I read the article with interest, but it didn't really answer one of my burning questions - how does an established engineer cross over to renewable energy? I've worked in the dark side of oil and gas as an EE for the last 7 years, basically designing and commissioning power systems for onshore and offshore facilities.
However ever since I was a graduate, I've always wanted to be in the renewables field. Over the years I've fired off a number of applications to wind and solar companies, but they typically want someone with experience... which appears to be a catch-22 for me (ironically, people have this same problem trying to get into the oil and gas industry).
So I'm thinking of doing a masters at the local renewable energy research centre, which is conveniently located around the corner from where I live. My personal interest is in decentralised power networks, supplied by a mix of renewables and base load fossil fuels, and how they interact with the wider grid. I'm also very interested in the environmental economics / energy policy side of things, and over the past year have been doing part-time work for the environmental economics group (at the company where I work). I've almost finished an economics graduate diploma as well (1 year to go!).
And lastly, I'm going on a 6 month volunteer posting to SE Asia next Feb with Engineers without Borders, ostensibly to develop water purification systems for some rural villages (basically a solar powered RO filter as far as I can tell from the literature they've sent through).
I suppose I'm not doing all this just to break into renewable energy (though it'd be a nice payoff), since I'm ultimately just following my interests around. However my question still stands: how do I get a foot in the door? Am I on the right track? and does the industry need someone with my hodge-podge of skills?
However ever since I was a graduate, I've always wanted to be in the renewables field. Over the years I've fired off a number of applications to wind and solar companies, but they typically want someone with experience... which appears to be a catch-22 for me (ironically, people have this same problem trying to get into the oil and gas industry).
So I'm thinking of doing a masters at the local renewable energy research centre, which is conveniently located around the corner from where I live. My personal interest is in decentralised power networks, supplied by a mix of renewables and base load fossil fuels, and how they interact with the wider grid. I'm also very interested in the environmental economics / energy policy side of things, and over the past year have been doing part-time work for the environmental economics group (at the company where I work). I've almost finished an economics graduate diploma as well (1 year to go!).
And lastly, I'm going on a 6 month volunteer posting to SE Asia next Feb with Engineers without Borders, ostensibly to develop water purification systems for some rural villages (basically a solar powered RO filter as far as I can tell from the literature they've sent through).
I suppose I'm not doing all this just to break into renewable energy (though it'd be a nice payoff), since I'm ultimately just following my interests around. However my question still stands: how do I get a foot in the door? Am I on the right track? and does the industry need someone with my hodge-podge of skills?