Clean Energy Careers 101: Jobs, Degrees, and Skills for a Sustainable Future

For students and young professionals looking for a meaningful, future-proof career, clean energy is an industry worth considering. Clean energy isn’t just the future of sustainable power; it’s also a booming job market filled with exciting, well-paying careers. As the world invests in renewable energy, companies need skilled professionals to design, build, and maintain the next generation of power solutions.

Today, we’re going to cover the essentials of starting a career in clean energy, including the best jobs in the field, possible degrees to pursue, and the soft skills that will help set you apart from the growing pool of job candidates. Let’s begin.

Clean Energy as a Career Choice

The clean energy industry is growing at an unprecedented rate. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, wind turbine technicians and solar photovoltaic (PV) installers are two of the fastest-growing jobs in the country, with projected growth rates of 60% and 48%, respectively, by 2033.

Governments and corporations worldwide are committing to net-zero emissions goals, ensuring long-term demand for clean energy workers. This level of job security means you won’t have to worry about an uncertain future. In addition to this, clean energy careers offer competitive salaries, particularly in engineering and project management.

If you’re looking to make a positive impact, a career in clean energy might suit you, as it means helping to reduce carbon emissions and fighting climate change. The bottom line is a career in clean energy is a smart move, and there are many exciting jobs to choose from.

Top Clean Energy Careers

Renewable Energy Engineer

Renewable energy engineers design, test, and improve systems for solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal energy. These professionals employ a variety of soft skills including problem-solving to design innovative energy strategies, critical thinking for evaluating energy efficiency and performance, and collaboration for working with scientists, construction teams, and other professionals.

Wind Turbine Technician

These professionals install, maintain, and repair wind turbines to ensure they operate correctly and efficiently. Relevant soft skills include attention to detail for identifying and fixing mechanical or electrical issues, physical endurance for climbing turbines and working in high-altitude conditions, and collaboration when working with engineers and maintenance teams.

Solar Energy Specialist

Solar energy specialists work on solar panel system design, installation, and maintenance, helping homeowners and businesses transition to solar power. Those with excellent analytical thinking skills make great solar energy specialists, as they’re required to ensure that their designs run smoothly and effectively. Along with this, they possess hands-on skills for installing and troubleshooting solar panels and often provide customer service solutions to clients.

Clean Energy Policy Analyst

Clean energy policy analysts develop and advocate for sustainable energy policies, ensuring governments and companies comply with environmental regulations. The ability to think strategically is crucial for this role, as you’ll be responsible for shaping energy policy and laws. Additionally, the ability to research and analyze data is key for clean energy policy analysts. Finally, you’ll be expected to have strong communication skills for writing reports and advocating for policies.

Energy Consultant

Energy consultants are responsible for helping businesses and governments reduce their energy consumption and transition to clean energy solutions. If you’re interested in this career, work on developing your project management skills, as you’ll need them for when you’re overseeing energy efficiency initiatives. Along with this, you’ll be required to have strong analytical skills for evaluating energy consumption data.

Degrees for Clean Energy Careers

If you’re a student planning a career in clean energy, consider looking into these degrees:

• Environment Engineering: Applies to the design of renewable energy systems.
• Electrical or Mechanical Engineering: Will work for careers in solar, wind, and grid development.
• Environmental Science: This degree focuses on sustainability and energy efficiency.
• Renewable Energy or Sustainable Energy Management: These specialized degrees are tailored for clean energy careers.
• Public Policy or Business Administration: Perfect for those interested in clean energy regulations and consulting.

To help set yourself apart from other candidates, you may also want to consider obtaining certifications in areas such as energy management, solar installation, or environmental policy. In addition to giving you an edge, having certification along with your degree will demonstrate your commitment to your field.

The clean energy industry is growing faster than ever, offering high-paying, meaningful careers with job security and long-term growth. Whether you’re an engineer, a policy expert, or a hands-on technician, you should have no trouble finding a place in the world of clean energy.

Rob Porter is an editor at Vault.