Renewable Energy Sector Careers and Growth Opportunities

Posted in #LetsBFRANK: The College Admissions Blog on June 23, 2021

This post was written by Marie Gendron

The Biden Administration shone a spotlight on the renewable energy sector when it unveiled its $2.25 trillion infrastructure plan, which called for massive investment in renewable power and the electric grid as part of a broad blueprint to bolster the US economy and combat climate change. We talked with Nikhil Satyala, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering and Engineering Technology at Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology (Franklin Cummings Tech), about the importance of renewable energy, why skilled technicians are the future for Boston’s green initiative, and how a new Franklin Cummings Tech program can help prepare students for good jobs in this sector.

What do we mean by the renewable/clean energy industry—what does it include?Green/Renewable Energy technology is the branch of science and technology that primarily deals with techniques essential for solar and wind energy harvesting, energy storage, and alternative energy resource maintenance. These techniques are crucial for achieving sustainability in the energy sector. The green/renewable energy industry focuses on three main components: reduction of environmental impacts caused by fossil fuels and other resources, providing a reliable and sustainable supply of alternative energy resources, and creating localized grid systems that enhance the flexibility of the overall power grid system.

How do you expect the renewable energy field to grow and change over the next 5-10 years , especially in Massachusetts?
With a focus on energy efficiency combined with affordable and sustainable methods of producing clean energy, the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced nearly $125 million for solar technology research. A report from Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) shows a steady 12 times faster growth in solar jobs than the rest of the US economy. A significant growth in clean energy jobs is projected over the next 10 years. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 105% employment growth among solar photovoltaic installers and 96% among wind turbine technician positions over the period of 2016 – 2026.

With an estimated 4.5 million jobs in the energy efficiency and renewable energy sector, solar and wind jobs such as Wind Turbine Service Technicians and Solar Photovoltaic Installer jobs are currently at #1 and #3 positions in the list of Top 20 fastest growing occupations. The DOE also reported that wind and solar jobs have seen an increase of 32% and 25% respectively between 2015 and 2016. It is estimated that by the year 2030, nearly 57% of total electricity generation in New England could come from alternative energy resources such as solar, wind energy harvesting, etc. (See the Energy Vision 2030 report for New England.)

How does Franklin Cummings Tech incorporate renewable energy in its academic programs?
Franklin Cummings Tech has launched a 2-year Associate of Science in Renewable Energy Technology concentration as part of its Engineering Technology program. This concentration is focused on a hands-on curriculum-based training for students to enter the Green/Renewable Energy industry. An Associate of Science degree in this field would provide the necessary skill set for students to pursue a typical entry-level technician position focused on assembly, installation, and maintenance. The Renewable Energy Engineering Technology concentration addresses these key job requirements by functioning primarily as a technical degree track that provides both theoretical knowledge and laboratory-based experience in various aspects of energy harvesting systems. Students will learn about the importance of performance analytics and technical know-how necessary for supporting the cost-effective energy production methods in the industry. Gaining knowledge of power generation techniques and sustainable building technologies will be a plus for students to make them marketable for a wide range of jobs and multiple career paths.

What makes Franklin Cummings Tech’s approach to renewable energy different from other colleges?
While there are other programs that focus on the theoretical aspects of energy generation, system maintenance and operations, Franklin Cummings Tech’s Renewable Energy Technology program provides a unique opportunity to develop industry-specific, hands-on competencies that align with the current and future demands of the workforce in this area of Engineering Technology.

The program is designed to not only provide a strong technical proficiency but also aims to develop a strong general education and mathematics foundation. The curriculum offers innovative learning techniques based on state-of-art lab equipment and hands-on activity-based learning. The courses have been designed to provide understanding of the benefits, strengths, limitations, and environmental impacts of renewable energy and sustainable energy resources; achieve basic knowledge in installation, maintenance, troubleshooting and assembly of renewable energy and power systems; develop the necessary technological, mathematical, scientific, engineering, and competencies to efficiently perform energy generation and maintenance related operations; and incorporate an understanding of environmental and economic impacts of renewable energy systems.

What types of jobs are available in the renewable energy industry? What type of salaries can you earn?
A significant growth in clean energy jobs is projected over the next 10 years. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 105% employment growth among solar photovoltaic installers and 96% among wind turbine technician positions over the period of 2016 – 2026. Franklin Cummings Tech’s Renewable Engineering Technology major aims to prepare and train students in wide range of skills required for career options including Solar Photovoltaic Installer/Technician (Median Salary: $44,890, 10-year growth: 51%), Wind Turbine Technician (Median Salary: $52,910, 10-year growth: 61%), and Engineering Technician (Median Salary: $50,620, 10-year growth: 7%). Furthermore, it provides students with a pathway towards undergraduate and graduate programs in Renewable Energy Engineering and Environmental Engineering and Energy Systems Engineering.

What credentials do you need to get hired in this field (e.g., certificate, associate degree, bachelors degree)?
A minimum of Associate of Science degree is required for entry-level positions such as Solar Photovoltaic Installer/Technician, Wind Turbine Technician, and Engineering Technician in this field.

Can you get started as a technician with just a high school diploma?
For most of the entry-level Engineering Technology related positions in the industry, the typical list of qualification begins with an Associate Degree along with hands-on skills. Sample skills include but are not limited to the ability to use electrical test equipment such as DMM, meggers, and multi process calibration equipment. Strong knowledge in electrical theory and troubleshooting techniques is also a necessity for these positions.

What type of student do you think would be most successful in this program?
Any student with basic high-school level knowledge in mathematics and sciences would be successful in the Renewable Energy Technology track offered by Franklin Cummings Tech. The program is designed to not only provide a strong technical proficiency, but also aims to develop a strong general education and mathematics foundation. The curriculum offers innovative learning techniques based on state-of-art lab equipment and hands-on activity-based learning.

To learn more about the Renewable Energy Technology/Engineering Technology program and other Franklin Cummings Tech programs, visit our website or contact the Admissions Office at admissions@franklincummings.edu.