Dr James Hazelton contributes to net zero every day by innovating the renewable energy engineering field
Image: Dr James Hazelton, supplied.
What lets you travel the world, lead a team of problem-solvers and save the world by transitioning to net zero? A career as a Renewable Energy Engineer! Dr James Hazelton started his path by completing a degree in Renewable Energy Engineering at UNSW, and came back for a post-graduate PhD in Engineering.
During his degree, James studied many forms of sustainable energy, such as solar, thermal, wind and biomass (organic resources from plants and animals). He says the course provided him with technical skills as well as interpersonal skills. “The program also provided an amazing network of people, educators, researchers and all those who ended up doing important things in the industry – and that is a great foundation for any career.”
“I’d encourage anyone who is considering this path to take a chance to get involved – it’s good for the planet, it’s good for business and there’s more interesting work to do and things to learn than you can fit into several lifetimes.”
During his Renewable Energy Engineering degree, James gained important practical experience, undertaking an internship at Siemens, and visiting Nepal to study solar energy use in remote schools.
“Being able to do field work overseas was probably the opportunity I value most. Improving outcomes for people experiencing energy poverty and finding a sustainable pathway to do that is one of the bigger real-world problems we need to solve.”
James’ interest in studying renewable energy led him to Kiribati, an island country in the Pacific, where he helped improve access to electricity with a solar-diesel hybrid power station. But it wasn’t easy: the solution had to be low emission and low cost, it was in one of the most remote parts of the world, and the ship carrying all the supplies sank in the harbour!
Nowadays, James works at Endeavour Energy as a Future Energy Strategy Manager and still contributes to the goal of 100% renewable energy every day. So if you’re looking for an in-demand, exciting and innovative career, start looking at the Renewable Energy Engineering degree today!
James’ career path
- Bachelor of Renewable Energy Engineering, UNSW (2010)
- Operator/Operations Team Leader/Analyst, Infigen Energy (2010 – 2015)
- Doctor of Philosophy (Renewable Engineering) UNSW (2017)
- Kiritimati Island Energy Sector Program (KIESP) Program Manager, ITP Renewables (2016-2018)
- Senior Consultant / ITP Renewables (2016 – 2020)
- New Technology Solutions Lead/Future Energy Strategy Manager, Endeavour Energy (2021)
Future study pathways
If you want to solve global energy challenges, specialise in solar, wind, or grid integration, and drive the transition to net zero, enrol in one of the following UNSW degrees:
- Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Renewable Energy)
- Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Photovoltaics and Solar Energy)
Or check out their Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) double degrees.
High School Teachers & Students
SPREE offers a range of free teaching materials to high school teachers and students years 10-12 who are interested in pursuing an exciting future in solar PV and renewable energy engineering. Find them here.
This feature was brought to you in partnership with UNSW’s School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering (SPREE).
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