Green & Renewable Energies

Green & Renewable Energies overview

As the government and businesses work to reduce their emissions, demand for trained and qualified renewable energy specialists is rising – and retraining for the sector is easier than you might think. 

Renewable energy, also known as green energy, comes from natural resources that are replenished on a human timescale. Solar, wind and hydropower are the most widely used, while bioenergy and geothermal are also significant in some countries.

Where green skills fit

Where green skills fit 

There isn't a single route into renewable energy. Green skills are built into a range of EDC subjects, so you can choose the path that matches your interests: 

• Plumbing & Heating Engineering - many of the technologies needed to decarbonise, including heat pumps and renewable energy systems, depend on trained plumbing and heating engineers.
• Electrical Installation - from electric vehicle technology to smart homes and renewable energy, electrical professionals are essential to the industries shaping our future.
• Engineering & Manufacturing - engineering is at the heart of modern life, from renewable energy and advanced manufacturing to transport, robotics and aerospace.
• Motor Vehicle Maintenance - train on electric and hybrid vehicle training rigs alongside traditional mechanical systems.
• Agriculture - learn sustainable and regenerative farming practices, and environmental stewardship and land management, on a working farm at Houghall
• Land & Wildlife Management - protect habitats, support biodiversity and manage landscapes responsibly across Houghall's woodland, wetlands, meadows and river.
• Tree Surgery & Arboriculture - care for and manage trees as demand grows for skilled arborists to meet new environmental priorities.

View all courses by visiting the course finder.

Our green energies facilities

Our Renewable Energy Suite gives you hands-on experience of the technologies you'll meet in the sector, including:

• micro-wind turbines
• solar panel systems
• solar thermal panels
• hydrogen electrolysis equipment

You'll also train in the specialist facilities for your chosen subject, from workshops and installation bays to working farmland and woodland. 

Where it could lead

Depending on your subject and level of study, you could go on to work in areas such as: 

• plumbing and heating, including heat pumps and renewable systems
• electrical installation
• engineering and manufacturing
• electric and hybrid vehicle maintenance
• farming, land management and conservation
• arboriculture

You could also use your skills to build your own business.

Fees & funding

Course fees vary by level. Full-time courses are free for 16 to 18-year-olds. Adult students may also be eligible for funding depending on circumstances. 

To find out more, check our Course Fees & Funding page.