Renewable energy is energy from a source that is not depleted when used, such as wind or solar power, collected from renewable resources, which are naturally replenished on a human timescale, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat. Renewable energy often provides energy in four important areas: electricity generation, air and water heating/cooling, transportation, and rural (off-grid) energy services.
In the current times, many countries rely on conventional sources for their energy needs despite the fact that these sources have hazardous effect on our environment, and also that these sources are depleting rapidly. The Renewable Energy usage is still in a nascent stage in many countries. In international public opinion surveys there is strong support for promoting renewable sources such as solar power and wind power. At the national level, at least 30 nations around the world already have renewable energy contributing more than 20 percent of energy supply. National renewable energy markets are projected to continue to grow strongly in the coming decade and beyond.
Iceland and Norway generate all their electricity using renewable energy already, and many other countries have the set a goal to reach 100% renewable energy in the future. For example, in Denmark the government decided to switch the total energy supply (electricity, mobility and heating/cooling) to 100% renewable energy by 2050. Scotland is continuing to break records on renewable electricity, attracting investment, creating jobs and tackling climate change. Solar water heating makes an important contribution to renewable heat in many countries, most notably in China, which now has 70% of the global total.
European Commission directives have set a 20% reduction in the use of fossil fuel in Europe by 2020 and 15% increase in the use of renewable energy in the UK in the same time period. This means that there are business incentives for developing alternative energy resources and technologies as a substitute for fossil fuel technology.
Germany pledges to double its renewable power by 2030. With the expected global growth in the renewable energy sector, there will be a crucial need for qualified and skilled engineers with specialist knowledge of the relevant technology. Sustainable Energy Engineering provides state-of-the-art education in the fields of solar energy, power generation, energy utilization, turbo machinery, and transformation of energy systems. Renewable energy engineers work to increase the energy production of clean energy sources like wind and solar power. Over 3,00,000 Indians could find jobs in the wind and solar industry over the next five years if the country works towards its 2022 target of 160 GW.
Job areas include:
- Green Business Consulting
- Economic Analysis and Technology Assessment
- Energy and Facility Management
- Ecology and Environmental Protection
- Energy Efficiency and Smart Energy Solutions
- E-mobility and Digital Transformation
Top Institutions in Germany offer programs like MBA/MSc in Renewable Energy and Environmental Management and MEng- International Business and Engineering, for engineers aspiring to gain entrepreneurial skills in this field, requiring basic knowledge and experience in the renewable energy and environmental management sector. The modules feature deep insights into the German renewable energy sector, which is highly advanced. The job prospects continue to grow rapidly, as the demand for Energy Engineers continues to rise internationally.