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Engineering discipline which has the greatest focus on alt. energies?

Hi people,
I would like to study engineering at Uni but not 100% sure as to which discipline, I was wondering which field has to most focus on the development of renewable/alternative energy in terms of an undergraduate degree? Or is alt/renewable energy a branch of engineering which you would cover in a Masters/Phd research project regardless of what engineering degree you had (e.g you could do it with a MechEng or a ChemEng degree?

Many Thanks

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Mechanical or electrical.
Reply 2
Avatar for abzy1234
abzy1234
14
I'm also looking at an engineering career with sustainable energy, and after lots of research, I think it is chemical engineering which has the greater focus on this discipline.

After visiting Uni of Nottingham, there were talks on how chemical energy was focusing on providing alternative energy; such as development of hydrogen fuel cells. The university also offers environmental engineering, which is all about sustainable engineering, as a single degree or joint honors with chemical engineering. Look at the link below for more information:
http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/engineering/departments/chemenv/undergraduate/undergraduatecourses.aspx

I'm also pretty sure Uni of Newcastle offer a degree in sustainable engineering. Also I think Uni of Birmingham offer a joint honors of chemical engineering with energy...

Look around the universities and do lots of research. Good luck! :smile:
+1 for chemical engineering although you really could go in any of the main engineering branches and specialise in alternative energies, either through academic projects/work placements or postgraduate studies

For example Imperial has an MSc in Sustainable Energy Futures (http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/energyfutureslab/students/msc) and I'm sure other universities offer similar courses
There are lots of opportunities to focus on renewables in an Electrical Engineering degree.
Reply 5
Avatar for ahpadt
ahpadt
15
Electrical hands down.
Electrical.
Reply 7
Avatar for pshewitt1
pshewitt1
13
Original post by coolstorybrother
Hi people,
I would like to study engineering at Uni but not 100% sure as to which discipline, I was wondering which field has to most focus on the development of renewable/alternative energy in terms of an undergraduate degree? Or is alt/renewable energy a branch of engineering which you would cover in a Masters/Phd research project regardless of what engineering degree you had (e.g you could do it with a MechEng or a ChemEng degree?

Many Thanks


mechanical for sure. do it at Manchester and do the nuclear course :smile:
I asked my interviewer which to pick for this exact thing, electrical engineers are the worst paid engineering discipline and also have little way of diversifying in comparison. chem eng won;t give you anything on mech eng according to the head of the course...
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by pshewitt1
mechanical for sure. do it at Manchester and do the nuclear course :smile:
I asked my interviewer which to pick for this exact thing, electrical engineers are the worst paid engineering discipline and also have little way of diversifying in comparison. chem eng won;t give you anything on mech eng according to the head of the course...


That is the biggest load of bull**** I have ever heard. Please refrain from advising people until you actually know what you are talking about.
Original post by pshewitt1
mechanical for sure. do it at Manchester and do the nuclear course :smile:
I asked my interviewer which to pick for this exact thing, electrical engineers are the worst paid engineering discipline and also have little way of diversifying in comparison. chem eng won;t give you anything on mech eng according to the head of the course...


Either your course leader is very stupid or you are very stupid.
Original post by Foghorn Leghorn
That is the biggest load of bull**** I have ever heard. Please refrain from advising people until you actually know what you are talking about.


take a look at the average in every statistical paper between mech/civil/chem and electrical electrical will always come bottom, as far as I'm aware you barely do any maths compared to us either, maths being highly sort after by employers, please now say that you can't diversify as well...
Original post by Smack
Either your course leader is very stupid or you are very stupid.

care to elaborate?
Original post by pshewitt1
take a look at the average in every statistical paper between mech/civil/chem and electrical electrical will always come bottom, as far as I'm aware you barely do any maths compared to us either, maths being highly sort after by employers, please now say that you can't diversify as well...


Mate I'm not even going to argue with you! You clearly have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. You have just came in here and spouted utter nonsense. How would you know how much maths is in EE or any other discipline....................... Infact just stop trolling.
Original post by pshewitt1
care to elaborate?


What you have said is almost entirely wrong.
Original post by Smack
What you have said is almost entirely wrong.


that didn't elaborate at all, prove me wrong...
Original post by pshewitt1
that didn't elaborate at all, prove me wrong...


Okay then.

Firstly, electrical engineers cover the same maths as us mechanicals at my and many other universities. If the course is accredited then it obviously covers enough maths.

Secondly the salary a graduate gets depends largely on the company they work for, not their discipline. At the company I'm at electricals are paid the same as everyone else to start with.

Thirdly, different employers seek out different things, so you can't make the blanket statement of "maths being highly sort after by employers". At my current work I don't do any maths, nor does anyone else in the team and area of the business, so even if your degree included less maths than others it wouldn't matter.

Lastly, electricals have the same opportunity to branch out as everyone else.
Original post by ahpadt
Electrical hands down.

Please explain why/how it offers the most focus on alt.energies. (in comparison to the others).

Original post by Foghorn Leghorn
Electrical.

Please explain why/how it offers the most focus on alt.energies, (in comparison to the others).

Original post by pshewitt1
mechanical for sure. do it at Manchester and do the nuclear course :smile:
I asked my interviewer which to pick for this exact thing, electrical engineers are the worst paid engineering discipline and also have little way of diversifying in comparison. chem eng won;t give you anything on mech eng according to the head of the course...

cheers :smile: was your interviewer a Mech engineer by any chance (Just curious as it seems most people simply advise their own discipline)? What are you trying to say in the sentence in bold? Chem eng doesn't focus on alt. energies, on Mech eng ? :s-smilie:
Original post by coolstorybrother
Please explain why/how it offers the most focus on alt.energies. (in comparison to the others).


Please explain why/how it offers the most focus on alt.energies, (in comparison to the others).


cheers :smile: was your interviewer a Mech engineer by any chance (Just curious as it seems most people simply advise their own discipline)? What are you trying to say in the sentence in bold? Chem eng doesn't focus on alt. energies, on Mech eng ? :s-smilie:


no she actually studied chemical engineering had worked all around the globe with it and has a lot of experience with mech eng, when I went on to ask about ideally did I pick the right course to go into nuclear and alternate energy sources she said yes as chemical engineering isn't as well suited to it apparently. what I meant was that the extra work that goes into chemical engineering won't be worth it, the course is much more demanding for no real benefits, mechanical engineering is seen by everyone or should be as the broadest field really and gives you good chances of expanding not only in engineering but also the finance sector :smile: especially with management etc
Original post by pshewitt1
no she actually studied chemical engineering had worked all around the globe with it and has a lot of experience with mech eng, when I went on to ask about ideally did I pick the right course to go into nuclear and alternate energy sources she said yes as chemical engineering isn't as well suited to it apparently. what I meant was that the extra work that goes into chemical engineering won't be worth it, the course is much more demanding for no real benefits, mechanical engineering is seen by everyone or should be as the broadest field really and gives you good chances of expanding not only in engineering but also the finance sector :smile: especially with management etc


wow interesting viewpoint thanks for sharing your opinion :smile:
Original post by pshewitt1
mechanical for sure. do it at Manchester and do the nuclear course :smile:
I asked my interviewer which to pick for this exact thing, electrical engineers are the worst paid engineering discipline and also have little way of diversifying in comparison. chem eng won;t give you anything on mech eng according to the head of the course...


Thanks for that, I needed a laugh.

Original post by coolstorybrother
Please explain why/how it offers the most focus on alt.energies. (in comparison to the others).


I can only speak for my own university, but right from first year there are projects focused on renewables, and from third year you can start to specialise to study them in more detail (so if you do the MEng you have 3 years of specialised renewables study). If you chose the appropriate subjects you can even graduate with the degree title MEng Electrical Energy Systems.

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