The Renewable Energy MBA

By QS Contributor Updated Feb 27, 2021

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Introduction
What is renewable energy management?
Renewable Energy Curriculum
Renewable Energy Jobs for MBAs

The following article is sponsored by Eller College of Management.

Check out their highly ranked entrepreneurship, information systems, and sustainable energy MBA programs.

A renewable energy MBA can help put you in a position where you can find solutions to energy problems such as rising gas prices and reliance on foreign oil. The push to find green energy sources has resulted in an increased number of renewable energy jobs. In fact, Obama’s New Energy Plan for America promises to create five million new energy jobs.

What is renewable energy management?

Renewable energy comes from natural sources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat. Renewable energy management is the practice of using these natural sources to help businesses operate more efficiently. A major part of renewable energy strategy is replacing traditional energy sources with renewable ones, such as wind farms, bio fuels, and solar cells. In addition, more people expect energy companies to find new ways to meet energy demands while protecting the environment. Possible methods of meeting both energy and environmental demands include developing more efficient ways to produce oil, building wind farms, manufacturing cheaper solar cells, and exploring cheaper energy sources.

Renewable Energy Curriculum

An MBA can give energy professionals the skills they need to manage people better. A renewable energy MBA concentration teaches you how to use core business fundamentals to solve the problems facing the energy industry. The renewable energy curriculum covered in an MBA program addresses the financial, business, and environmental aspects of renewable energy management. Renewable energy is one of the more hands on components of a sustainability MBA curriculum. Instead of learning about abstract theories, renewable energy coursework teaches you how to get concrete, measurable results.

Most sustainability projects, like water harvesting or enforcing LEED building standards, have one set goal. Renewable energy management, however, requires you to have an ongoing strategy. A renewable energy MBA program will allow you to manage sustainable energy within a real-world setting. As part of the Sustainable Energy MBA focus at the Eller College of Management, students participate in a Business Intelligence Quotient (BIQ) where they investigate the energy problems facing a company. Eller MBA students then take what they learned in the BIQ and work with the company to solve a real problem. Further hands-on learning opportunities are available through internships with energy companies.

Renewable Energy Jobs for MBAs

Energy Project Manager

This is a high-stress position which results in high pay. In order to be an Energy Project Manager, you must have excellent track record within the energy industry.

Salary: $50,000-130,000

Trade Representative

Trade Representatives are responsible for energy sales. This position used to be exclusive to the oil industry. Utility companies, however, are hiring trade representatives since electricity has become more of a commodity in recent years. If you have a technology degree in addition to an MBA, you may be a good fit for this position.

Salary: $50,000-150,000

Energy Management Consultant

Energy is one of the consulting niches that became popular because it’s seen as being recession-resistant. MBAs are hired as associates right after graduation. After two or three years, consultants are usually promoted to positions where they manage case teams. Consultants usually become partners after seven to ten years.

Salary: $80,000-100,000

The following article is sponsored by Eller College of Management. Check out their highly ranked entrepreneurship, information systems, and sustainable energy MBA programs.