Overview
Renewable energy engineers design, build, and operate solar, wind, hydropower, and energy storage systems. India's national renewable energy capacity target of 500 GW by 2030 has driven sustained hiring at large IPPs (ReNew Power, Adani Green, Tata Power Renewables, Greenko), EPC contractors, and grid integration teams. Specialised paths in storage (battery and pumped hydro), green hydrogen, and offshore wind are emerging.
Day-to-day responsibilities
Design solar PV and wind farm layouts; conduct site assessments (solar irradiance, wind resource); calculate energy yield estimates; develop project Detailed Project Reports (DPR); manage EPC vendor contracts; oversee construction progress and quality; commission new plants and integrate with grid; monitor operational performance and analyse downtime; partner with regulatory teams on PPA negotiations and grid clearances.
Skills required
- Power systems engineering fundamentals
- Solar PV design (PVsyst, HelioScope)
- Wind resource assessment (WindPRO, Meteodyn)
- Grid integration and regulations (CERC, SERCs)
- Project management (PMP, Primavera P6)
- Energy yield modelling
- Battery storage system design
- AutoCAD and SCADA basics
Education path
B.Tech Electrical Engineering, B.Tech Mechanical Engineering, B.Tech Energy Engineering, or B.Tech Renewable Energy (offered at TERI School of Advanced Studies, Pandit Deendayal Energy University). MTech Renewable Energy or Power Systems for senior design roles. Strong industrial training during B.Tech (preferably with NTPC, Adani Green, or Tata Power Renewables) materially improves entry placement.
Career progression
- 1Renewable Energy Engineer (0-2 yrs)
- 2Senior Engineer (2-5 yrs)
- 3Project Manager / Design Lead (5-9 yrs)
- 4Project Director / Senior Manager (9+ yrs)
- 5Vice President Operations / Plant Head
Top employers in India
Useful certifications
- NABCEP PV Associate (US), recognised globally
- Certified Energy Manager (CEM, US AEE)
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
- Wind Industry Knowledge Certification (Global Wind Organisation)
- Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) accredited Energy Auditor