Continuing & Professional Education

Renewable Energy Essentials

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Courses for everyone 3

The renew­able ener­gy sec­tor employs 11.5 mil­lion peo­ple world­wide and over 400,000 in Cana­da, with a pro­ject­ed growth for the next decade of 50% in Cana­da and 160% in Alberta.

Start by exploring connected careers: — get insights into Alberta salaries, job forecasts, and more

Senior Manager - Construction, Transportation, Production and Utilities
23 positions open annually
employment snapshot
Inspector in Public and Environmental Health and Occupational Health and Safety
258 positions open annually
employment snapshot
Natural and Applied Science Policy Researcher, Consultant and Program Officer
139 positions open annually
employment snapshot
Engineering Manager
179 positions open annually
employment snapshot
Architecture and Science Manager
31 positions open annually
employment snapshot
Utilities Manager
81 positions open annually
employment snapshot
Urban and Land Use Planner
37 positions open annually
employment snapshot
Civil Engineer
282 positions open annually
employment snapshot
Civil Engineering Technologist and Technician
141 positions open annually
employment snapshot
Senior Government Manager and Official
75 positions open annually
employment snapshot

Enhance your resume and mar­ketabil­i­ty in the clean tech­nol­o­gy job mar­ket with this pro­gram, as you learn about renew­able ener­gy, smart cities, and the clean tech­nolo­gies that are shap­ing the future.

Explore the the­o­ry and prac­tice behind ener­gy pro­duc­tion, dis­tri­b­u­tion, and con­sump­tion. Learn about the rela­tion­ship between ener­gy and the envi­ron­ment, as well as the steps required for renew­ables to achieve grid par­i­ty. Dis­cuss alter­na­tive forms of elec­tric­i­ty gen­er­a­tion (coal-fired pow­er, com­bined cycle gas tur­bines, nuclear, hydro, geot­her­mal, solar, and wind pow­er) and get updat­ed on all major inno­va­tions and chal­lenges in the industry.

This pro­gram is for you if you want to devel­op, man­age, or improve your under­stand­ing of the rapid­ly evolv­ing clean ener­gy sec­tor. It will be of spe­cial inter­est, among oth­ers, to envi­ron­men­tal pro­fes­sion­als, project man­agers, and indus­try exec­u­tives, as well as devel­op­ers and investors inter­est­ed in expand­ing their career or busi­ness with renew­able energy.

                                                                                                                                       

Fully online.

No prerequisites; working experience in a related area is recommended but not required. It is also recommended that participants have completed high school and are proficient in English.

Complete three courses and earn a Faculty of Extension Record of Achievement.

Keep learning: also check out our Solar Energy and Wind Energy series. Once you complete the classes in Renewable Energy Essentials, you’ll be just one course away from earning another credential!

Complete the Renewable Energy Technologies Certificate and be eligible to write the Sustainable Energy Technologies Professional Exam (administered by the Foundational Technologies Institute) for a discounted student rate of $200 CAD (regular $800 CAD).

Earn a Series Record of Achievement
in Renewable Energy Essentials
  • Can be completed in 6 weeks
  • Pay as you go
  • Start today – no need to apply for admission

Course planner schedule-at-a-glance

1. Start by registering in any of the courses listed above.

2. Once all courses completed, request an official Record of Achievement.

Addi­tion­al Records of Com­ple­tion (with one or two cours­es)
Com­plete one oth­er course (Wind Ener­gy or Solar Ener­gy) to also earn your sec­ond Record of Achieve­ment.
You’ll then have an option to com­plete anoth­er sin­gle course (Wind Ener­gy or Solar Ener­gy) to earn a third Record of Achievement.

Com­plete the Renew­able Ener­gy Tech­nolo­gies Cer­tifi­cate and be eli­gi­ble to write the Sus­tain­able Ener­gy Tech­nolo­gies Pro­fes­sion­al Exam (admin­is­tered by the Foun­da­tion­al Tech­nolo­gies Insti­tute) for a dis­count­ed stu­dent rate of $200 CAD (reg­u­lar $800 CAD).

Bursaries and funding opportunities
Funding source
Eligibility
Amount
Apply by
Canada-Alberta Job Grant 

Available for businesses in all sectors across Alberta

 Two-thirds of the training costs (up to 100% if hiring an unemployed Albertan)
any time
Canada Training Benefit 

Residents of Canada, 25-65 years old, who have $10,000-150,000 in earnings for work.

 $250+
income tax return
Skilled Immigrant Micro-Loan 

Whether you intend to work in the same field you trained in outside of Canada, or you wish to apply your transferable skills to a new career, this low-interest loan helps you cover the cost of education and related living expenses.

 Up to $15,000 loan
N/A
Alumni Professional Development Grant 

Any alumnus of the University of Alberta

 75% of course fee
monthly deadline
HRDF 

Employed by the University of Alberta as Non-Academic Staff (NASA)

 $750 annually
Dec / Mar / Jun / Sep
Coal and Electricity Transition Tuition Voucher 

If you work at one of the identified coal/electricity worksites and have been employed for a year or more

 $12,000 max.
N/A

Looking for something different?

Over 300 courses and 40 programs to help you build the skills you need.

Ready to start this series?

  • Select and register in your first course.
  • No University of Alberta background necessary, and no need to apply for admission.
    • Questions: renewtec@ualberta.ca
    • Course planner schedule-at-a-glance

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