A Guide to Careers in Energy

Sustainable Energy Ireland

Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) was set up by the government in 2002 as Ireland’s national energy agency with a mission to promote and assist the development of sustainable energy.

SEI’s activities can be divided into two main areas:

• Energy Use -

Energy is vital to how we live our daily lives but most of us don’t use energy as efficiently as we could. By assisting those who use energy (mainly industry, businesses and householders), to be more energy efficient, SEI can help to reduce the amount of energy we use overall.

• Renewable Energy -

Energy that is generated from renewable sources such as wind and solar power is clean and doesn’t produce harmful greenhouse gases. By promoting the development and wider use of renewable energy in Ireland SEI can help to further benefit the environment, in particular reducing the threat of climate change.

SEI is also involved in other activities such as stimulating research and development, advising on energy policy and producing energy statistics.

The Energy Institute

The Energy Institute (EI) is the leading chartered professional membership body for those working in energy. Providing an independent focal point and a powerful voice to engage business and industry, government, academia and the public, the EI promotes the safe, environmentally responsible and efficient supply and use of energy in all its forms and applications.

Offering learning and networking opportunities to support career development, the EI provides a home to all those working in energy, and a scientific and technical reservoir of knowledge for industry.

Careers in Energy

The challenge to find more efficient and cleaner ways to meet our energy needs presents career opportunities. If you’re thinking about career directions and you’re looking for a developing sector that offers opportunities to work with emerging technologies and play a part in tackling some of the biggest challenges facing our economy and our environment then read on...

Energy, we all need it, we all use it everyday. We depend on a secure supply of energy to keep our homes comfortable, vital services like hospitals functioning, and people and goods moving from place to place. At present we rely heavily on imported, non-renewable fuels like coal and oil to meet our energy needs. There is a finite supply of fossil fuels and political change and market forces can influence availability. Subsequently, energy efficiency and finding ways to use alternative sources of energy effectively are becoming increasingly important.

By researching and developing renewable energy resources like wind and wave power to generate electricity and using technology to harness solar power we can reduce our dependence on diminishing fossil fuels. Biofuels, hydrogen cell technology and hybrid engines have all been developed as a result of the need to find cleaner, more efficient ways to power cars and other vehicles.

Climate change is an issue that is rarely out of the news and represents the most pressing environmental impact of our energy use. Cleaner and more energy efficient technologies that do not produce greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and allow us to use less energy to achieve the same results are increasingly in demand. Soon everything from domestic appliances like washing machines to buildings and cars will carry an energy label, which rates how efficiently they use energy.

Useful websites

Discover Science and Engineering www.science.ie

This programme aims to increase interest in science, technology,innovation and engineering among students, teachers and members of the public. The website has a section on careers with a series of leaflets for download.

QualifaX www.qualifax.ie

This is the Irish national database of all third level and further education courses. QualifaX is the ‘one stop shop’ for information on courses for Guidance Counsellors, students and adults. It offers information on courses searchable by keyword, location and level of award.

STEPS to Engineering – Engineers Ireland www.steps.ie

The STEPS website provides students with an insight into the engineering industry, one of the largest employment sectors in Ireland. There are a series of Engineering Career Sheets that explore all areas of the sector including civil, aeronautical, biomedical, mechanical and software engineering and are of particular relevance to Guidance Counsellors, teachers, post primary students and parents. The site also has a magazine called Engineering Life with profiles of individuals in the sector and Engineering as a career for download.

Courtesy of Sustainable Energy Ireland

Contact Information:

Sustainable Energy Ireland

T. +353 1 8369080 

Wilton Park House,

Wilton Place,

Dublin 2

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

You can read the SEI booklet Careers on Energy by clicking here

http://www.sei.ie/Schools/SecondarySchools/Resources/SEI-careersguide.pdf