Renewables to power demand for more Australian engineers

Australia is about to undergo one of the most disruptive transformations in its history as it tackles climate change head-on – and it will take engineers, some of them graduates of Charles Darwin University (CDU), to make it all happen.

The Federal Government has committed to reducing Australia’s emissions to 2005 levels by 2035 and achieving Net Zero emissions – where we recycle greenhouse gases faster than we create them – by 2050.

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A primary focus of this plan is transforming the energy sector. While efforts to decarbonise electricity and energy production have been slow up until now, momentum is building.

Investment in renewable energy has surged dramatically. In 2020, $3.4 billion was spent on renewable energy construction, but by 2023, that figure had doubled to $6.9 billion.

Powering change

Federal Government initiatives are driving this growth to accelerate the shift to clean energy. The Investing in a Future Made In Australia program, announced via the federal budget, allocates more than $65 billion to renewable energy development until 2030.

A significant part of this initiative is the production of hydrogen as a fuel of the future, projected to be a $2.2 trillion global industry by 2050.

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However, Australia faces some significant challenges. Despite having more than $225 billion in hydrogen-related projects planned, the necessary infrastructure to support hydrogen fuel is lacking. Everything – from production facilities to storage and transport networks – must be built from the ground up.

That will make for great opportunities for anyone considering an engineering degree.

Building the skills

Charles Darwin University offers specialised training programs and research initiatives such as the Renewable Energy Microgrid Hub for Applied Research and Training (REMHART).

According to CDU senior lecturer in Mechanical Engineering Naveen Elumalai, the university will be crucial in helping Australia’s green energy transition.

“CDU is developing a skilled workforce for the hydrogen industry through research and training programs focused on hydrogen production, storage, and utilisation,” Naveen says.

“In addition, CDU is also actively involved in research and training for green hydrogen production, utilising advanced material systems such as nanofibre-based photocatalysts to generate this clean energy source.

“Government initiatives and industry partnerships further support the development of a skilled workforce,” he says.

Despite challenges like skills shortages, the renewable energy sector offers promising career opportunities for engineers to drive innovation and contribute to a sustainable future.

Other major green energy projects in the pipeline include ramping up Tasmania’s hydroelectricity generation capacity – and the infrastructure to support it – to supply mainland Australia, the “Snowy 2.0” upgrade to enhance the Snowy Hydro scheme and build in capacity and energy storage, and installing more land-based and offshore wind turbine farms.

Industry advocate Engineers Australia (EA) has urged the Australian Government to set an ambitious goal of 60,000 more engineering graduates by 2033 to help meet the Net Zero target. 

EA acting chief engineer Bernadette Foley says Australia’s energy transition presents an enormous economic opportunity for Australia, particularly in clean hydrogen, critical minerals and green metals, while also helping to offset the decline in fossil fuel exports.

“With world-class renewable energy resources, we have a global competitive advantage,” Foley says.

Take clean hydrogen, for example – CSIRO projects that by 2050, the hydrogen electrolyser industry alone could generate $1.7 billion in revenue and create nearly 4,000 jobs.

“Every aspect of the clean energy sector depends on engineering and engineers, and we need more of them."

What are you waiting for?

CDU’s engineering courses give you the flexibility of 100% online study, meaning you can complete your degree from anywhere in Australia.

If you’re not into electrical engineering, you can choose from other specialist fields, including civil, geotechnical, structural, electronics and mechanical engineering.

If you don't have an ATAR, do not meet the entry requirements, or haven't studied in a while, you can still qualify for an engineering degree. It’s as easy as taking a free online or on-campus Tertiary Enabling Program and qualifying to start your degree in as little as 16 weeks.