Antinuclear

“Coal does have a future,” said Oscar Wilkie, a soon-to-be bachelor’s degree graduate in solar energy engineering who will take up a $70,000-a-year post with Boston Consulting Group. “It’s not really a war, but in the long term, it’s going to diminish.”

Mr Wilkie wants to advance the integration of large-scale solar energy that he sees is inevitable as it becomes cheaper, and nations try to curb carbon emissions: “The next big challenge is: how are we going to finance this?”………

Years of uncertainty over Australia’s 2020 renewable energy targets – cut almost one-fifth in June by the Abbott government – has led to new investment in large clean energy projects all but drying up.

International trends have also been in flux. While China’s solar panel output has leapt, profit margins remain very thin. Investment in new techniques – which can translate into high-end design and research jobs in Australia – has been restrained since the global financial crisis, one UNSW scientist said………

For Jack Blackwell, who will move to Canberra early next year after he receives his Renewable Energy Engineering degree, says his skills will be needed as economies everywhere need to use all resources more wisely.

“Building energy efficiency – and roof-top solar [which] is taking off hugely – is steadily becoming more important in Australia, in step with the trends around the world,” Mr Blackwell said.

Students in the clean energy field see first-hand how fast the industry is changing.

“Lecturers are constantly updating the technology,” he said “There’s really good research going on that’s put straight into our courses.”………http://www.smh.com.au/environment/university-of-nsw-students-reveal-a-tale-of-two-career-paths-coal-mining-and-renewable-energy-20150909-gjie5i.html