Renewable energy engineering is a growing field that focuses on the design, development and maintenance of green energy solutions. Students are moving towards choosing this field as it offers diverse opportunities, competitive salaries, government incentives and rewarding careers. Some of the popular job roles include energy analyst, environmental engineer, solar or wind turbine engineer, sustainability consultant, policy advisor, project manager and R&D specialist. The average starting salary is around INR 3.5 to 6 LPA, but it can increase to INR 10 to 20 LPA as professionals gain more experience.
Introduction
Renewable energy is steadily moving towards being a necessity rather than an alternative. As the world moves towards green energy, the demand for engineering graduates in renewable energy also increases. Professionals in renewable energy engineering predominantly focus on designing, developing and maintaining technology surrounding solar energy, wind energy, hydropower, biomass energy and geothermal energy. This field aims at blending technical knowledge with sustainability for a better future.
In this blog, we look at the different specialisations, career options, popular job profiles and the future of engineering in renewable energy. Continue reading to learn more!
What Is Renewable Energy Engineering?
Renewable energy engineering is a domain of engineering concerned with the technology of generating energy from renewable sources, like the sun, water, wind and biomass. It also combines knowledge from electrical, mechanical and environmental engineering. Professionals in this field are dedicated to designing and implementing different renewable energy systems that will produce clean energy.
The ultimate goal of renewable energy engineering is to develop solutions for energy that are economically viable, environmentally friendly and increase the efficiency of energy generation.
Why Choose Renewable Energy Engineering?
Engineering in renewable energy is a rapidly growing field, with more and more people being attracted towards a career in it. This is primarily driven by the fact that people themselves are gradually turning towards green energy. As per several industry reports, it is expected that the field of renewable energy is set for exponential growth over the next few years.
Here are a few reasons why you should opt for an engineering degree in renewable energy:
- Diverse opportunities: Once done with graduation, candidates have a diverse range of opportunities in this field. They can explore multiple sectors like solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy and bioenergy.
- Innovation: As the field is on the rise, professionals in this field get the opportunity to work on new technology and innovate to find further developments.
- Global shift: Globally, several countries have already taken a turn towards renewable energy and several others are continuing to do so. This will continue to create more opportunities at a global level.
- Competitive salaries: For a growing field, the salaries also tend to get competitive as your experience increases.
- Government incentives: Governments almost everywhere provide incentives and subsidies for those invested in the field of renewable energy.
- Moral contribution: By working in the field of renewable energy, you get the opportunity to contribute to tackling climate change. Ultimately, you’ll be concerned with reducing pollution, lowering carbon emissions, and helping to create a more sustainable future for all of us.
What Are The Available Specialisations?
Let’s quickly look at the popular specialisations available for engineering students in renewable energy:
- Solar Energy: developing and installing solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity.
- Hydropower: creating dams and turbines to generate electricity from water.
- Wind energy: designing and installing wind turbines that convert kinetic energy from the wind into electricity.
- Geothermal energy: generating electricity by using the earth’s internal heat.
- Biomass and bioenergy: using organic material, such as agricultural waste, as a fuel alternative.
Career Options in Renewable Energy Engineering
Let’s divide the career options for graduates of engineering in renewable energy into two: freshers and experienced professionals. The major difference between the two is that candidates begin to move towards higher pay and more management roles as they gain experience.
Look at the following table to see the popular job roles for freshers in renewable energy engineering:
| Job Role | Job Description |
| Research Assistant | Contribute to the research and development of renewable energy. You can also teach the subject. |
| Energy Analyst | Analyse data to assess energy generation, conversion and efficiency. |
| Environmental Engineer | Work in corporate companies to conduct impact assessments and compliance checks. |
| Wind Turbine Engineer | Design, develop and maintain wind farm operations. |
| Solar Engineer | Design and maintain utility-scale solar systems. |
In India, candidates can expect an average salary of INR 3.5 to 6 LPA, depending on the company and the field. If we look at similar roles on a global level, the average salary might lie around USD 45K to 60K annually.
But as experience grows, candidates can progress in their careers to high-level roles and contribute even more. Here are the popular job roles for experienced engineers in renewable energy.
| Job Role | Job Description |
| R&D Specialist | Research and development go from merely supporting to innovating in the field. |
| Sustainability Consultant | As companies rush to adopt green energy, sustainability consultants advise them on how to integrate it. |
| Policy and Regulatory Advisor | Work in shaping policies, frameworks and compliance regulations in renewable energy. |
| Operations and Maintenance Head | Lead the overall operations and maintenance routine of renewable energy plants. |
| Project Manager | Lead renewable energy projects from conception to completion. |
| Energy Storage Engineer | Work in designing and optimising storage systems, like hydrogen storage, etc. |
| Renewable Energy Consultant | Guide companies and organisations through the process of adopting renewable energy. |
Eventually, with more experience, candidates can progress to earn around INR 10 to 20 LPA, while some companies may also offer packages around INR 25 LPA. Globally, similar roles might pay around USD 80K to 120K annually.
What Skills Do You Need To Grow?
In this section, we answer the most popular question: What skills are required to build a career in renewable energy engineering? Here’s a general list:
- Engineering foundation: This is non-negotiable. Candidates must have a strong foundation of technical knowledge in engineering.
- Renewable energy: A thorough understanding of how renewable energy works, its advantages, challenges, and future scope is expected.
- Project management: If you’re planning a corporate career, project management skills will come in handy to acquire higher pay.
- Soft skills: Several soft skills, like communication, leadership, collaboration and adaptability, are necessary to coordinate with the team and clients.
- Sustainability: Candidates must have comprehensive knowledge about sustainability practices, environmental impact and climate change.
- Problem-solving: This is the entire basis of innovation. Professionals must be open-minded and able to practise problem-solving when it comes to technical challenges.
- Emerging tech: To truly push your career ahead, you must also be aware of and understand the emerging technologies, like IoT, smart grids, artificial intelligence, predictive maintenance, hydrogen tech, etc.
Future Of Renewable Energy Engineering
In the foreseeable future, engineering in renewable energy is expected to gain traction rapidly. Companies, organisations and governments are rushing to adopt green energy while simultaneously promoting it to the general public. Stronger regulations and policies for net-zero emissions are also being formulated and implemented.
It is expected that smart grids and digital energy systems will grow. Similarly, hydrogen as a clean fuel alternative is globally on the rise. Engineers are exploring offshore wind energy expansion and floating solar tech. Lastly, integration of AI, automation and robotics is supposed to be in focus.
Tips for a Successful Career in Renewable Energy Engineering
Here are some tips that will help you build a rewarding career in renewable energy engineering in the long run:
- Understand the field of renewable and green energy by researching various domains and areas.
- Choose the right specialisations in line with your personal and professional goals.
- Work actively to gain all the necessary technical skills.
- Focus on obtaining soft skills if you’re looking at a corporate career.
- Explore internships, part-time jobs, projects, etc., to gain experience and practical exposure.
- Reach out to industry professionals to get advice and build a strong network.
- Keep yourself up-to-date with the current industry trends and developments.
Mailam Engineering College: The Best Avenue for a Successful Career
At Mailam Engineering College, we are focused on providing the right foundation and support to students to build long, rewarding careers. Our faculty and teaching staff are dedicated to building a strong technical base for students. Similarly, we extend continuous support to students through collaboration with more than 108 reputed recruiters, like Tata, Zoho, Cognizant, American Megatrends, Infosys and MRF. We also have an extensive research-based curriculum, which will be useful for students in renewable energy engineering.
To choose growth, a stable career, and active support to build it, choose Mailam.
Read more: Learn more about how internships shape an engineer’s career.
Final Thoughts: Building a Career in Renewable Energy Engineering
Today, renewable energy engineering stands at the intersection of upcoming technology, sustainability, and long-term global impact. As the demand for clean energy continues to rise, job opportunities in this field are also expected to grow. And engineers will ultimately benefit the most. With a wide range of specialisations, candidates also get the opportunity to explore and pick the field that suits them best. However, it is essential to build a strong technical foundation, continue learning soft skills, and keep on top of recent developments and trends in the field of renewable energy!
FAQs
Q1. What is renewable energy engineering?
Ans: Renewable energy engineers are concerned with the design, development and maintenance of energy solutions that focus on sustainable power.
Q2. What is the highest salary in renewable energy?
Ans: Annual salaries can go up to the range of INR 25 to 40 LPA based on skill, experience and knowledge.
Q3. What skills do you need to be a renewable energy engineer?
Ans: A strong technical foundation, desire to innovate, soft skills, problem-solving and adaptability are some of the skills that renewable energy engineers require.
Q4. What is the highest-paying job in renewable energy?
Ans: Project managers, solar engineers, wind turbine engineers and wind farm site managers earn some of the highest salaries in the field of renewable energy.
