How to Become a Renewable Energy Consultant

Are you passionate about clean energy? Do you have an analytical mind and enjoy creative problem solving? A career as a renewable energy consultant may be right for you! Combine your passion with your skills as you pursue education to become an energy consultant.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

What Is A Renewable Energy Consultant?
What Does an Energy Consultant Do?
Average Energy Consultant Salary?
What is the Energy Consultant Job Outlook?
How to Become an Energy Expert: Educational Qualifications
Renewable Energy Courses and Degrees

As you become an energy consultant, you’ll be a part of the fast-growing clean energy industry. You will work with clients to meet their goals while reducing or eliminating impact on the environment. Learn how to become an energy expert and what your future holds as a green energy professional.

Career Path Overview for Energy Consultants
Education Requirements	Bachelor’s Degree
Recommended Degree Program	*SBM Renewable Energy* *BS in Environmental Science and Climate Change*
Average Salary (2020)	$73,230 per year
Workers Employed in U.S. (2020)	87,100
Projected Job Openings by 2030	94,400
Projected Growth Rate	8%
Other Job Titles	Energy Expert, Field Energy Advisor, Solar Energy Consultant, Hybrid Energy Consultant
Related Careers	Environmental Consultant, Energy Engineer

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

What Is A Renewable Energy Consultant?

Renewable energy consultants work with clients to reduce or eliminate the environmental impacts of their business. This work can range from small tasks to projects on a global scale. As companies grapple with the impacts of climate change and resource consumption, a skilled energy consultant guides their clients in decision-making, advocating for sound environmental practices,.

Types of Renewable Energy Consultants:

Solar Energy Consultant: Focus on solar energy projects such as solar panel installation or related projects

Hybrid Energy Consultant: Work with clients on projects with multiple sources of energy, typically both renewable sources

Energy Auditor: Assess client’s existing energy systems and compliance with a set of standards

What Does an Energy Consultant Do?

When preparing for a career in environmental and energy consulting, consider the many specialty areas you can pursue. Renewable energy consultants can be office-based, work in the field, or a combination of both as they complete essential job functions.

The context of your role may vary as you work on different projects or with different types of clients. However, the day to day of what a renewable energy consultant does typically includes:

Data analysis
Assessing client systems
Researching and recommending solutions and resources
Overseeing building projects or installations
Managing budgets and tracking progress
Client collaboration

Solar Energy Consultant Job Description

As a solar energy consultant, you’ll focus specifically on projects that involve solar panels and solar energy. This work may occur in a central office or onsite with a client. At the end of your journey to become a solar energy consultant, you may also take a role as a solar energy sales consultant. With a sales focus, you would be working to sell solar energy solutions to businesses and individuals – providing your energy expertise in the process.

Solar energy consultant salary may be slightly higher in a sales role depending on the compensation structure. A solar consultant job description likely includes:

Needs assessment
Researching and recommending solutions and resources
Overseeing building projects or installations
Data analysis
Client collaboration

Hybrid Energy Consultant Job Description

Hybrid energy consultants work with systems that utilize multiple energy sources. Oftentimes, hybrid energy systems combine two or more forms of renewable energy, which creates unique opportunities and challenges for businesses. In this role, you’ll use critical thinking and creative problem solving skills to succeed.

A typical job description may include:

Inspecting existing client systems
Researching and recommending improvements or resources
Identifying potential roadblocks and implementing solutions
Data analysis
Client collaboration

Skills Needed to Be an Energy Consultant

Regardless of specialization, the best way to become an energy consultant is to focus on honing your skills. With this set of tools, you will have your choice of roles and specialties. All energy consultants will need:

Written and verbal communication skills
Critical thinking skills
Environmental knowledge
Data analysis skills
Project management skills

Where Do Energy Consultants Work?

Wherever there is renewable energy, you can find a green energy consultant. Whether in an office or in the field, international or domestic, renewable energy consultants work to improve the environment and provide value to clients.

In each of these roles, your hours and working environment will vary greatly. Consider what you value in a workplace as you interview for various roles, and identify which companies or specializations align best. As an energy expert, you may work for:

A private consulting firm, alongside a team of energy consultants
A large corporation, as an in-house energy expert
A domestic or international government
Yourself, as an independent energy consultant

In the Office

As an energy consultant in the office, you’ll work on the logistical or non-field elements of your projects. This may include client meetings, data analysis, research, and more. Depending on your specific position, you may spend a majority of your time in the office.

Other roles spend almost all of their time in the field, with limited days in the office. Whatever your position entails, in-office work requires strong collaboration and communication skills as you work with others to meet your goals.

What is a Field Energy Advisor?

As a field energy advisor, you will join or represent clients in the field over the course of a project. This may involve overseeing part or all of an installation, or inspecting progress at various points.

A field energy consultant job description often changes based on the project or client they are assigned to, giving flexibility and variety to the role.

Average Energy Consultant Salary?

Energy consultant salary range varies by specialization, location, and employer. You can optimize your earnings with a job in clean energy consulting by pursuing additional certifications. If you become a certified energy advisor, salary prospects increase significantly. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, you can expect your energy efficiency consultant salary to fall within the ranges below.

Median: $73,230
Top 10%: $129,450
Bottom 10%: $42,960

Top paying states for Environmental Scientists and Specialists according to the BLS:

*State*	*Number Employed*	*Average Hourly Wage*	*Average Annual Salary*
*District of Columbia*	*1,730*	*$ 55.83*	*$ 116,120*
*California*	*14,830*	*$ 45.62*	*$ 94,880*
*Massachusetts*	*2,070*	*$ 43.95*	*$ 91,410*
*Virginia*	*3,380*	*$ 42.00*	*$ 87,360*
*Washington*	*3,010*	*$ 41.55*	*$ 86,420*

What is the Energy Consultant Job Outlook?

Jobs in the environmental sciences, including energy consulting, are growing steadily as governments and private companies focus more on the environmental impact of what they do (BLS). As a green energy consultant, you’ll have the opportunity to join this growing field while making a difference.

Estimate of Jobs available: 9,400
Rate of projected job growth: 8%
New jobs to be added in the next 10-years: 7,300
Fastest growing states for jobs: California, Texas, Florida, New York, North Carolina

How to Become an Energy Expert: Educational Qualifications

Once you’ve decided to pursue a role in energy, how to become a renewable energy consultant is largely up to you. As long as you earn a bachelor’s degree, you meet minimum requirements for most roles. However, to optimize your chances of landing a high-paying role in your specialization of interest, there are extra steps you’ll need to take.

Energy Consultant High School Recommendations

Just because you are in high school does not mean you can’t take steps to become a green energy consultant! Set yourself up for success by participating in activities and taking classes that build key skills in the energy field. Because the field requires a bachelor’s degree, it is important to focus on having strong grades and involvement in extracurriculars as you apply to college. Consider:

Enrolling in STEM track or specialized STEM school
Joining a science-based extracurricular like Science Olympiad or Environmental Club
Taking a Public Speaking course to build key communication skills

Energy Consultant College Education Recommendations

Many universities offer science and environment-related programs, but few offer the exact degrees you’ll need to succeed as an energy consultant. Consider a degree from Unity Environmental University and one of the programs below for the skills and qualifications needed to pursue an energy specialization.

Undergraduate

For your undergraduate studies, focus on earning a Bachelor of Science (B.S.). Specialty programs like those at Unity Environmental University can give you a head start in your pursuit of a successful career as a green energy consultant.

Postgraduate

Regardless of your undergraduate degree, a number of postgraduate programs give you the tools to join the energy field and reach your full potential. Consider a program that provides additional value where you will earn an MBA and focus specifically on sustainability.

Or set yourself apart from others in the field with a Master’s in Environmental Studies and Sustainability. These degree programs can help you advance as a renewable energy consultant, or move into the field from another.

Additional Certifications and Licenses

In addition to undergraduate and graduate coursework, there are a number of additional certifications to help you progress in the field. Many organizations offer renewable energy consultant courses to help you hone industry-specific skills. You also can earn a renewable energy expert certificate to identify yourself as a true expert and provide additional value to your client, your employer, and yourself. Many of these additional certifications can be obtained after you’ve started your first role in the field as a way to continue to grow in your specialization.

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