About Renewable & Electrical Energy Engineering – Beng in Limerick Institute of Technology

What is the programme about?

Energy and especially Electrical Energy is needed for everything we do in today’s world. Climate change is real and caused by burning fossil fuels. While energy prices are low at the moment they won’t stay low in the long term. So we need new ways to produce energy and we need to make smarter use of the energy we have. The EU and Ireland have set very ambitious targets for renewable energy and energy efficiency. The outcome of the recent COP21 Climate Change Agreement in Paris will be even more aggressive energy targets. Meeting these targets will need huge investment in energy production, distribution, monitoring and control systems. This will create jobs for people with the right skills. 

This course covers all the technologies needed to produce energy and in particular electrical energy, from renewable sources, to monitor and control energy systems and to connect them to the electricity grid. It is a mixture of theory and practical hands-on learning in all aspects of Renewable Energy Technology, electrical technology and automated monitoring and control systems. The skills learned on the programme can be used in a wide range of industries and good graduates are in high demand. 
The 3 year level 7 ordinary degree leads into the 1 year add-on level 8 honours degree in Sustainable Electrical Power Systems. 

Direct entry into Year 2 is possible for suitably qualified Phase 6 Electricians.

​​​Who is the programme suited to?

Anyone interested in a career in the expanding renewable energy, energy efficiency, electrical or control systems sectors and will offer a wide range of career opportunities to graduates.

Top 3 Reasons

1.      Renewable Energy is the best alternative to fossil fuels and investment in renewable energy will continue to increase.
2.      The skills learned on the programme can be applied in a wide range of industries giving excellent job prospects.
3.      The programmes is 50% practical, giving you hands on experience not just theory 

Class Contact Hours

Year 1: 26 hours per week

Year 2: 24 hours per week

Year 3: 20 hours per week

Other Information

The programme covers a broad range of technologies which can be applied in many different industries and past graduates now work in wide variety of industries. 

Please Click to Download the Renewable and Electrical Energy Systems Flyer 

Jobs Include

Completion of this programme will allow you to have a career in areas such as: 

• Installation and Maintenance of Renewable Energy Systems.
• Automation and Control of energy and industrial systems.
• Industrial and Manufacturing Equipment Engineering. 

Typical employers: Enercon, Kingspan Renewables, Vestas, Visakon, Intel, Endurance Wind Power, Wind Prospect Operations.

Graduate Profile

I found that the course covered a very wide range of renewable and electrical engineering topics which opens a vast amount of career opportunities to a graduate. Before I even completed my final year exams I received three job offers before finally deciding to work for Intel. A major plus to studying in LIT is how knowledgeable and experienced the lecturers are and how much they will go out of their way to help you.

Damien McCurry REES 2014

Immediately after completely the 1 year add-on Level 8 I found permanent employment as a Field Service Engineer with Enercon Windfarm Services. The range of modules covered on this course is so broad and varied they do not only limit graduates to careers in the renewable energy sector and after 18 months with Enercon I have moved to working in a manufacturing based environment in Vistakon  with the eventual hope of completing a masters in manufacturing research.

Renewable Energy in the Limerick Institute of Technology was the right choice for me because having left the college two years ago I find many of the topics covered during my time there are very relevant and applicable to the work place. I also found that the levels to which the staff in the Electrical & Electronic Engineering department are prepared to go to in order to help their students achieve their goals was incredible.

Tony O’Connor REES Graduate 2010, SEPS Graduate 2011

Through this course I obtained an invaluable understanding of the Renewable and Electrical Distribution sectors and went on to gain employment with Solargain, one of Australia's largest installers of both Solar Hot Water and Solar PV. This course has enabled me to enter into an industry that is constantly growing throughout the world with endless opportunities.

Eddie O’Meara  REES Graduate 2011

I think the course is presented in a professional manner with a wide variety of modules to offer a multitude of career opportunities to graduates. One of the highlights of the course for me personally is, how approachable the lecturers are both while attending LIT and afterwards in my professional career. The course has helped me in securing my current career as an electrical engineer with ESB International which would not have been possible without the level of the degree I achieved.

Patrick O’Hanlon  - REES Graduate 2012, SEPS Graduate 2013

This course provides the level of understanding required to pursue a career in the Renewable Energy Sector both in Ireland and abroad. As a qualified electrician returning to third level education, I found the course content to be readily accessible.  The lecturers were affable and approachable, always willing to answers any questions I had.  With a great mixture of practical and course work, the skills and knowledge attained will empower you to pursue a variety of different career paths, from a Renewable Energy Installer/Engineer/Consultant to an Automation Engineer”

“Following on from the degree in Renewable and Electrical Energy Systems, I opted for another year in college to pursue an Honours Degree in Sustainable Electrical Power Systems. The technical understanding of Electrical Power Systems I attained throughout this final year ultimately led to a position as an Electrical Engineer with Eirgrid.

Shane Slattery  - REES Graduate 2012, SEPS Graduate 2013

I started the renewable energy course back in 2008, and due to the complete economic meltdown I was nearly resigned to having to sign on the dole as soon as I finished college. However I never expected that our course was in such demand and when I started looking I was offered about four jobs straight away and within a week I had my first job with an automation company in Leeds. We specialize in providing automation solutions that both increase productivity and reduce energy by improving the overall efficiency. The renewable energy course in LIT offers a variety of career options.

Patrick Potter REES Graduate 2011, SEPS Graduate 2012

As a mature student looking to up skill myself in the Renewable energy sector, this course was excellent and gave me the foundations to start an exciting career in this sector.

This course has allowed me to work on everything from solar thermal, PV and wind projects. I have been lucky to travel abroad on the back of this degree where many countries are still in the infancy of having dedicated renewable energy graduates. My career has progressed rapidly and I am now Kingspan Renewables technical sales manager for Australia and New Zealand.

David Cregg REES Graduate 2009

Further Studies

You can continue to complete a Level 8 Honours degree in Renewable & Electrical Energy Engineering or to other Level 8 programmes within LIT or in other colleges as this Level 7 degree is accredited by Engineers Ireland and recognised worldwide.​

Entry Requirement

Leaving Certificate: 
Applicants must satisfy a minimum entry requirement of grade O6 in four Leaving Certificate subjects including English or Irish plus a minimum grade of O5 in Ordinary Level Mathematics. ​​​

Entry Procedure

Entry to 1st Year is via CAO 
All applications for 1st year, including mature students, must go through the CAO. 

Direct Entry to Year 2 
Direct entry into Year 2 is possible for suitably qualified Phase 6 Electricians and those with other relevant level 6 or 7 qualifications. 

Apply in March for entry the following September using the Undergraduate Advanced Entry form on the LIT admissions website: http://www.lit.ie/Admissions/pages/ApplicationForms.aspx 

CAO

Please visit www.cao.ie for further information on how to apply to this course.