Renewable energy

The UK has plans to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions dramatically this century and investment in renewable energy is a key strategy for achieving this aim. As this area has become more prominent, a skills-shortage has emerged, creating many career opportunities for graduates.

The major employers in the renewable energy field at present are the national and global energy companies in the oil & gas section.

Gardline Surveys is one of many companies carrying out analysis of existing oil supplies. Its website contains recruitment advice and a jobs section.

There are a number of websites carrying information about jobs in renewable energy:

• Careers in Renewable Energy gives an excellent introduction to the industry, skills required and careers available
• Its sister site Renewable Energy Jobs carries current vacancies.

Opportunities in Nuclear include:

• British Energy — operates nuclear power stations in the UK
• British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL) — its activities include nuclear site decommissioning and clean-up, technology services and solutions across the nuclear fuel cycle
• NPower Renewables — dedicated to generating electricity using sustainable, environmentally-friendly resources.
• the UK Fusion Research Programme — this programme is jointly funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and EURATOM
• Nuclear Graduates — a portal through which students can apply to 26 companies involved in the production, distribution and defence of the UK's nuclear energy industry.

If you are interested in renewable energy and haven't studied it in any detail during your degree, a Master's course will improve your understanding of the field to help you to make a more informed decision about pursuing this career path. Additional qualifications may also improve your attractiveness to employers if they give you a broader view of the field, as the work is multidisciplinary. There's more advice about finding suitable courses in the further study section.

If a green career appeals strongly, why not check out another physicist’s real-life experience of working in this field?

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