Renewable Energy Engineering

Renewable energy engineering sits at the heart of one of the most important challenges of the twenty-first century. The transition away from fossil fuels towards wind, solar, tidal, hydropower and other renewable sources is already underway, but it requires engineers who can design, build and operate the complex systems that make it work. This is not simply a technical challenge; it involves integrating variable power sources into grids, managing energy storage, designing offshore infrastructure and navigating the regulatory and commercial dimensions of the energy sector.

At Robert Gordon University, this four-year BEng programme is designed specifically to prepare engineers who can address those challenges at a professional level.

You will develop comprehensive knowledge of the engineering principles that underlie renewable energy systems, including electrical engineering, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and structural design, alongside the technical skills needed to apply those principles to real engineering problems. The programme emphasises creativity and transferable professional skills as well as technical competence, recognising that the engineers who will reshape the energy sector need to be adaptable problem-solvers who can work across disciplines and contexts. The four-year structure allows the curriculum to develop in depth and sophistication, building from fundamental principles into the specialist knowledge that the global renewable energy industry requires.

The career destinations for renewable energy engineers are both broad and expanding rapidly. Offshore and onshore wind development, solar energy projects, tidal and wave energy research, energy storage systems and the electrification of transport and heating all require engineers with this kind of training. Consulting engineers, energy companies, grid operators, government agencies and international development organisations working in emerging economies are all significant employers.

Many graduates work towards chartered engineer status through the relevant professional engineering institutions. Postgraduate study in renewable energy, energy systems or engineering management is a natural next step for those who wish to develop specialist expertise.