Renewable Energy Systems Engineer
Renewable Energy Systems Engineer: Design a Solar+Storage System for a CleanTech Startup. A 4–8 weeks Intravarsity career experience (30–50 hours) for school
You'll work with a clean energy startup to design a renewable energy system for a real community. From solar panel sizing to battery storage optimization to grid integration modeling — your engineering work becomes part of the startup's project proposal to their clients.
Design a complete renewable energy system — solar arrays, battery storage, and grid integration — for a real clean tech startup. Your engineering calculations inform their project proposals.
Who it is for
High school, secondary school students & undergraduates. Interest in engineering, physics, or environmental science.
Weekly plan
Week 1: Energy Assessment & Solar Design
- Meet the cleantech startup and understand their project pipeline
- Calculate energy needs for the target community or facility
- Design a solar array — panel selection, tilt, orientation, shading analysis
- Calculate expected energy yield and payback period
Week 2: Storage & Grid Integration
- Study battery technologies and select optimal storage solution
- Model energy storage requirements for intermittent renewable supply
- Design the grid interconnection and power electronics layout
- Calculate round-trip efficiency and storage economics
Week 3: Simulation & Optimization
- Build an hourly energy simulation model in Python or Excel
- Optimize system sizing to minimize cost and maximize reliability
- Model demand response and smart energy management scenarios
- Review your design with the startup's senior engineer
Week 4: Engineering Report & Pitch
- Create a professional engineering proposal document
- Calculate environmental impact — CO2 avoided, equivalent trees planted
- Present to cleantech investors and energy engineers
- Receive Proof-of-Work credential and cleantech recommendation
What you produce
- Complete renewable energy system design
- Energy simulation model
- Engineering proposal document
- CleanTech recommendation
- Intravarsity Proof-of-Work credential
Skills
Solar Design, Battery Storage, Energy Modeling, Grid Systems, Python/Excel, Engineering Calculations, Environmental Economics, Technical Presentation
Commitment
~5–8 hours/week for 4–8 weeks (30–50 hours total). 100% Virtual — work remotely with a cleantech startup.