Studies & Degrees in Renewable Energy
Renewable Energy Study Programs
Renewable energy is energy from sources that replenish naturally. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) lists the major types as biomass, hydropower, geothermal, wind and solar. As a field of study, renewable energy covers how these resources are measured, converted into electricity, heat or fuel, and connected to the grid.
It is an applied, technical subject. Students learn the physics and engineering of photovoltaic systems, wind turbines, biofuels and other technologies, and how to judge whether a project is viable. Most courses also include energy economics, regulation and environmental impact. Some programmes are less technical: Illinois State University, for example, describes its Sustainable and Renewable Energy major as interdisciplinary, with solar power system design, wind energy data analysis, energy economics and public policy.
Qualifications and levels
Renewable energy is taught at several levels, and the route depends on whether a student wants to install and maintain systems, design them or do research.
- Vocational training. In Spain the higher vocational qualification Técnico Superior en Energías Renovables lasts 2,000 hours, according to TodoFP, the ministry's vocational training portal. It trains students to manage the commissioning, operation and maintenance of wind farms and to set up solar photovoltaic installations and electrical substations.
- Bachelor's degree. A Spanish bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits under Royal Decree 822/2021. Some universities offer a specific energy degree. The engineering school of the Universidad de Huelva lists a Grado en Ingeniería de Energías Renovables y Tecnología de Hidrógeno as a new degree. Elsewhere students often reach the field through electrical, mechanical or energy engineering.
- Master's degree. Official Spanish master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. The Máster Universitario en Energías Renovables of the Universidad de Jaén has 60 ECTS credits and takes one year, with 48 compulsory credits and a 12-credit final project. The master's of the same name at the Universidad de La Laguna has 120 ECTS credits, lasts two years and is taught on campus.
- Short courses and private programmes. Business schools and distance-learning centres also offer master's programmes and courses in this field. Ask each school what recognition its qualification has before enrolling.
Where to study
SpainExchange lists 32 active schools for renewable energy. Spain has the most, with 20, followed by the United States with 5, Germany and the United Kingdom with 2 each, and Canada, China and Sweden with 1 each.
In Spain the list includes public universities such as the Universidad de Jaén, the Universidad de La Laguna, the Universidad de Huelva, the Universidad de León and the Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, along with private universities, business schools and distance-learning centres, many of them in Madrid. The subjects of the Jaén master's are taught in Spanish.
Outside Spain, Uppsala Universitet in Sweden offers a Master's Programme in Renewable Electricity Production of 120 credits, taught in English on campus. It focuses on electrical power systems and renewable electricity generation. Admission requires a bachelor's degree that includes 90 credits in electrical engineering. In the United States the list includes Illinois State University, Wright State University and The University of Texas at Austin.
Careers
Graduates work in the development, installation, operation and maintenance of energy plants. TodoFP lists roles for holders of the Spanish vocational qualification such as wind farm maintenance specialist and designer of solar photovoltaic installations. The Universidad de Jaén says its master's prepares students to design energy projects and assess their technical, environmental and economic viability. Illinois State University names energy efficiency, renewable energy development and regulatory and government policy analysis as fields for its graduates.
Official statistics exist for a few specific occupations. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of wind turbine technicians in the United States to grow 30 percent from 2025 to 2035, and employment of solar photovoltaic installers to grow 37 percent. Wind turbine technicians typically need a postsecondary nondegree award. For electrical and electronics engineers, who typically need at least a bachelor's degree, it projects growth of 8 percent over the same period. These figures apply to the United States only.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an engineering degree to study renewable energy?
Not always. Technical master's degrees usually expect an engineering or science background: Uppsala Universitet, for example, requires 90 credits in electrical engineering. Vocational courses and interdisciplinary degrees have other entry routes. Check the admission profile of each programme.
How long does a master's in renewable energy take?
One or two years. Official Spanish master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. The master's at the Universidad de Jaén takes one year and the one at the Universidad de La Laguna two years.
Can I study renewable energy in English?
Yes. The master's programme at Uppsala Universitet is taught in English, and so are the programmes at the listed schools in the United States and the United Kingdom. Programmes at Spanish universities are mostly taught in Spanish; check the language of each one.
Is there a vocational route into the sector?
Yes. In Spain the 2,000-hour Técnico Superior en Energías Renovables qualification prepares students for the installation and maintenance of wind and solar photovoltaic plants.