Reviewed Checked on 29 October 2026
Most facts come from the Prospects renewable energy careers guide (April 2026), the OWIC and RenewableUK skills report it cites, and government Energy Trends. Job adverts are labelled Reported.
Renewable energy graduate jobs in the UK cover far more than engineering. Prospects lists technical roles, management and consultancy roles, and supporting careers such as law, policy and planning. This guide sets out seven core jobs, what they involve, what starting pay looks like, and who runs early careers programmes.
Renewables generated 52.5 percent of UK electricity in the government Energy Trends release for March 2026, according to Prospects, and the wind sector alone says it needs tens of thousands of extra workers by 2030.
Renewable energy graduate jobs: at a glance
| Question | Answer | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Starting salaries | £19,000 to £28,000, depending on job, company and location | Reported by Prospects |
| Average pay for renewable professionals | £38,000, though many roles need qualifications and experience | Reported by Prospects |
| People working in UK wind | 55,000 across onshore and offshore wind in 2025 | OWIC and RenewableUK report |
| Offshore wind roles needed by 2030 | 75,000 to meet minimum government targets; 94,000 in an ideal scenario for 52GW | OWIC and RenewableUK report |
| Share of UK electricity from renewables | 52.5 percent in the March 2026 Energy Trends release | Government statistics, via Prospects |
| Is a STEM degree essential? | No. Energy UK says not all jobs require a STEM background | Quoted in Prospects |
Source: Prospects, Renewable energy careers, posted April 2026, checked 29 October 2026.
Seven renewable energy graduate jobs
Prospects groups renewable roles into technical positions and managers and consultants. These seven are the core graduate routes.
| Job | What it involves (per Prospects) | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Design engineer | Designing, building and developing renewable energy systems. See the job profile | Technical |
| Energy engineer | Researching and developing new technologies and processes for sustainable energy. See the job profile | Technical |
| Energy installer or technician | Installing and maintaining wind turbines or solar panels | Technical |
| Electrician | Safe installation, maintenance and repair of electrical parts of wind turbines, solar panels and heat pumps | Technical |
| Renewable energy manager | Taking renewable projects from design to completion, maximising production and profit while reducing environmental impact. See the job profile | Manager |
| Renewable energy consultant | Advising energy firms, developers and government organisations on moving to renewable energy | Consultant |
| Business developer | Finding opportunities and investment for renewable projects, with contract negotiation and building regulations. See the job profile | Commercial |
Other roles Prospects mentions include ecologist, planner, policy officer, PR officer, digital media specialist and renewable energy lawyer.
What the industry says
Juliette Sanders, chief communications officer at Energy UK, told Prospects: “It’s an exciting time to join the industry.” This is one person’s view from a trade body, not a guarantee of jobs. Source: Prospects.
The same article quotes her saying the sector needs more than engineers and technicians, including lawyers, accountants, digital media, public affairs and policy staff.
Pay and demand
Prospects gives starting salaries of £19,000 to £28,000 and an average of £38,000 for renewable professionals. These are broad figures from one source, so compare them with adverts. For wider pay comparisons see our highest paying graduate salaries and mechanical engineering salary pages.
| Measure | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Offshore wind direct and indirect jobs today | Close to 40,000 | OWIC and RenewableUK, 2025 |
| Onshore wind workers needed for 27GW by 2030 | 19,000 | OWIC and RenewableUK, 2025 |
| Workforce based in Scotland | 35 percent | OWIC and RenewableUK, 2025 |
| Women in offshore wind | 22 percent, target 33 percent by 2030 | OWIC and RenewableUK, 2025 |
| Global renewable capacity by 2030 | Set to double to 4,600GW; solar PV about 95 percent of growth | IEA Renewables 2025, via Prospects |
All figures as reported by Prospects from the named bodies. Check the Wind Industry Skills Intelligence Report 2025 for the original.
Degrees and routes in
| Level | Examples named by Prospects |
|---|---|
| Degree subjects | Chemical engineering, chemistry, electrical engineering, environmental science, mechanical engineering, physics |
| Specialist BEng | BEng Renewable Energy Engineering at Exeter, typically AAB to ABB at A level, accredited by the Energy Institute, Engineering Council and IET |
| Masters | MSc Renewable Energy at Cranfield and Warwick; MSc Renewable Energy and Clean Technology at Manchester; MSc Renewable Energy Engineering at Heriot-Watt |
| Short courses | Renewable Energy Institute online courses, such as Renewable Energy Management and Finance |
A placement year can add professional experience. Prospects cites a Brunel BEng with an optional industry year as an example.
Not an engineer? Prospects notes that law, accountancy, policy, planning and communications all support the sector. Our accounting career guide is one example of a route in through a professional qualification.
Who runs early careers programmes
Prospects lists these renewable employers with early careers programmes: Ørsted, PEAK Wind, Photon Energy, RWE Renewables, Siemens Energy, Vital Energi and WSP. Larger suppliers include Centrica, E.ON UK, EDF, ScottishPower and SSE.
| Opening | Where | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| WSP 2026 graduate programme, energy transition | Manchester | Reported listing |
| RWE Renewables year-in-industry placement, operations engineering | Scroby Sands offshore wind farm, Norfolk, summer 2026 | Reported listing |
We did not find Ørsted or SSE 2026 intake dates on a page we could open. Check their sites directly. Search more roles on the RenewableUK Job Finder. For a related employer see our Siemens graduate scheme page.
How to apply: five steps
- Pick a track: technical, management or consultancy, using the table above.
- Match your degree to the roles. Check whether the employer names a minimum degree classification.
- Shortlist three to five employers from the early careers list and set alerts on the RenewableUK Job Finder.
- Prepare for online tests with our online tests guide.
- Practise for the assessment day with our assessment centre guide and browse the graduate scheme hub.
FAQ
What renewable energy graduate jobs are there in the UK?
Prospects lists technical roles such as design engineer, energy engineer, installer or technician and electrician, management roles such as renewable energy manager, consultancy, and business development.
What is the starting salary in renewable energy?
Prospects gives a range of £19,000 to £28,000 depending on the job, company and location, and an average of £38,000 for renewable energy professionals.
Do I need an engineering degree for renewable energy?
No. Energy UK says not all jobs require a STEM background, and Prospects lists law, accountancy, policy, planning and communications roles that support the sector.
Which companies have renewable energy graduate schemes?
Prospects names Ørsted, PEAK Wind, Photon Energy, RWE Renewables, Siemens Energy, Vital Energi and WSP, plus larger suppliers such as Centrica, E.ON UK, EDF, ScottishPower and SSE.
How many people work in UK wind energy?
The OWIC and RenewableUK 2025 skills report, as cited by Prospects, puts it at 55,000 across onshore and offshore wind, with 75,000 offshore roles needed by 2030 to meet minimum government targets.
