Many renewable energy engineers come from the mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering disciplines. Depending on their training, they may be responsible for designing the machinery, amplifying electrical outputs or developing new means for energy extraction. The U.S. reliance on renewable forms of energy is pushing future employment growth.
Energy Engineering
JOB DESCRIPTION
An energy engineer is involved with the production of energy through natural resources, such as the extraction of oil and gas, as well as from renewable or sustainable sources of energy, including biofuels, hydro, wind and solar power.
Energy engineers are focused on finding efficient, clean and innovative ways to supply energy. They work in a variety of roles including designing and testing machinery, developing ways of improving existing processes, and converting, transmitting and supplying useful energy to meet our needs for electricity.
They research and develop ways to generate new energy, improve the efficient use of energy through reducing emissions from fossil fuels, and minimise environmental damage.
TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES
Energy engineers can have an extremely varied workload, depending on the sector they are in or individual project they are working on. In general, their tasks may involve:
being part of designing, developing and building renewable energy technologies;
combining renewable energy production with existing power systems;
arranging new supplies and negotiating tariffs with fuel providers;
carrying out site inspections and energy surveys;
designing and selecting equipment;
using mathematical and computer models to carry out design and specification calculations;
carrying out lab experiments and adapting them to large-scale industrial processes;
preparing detailed schedules of work, feasibility studies and cost estimates;
checking site and ground conditions for the installation of renewable technologies, such as wind turbines;
negotiating service agreements and managing associated costs and revenues;
liaising and negotiating with fuel providers, specialist contractors, geologists and other relevant organisations;
contributing to sustainable energy initiatives and researching new energy methods;
keeping up to date with legislation and environmental standards and making sure systems and processes comply;
monitoring new technologies or applications, and developing performance indicators;
developing technical expertise in all matters to do with energy and environmental control.
SALARY INFORMATION
According to Payscale.com in December 2014, the national median annual salary for an energy engineer working in renewable energy was 65,001. Payscale.com also stated that the median salary for mechanical engineers working in renewable energy was 66,540, while mechanical engineers in the natural gas industry held a median salary of 77,670.
EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION
Prospective renewable energy engineers can choose from different engineering programs including mechanical, electrical and chemical. These programs have requirements outside the core curricula that include sequences in calculus and physics or chemistry. For the engineering curricula, the capstone requirement is typically a senior design project that allows students to apply the principles they've learned toward an original concept. While in school, many students perform cooperative internships that provide work experience.
While renewable energy engineering is not offered as an accredited program, some schools offer a renewable energy minor. These minors include coursework in electrical energy conversion, energy economics and renewable energy policy. Other schools may offer an alternative energy track or certificate programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Students may consider engineering programs accredited by ABET, Inc., formerly the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. According to ABET, many state licensing boards require applicants to hold a degree from an accredited school while employers, certification boards and graduate schools may prefer it (www.abet.org). Accreditation signifies that a program is preparing students to meet the professional standards of engineering.
0 comments:
Post a Comment