solar, wind and water power, including:

• EDF Renewables
• Ørsted
• PEAK Wind
• Photon Energy
• RWE Renewables
• ScottishPower
• Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy
• SSE
• Vital Energi
• WSP

View the range of renewable careers on offer at RenewableUK - Job Finder.

Energy UK's Young Energy Professionals (YEP) Forum is open to students and anyone with up to ten years' experience in the sector. It's free to join and hosts networking events, panels, awards and site visits to wind farms, nuclear power stations and other energy infrastructure. In October 2023, the forum produced a Guide to Jobs in Energy, which highlights the range of jobs within the sector.

If you'd like to study the subject at postgraduate level, a selection of Masters in renewable energy are available, including:

• MSc Renewable Energy - Cranfield University
• MSc Renewable Energy and Clean Technology - The University of Manchester
• MSc Renewable Energy and Power Systems Management - City, University of London
• MSc Renewable Energy Engineering - Heriot-Watt University.

Search postgraduate courses in renewable energy.

You can also get the lowdown on general engineering courses.

Renewable energy skills shortages

Renewables have been championed to play a leading role in helping the government to tackle the skills shortage in STEM. The industry is looking for people with skills and qualifications in engineering, science and maths to take up a range of technical roles.

When the energy industry was first privatised, energy companies were overwhelmingly full of engineers and scientists. But over the last decade, the balance has become tilted towards graduates with commercial skills.

All types of engineers are needed - from general mechanical, design and environmental engineers to more specific wind energy engineers - as well as those with design and technical skills, including landscape and wind analysts.

Starting salaries for these renewable roles can vary from £19,000 to £28,000 depending on the job, company and location. According to Totaljobs, the average wage for renewable energy professionals stands at £38,252, but many of these positions require the right qualifications and level of experience.

Find out more

• Get an overview of the UK's energy industry.
• Explore how to become an engineer.
• Consider working in the engineering and environment sectors.