Renewable Energy Engineering
Renewable energy engineering is the branch of engineering focused on designing, building, and operating the systems that generate power from solar, wind, tidal, hydroelectric, and other sustainable sources. As the world moves to decarbonise its energy systems, renewable energy has shifted from a specialist niche to the central focus of global energy investment and infrastructure development. Engineers in this field work on turbine design, grid integration, energy storage, offshore and onshore installation, and the modelling and optimisation of energy systems, applying principles from mechanical, electrical, and environmental engineering to one of the defining challenges of the century.
At Robert Gordon University, this part-time BEng (Hons) is designed to equip future engineers with the comprehensive knowledge and technical skills needed to address complex engineering challenges and contribute to the transformation of the global energy sector. You will develop expertise in the principles underlying different renewable technologies, studying how they work, how they are designed and optimised, and how they are integrated into the wider energy system. The programme also builds the transferable skills, including project management, analytical reasoning, and communication, that are essential for professional engineering practice.
Robert Gordon's strong connections to the energy industry, particularly in Scotland and the North Sea, give the programme a practical relevance and a network of industry relationships that support graduate employment. The part-time structure allows you to study while managing professional or personal commitments.
Graduates from renewable energy engineering programmes are sought across the energy sector and its supply chain. Roles in offshore wind, solar farm design, energy storage systems, grid management, energy consultancy, and project engineering are all common destinations. The skills developed are also applicable in energy policy, sustainable infrastructure, and the growing number of organisations working on the energy transition.
Many graduates pursue chartered engineer status through professional bodies. Postgraduate study in renewable energy, energy systems, or sustainable engineering provides further specialisation options.