Renewable Energy Engineers

In 2023, renewable energy accounted for about 9 percent of U.S. energy consumption and 21.4 percent of electricity consumption, according to the Energy Information Administration.

There were 16.2 million global renewable energy jobs in 2023, up from 13.7 million in 2022, according to the Renewable Energy and Jobs Annual Review 2024 from the International Renewable Energy Agency. More than 1 million of these jobs were located in the United States. Worldwide, the solar photovoltaic sector accounted by 7.1 million, followed by biofuels, 3.8 million jobs; hydropower, 2.3 million jobs; and wind, 1.5 million jobs.

Overall employment in engineering careers is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations from 2023 to 2033. The U.S. Department of Labor predicts the following employment outlooks from 2023–33 for engineers who work in solar electric power generation and wind electric power generation—two of the largest renewable energy sectors. The average growth rate for all jobs is 4 percent.

Solar Electric Power Generation

• industrial: +304.7 percent
• mechanical: +301.0 percent
• electrical: +282.4 percent
• civil: +271.3 percent
• all other specialties: +271.3 percent

Wind Electric Power Generation

• electrical: +115.2 percent
• electrical and electronics +114.9
• all other specialties: +109.0 percent

Employment for electrical and electronics engineers in the hydroelectric power generation sector is expected to grow by 6.4 percent from 2023 through 2033, according to the DOL. This is faster than the average for all careers.

Many factors will determine future growth for renewable energy professions. The availability of cheap coal, natural gas, and oil can slow investment in renewable energy systems. New or improved technologies may spur growth of renewable energy and shift resources there. Also, geopolitical trends and developments can affect government and corporate energy policies and access to resources, which may influence the industry. Federal and state regulations regarding the environment and use of fossil fuels will also influence future growth. As energy demands grow and technology improves, however, the demand for alternative sources of power seems set to increase steadily in coming years.