Pathways to careers in wind and solar

Having forged a successful career in the renewable energy sector, Bachelor of Engineering alumnus Oliver Coleman shares with us some industry insights and lessons learned along the way.

As someone working in the renewable energy sector, I’ve frequently been asked how to go about starting a career working with wind or solar power. As well as the urgent need to address catastrophic climate change, there is a growing recognition that the wind and solar industries are areas that will see significant future growth. The Australian Energy Market Operator is predicting, in their 2022 Integrated System Plan, a likely nine-fold increase in utility scale wind and solar power, and five-fold increase in rooftop solar power by 2050.

In reality the ‘renewable energy sector’ is very broad, including multiple technologies and many different and varied roles. While it’s true that many more engineers will be needed, there is also the need for professionals from a range of other disciplines, including: ecology, earth sciences, social sciences, communications, law, finance and materials science. My journey from fossil fuels to renewables did start in environmental engineering, although it was not linear. I hope that sharing my experience, and mapping out some different roles in the sector, will provide some useful insights for anyone interested in a career in wind or solar.

My story - lessons learned

Graduating in 2011, I enjoyed every bit of my time studying my Bachelor of Engineering (Environmental) at the University of Newcastle. I had also been lucky enough to participate in the University’s study abroad program on a six-month exchange to Vienna in 2008. One of the things that became clear from this experience, was that many countries in Europe were embracing large scale renewable energy at a much faster rate and on a greater scale than Australia at the time.

As a University of Newcastle graduate, I easily found a position with Delta Electricity’s graduate development programme on the completion of my degree. The role was based at the 1320 MW Vales Point thermal coal power station on the Central Coast. While I learned a lot about the power industry, my undergraduate studies had made me conscious of the need to rapidly decarbonise the power sector to avoid catastrophic climate change. Recalling the large-scale wind and solar projects that I’d seen in Europe, I had an increasing desire to work on Australian renewable energy projects, to replace our ageing coal generators.

In 2013, I left Delta Electricity to pursue a Master of Science in renewable energy systems technology, hoping to secure a position working in wind or solar development upon completion. Unfortunately, my timing was not great for the growth of the, then nascent, Australian wind and solar industry. The Federal Government at the time was conducting a review of the Renewable Energy Target, meaning that renewable projects were struggling to get finance due to prolonged uncertainty in federal policy.

My first two years in the renewables industry were spent working for small scale rooftop solar installers in Newcastle. Following that, I took on a role with DNV, a technical consultancy that specialised in independent engineering for large scale wind and solar power. Here I had the opportunity to advise project owners and lenders on multiple renewable energy projects in Australia and the Asia Pacific region. Since leaving consultancy, I have held roles managing a portfolio of utility solar farms, and managing early offshore wind developments.

Australian industry is sometimes ahead of the curve internationally and sometimes behind. if you have the opportunity like I did, take advantage of exchange programs. It’s a great experience that offers the chance to gain new ideas and insights which can lay the foundation for a future career path. I’d also advise those navigating any career path to consider government policy and macro-economic factors that may affect your industry - this has been particularly relevant for the renewables industry! Finally, new industries can take time to get going, and any industry can be affected by government policy; so it’s wise to consider how policy and macro-economic factors may affect your industry when navigating a career path.

Multidisciplinary pathways to renewables

The most obvious path to a career in renewables for many graduates may be through science and engineering disciplines, however, as renewables projects have an intrinsic impact on communities and are facilitated by complex financial transactions, there is a need for a variety of skills within this sector outside of the technical.

Technical pathways

Perhaps the most straightforward pathway for those looking for a dedicated technical role in the sector is through a renewable energy engineering degree. However, as large infrastructure projects, wind and solar farms also require electrical, aerospace, mechanical, geotechnical, and civil engineers. Those studying in these disciplines will likely also have opportunities to apply their skills in the sector, although perhaps not exclusively in renewables. If a career in wind or solar is the goal, then early technical exposure, even as an undergrad, is helpful in building your skillset. Some areas of sought after technical competence students may consider include:

  • Wind or solar energy yield analysis;
  • Dynamic loading structural assessments of wind or solar foundations;
  • Mechanical loads assessment of wind turbines or solar structures;
  • Power systems modelling; and
  • Semiconductor manufacturing processes.

These skills are in demand by design and construction contractors, equipment manufacturers, and technical consultants.

Community engagement and social responsibility

Beyond the technical, there is a growing need to ensure that renewable energy projects are developed in a way that is socially responsible and maintains social licence.  Effective community engagement that identifies key stakeholders early in the project development phase is key to this process. Those in the arts, communications, and social sciences disciplines, may find a path to working on renewables projects through:

  • Aboriginal cultural heritage studies;
  • European cultural heritage studies;
  • Archaeology; or
  • Community consultation and communication strategies.

Roles exist in consultancies that specialise in the areas listed above, and while these consultancies most likely work on other infrastructure projects as well, renewable energy projects can form part of this work. There are often also dedicated roles for community engagement professionals with companies who development renewable energy projects.

Law

For those studying law opportunities exist to work on wind or solar projects through:

  • Legal due diligence;
  • Contracting;
  • Procurement; and
  • Litigation.

Generally, the majority of roles that get exposure to the sector exist within established law firms that offer a range of services and also operate in other areas outside of renewables. Although, there are a number of local law firms with experience in these areas on renewable projects. Large companies involved in renewable development and operations will often have in-house counsel and procurement teams.

Finance and economics

For undergraduates studying finance, or economics, there are opportunities to become involved in wind and solar projects through:

  • Infrastructure advisory;
  • Project financial modelling;
  • Market modelling and analysis.

Roles for graduates with these disciplines exist in investment banking, multinational accounting firms, and in smaller boutique modelling consultancies. Larger renewable energy developers will also often have their own in-house finance specialists, whose role is to model project economics and arrange project financing.

Conclusion

Economies around the world are in the midst of a massive restructuring of their energy systems as the shift to wind and solar energy accelerates.  The International Renewable Energy Agency estimates that there could be 38 million renewable energy jobs worldwide by 2030 (the majority of those being in solar photovoltaics). However, it is going to take more than just engineers and scientists to make the energy transition work. These projects will need to be shown to be commercially viable, gain social licence, and be able to attract project finance. There are opportunities for interested and talented professionals to be involved across the spectrum. There is much work to be done, and much at stake. The industry needs the best people it can get.

Oliver Coleman

Bachelor of Engineering, 2011

Renewable Energy Project Development Manager