Editor’s note: This is part of a series on closing the sustainability skills gap with the resources available right now. The collection includes over a dozen articles and more than 200 training opportunities in areas such as climate and net-zero strategy, procurement and supply chain, ESG and sustainable finance, professional certifications and free upskilling.
A lot of players are involved in driving the global energy transition, and the team at Duke University’s Center for Energy, Development, and the Global Environment published a diagram of the energy value chain earlier this year that illustrates the complexity of the energy sector nicely. At the most basic level, entities fall roughly into one of three categories: energy suppliers; energy end users; and supporting organizations. The below collection of training opportunities will benefit anyone helping organizational energy end users to develop or procure renewable energy. Whether you’re a sustainability professional at a company pursuing net-zero goals, a consultant helping clients to incorporate renewable energy into their portfolios or a financial professional interested in funding these projects, there is something here for you.
The first group of offerings provide context and a big-picture understanding of the global energy transition and grid modernization. The next group offers frameworks for incorporating equity and justice considerations into energy-related projects and decisions. The third group provides both overviews and deep dives on clean and renewable generation and storage technologies, and the final group centers on skills for moving specific projects forward with courses from how to evaluate a project’s profitability and risk to how to secure financing from a variety of sources.
No curation of renewable energy resources would be complete without mentioning the incredible work of both the Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA) and the Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI). While neither offers publicly available courses — the CELI fellowship application is competitive and CEBA participation requires organizational membership — both have been training leaders in renewable energy for many years and offer outstanding learning experiences.
The adoption of renewable energy is also just one part of what energy end users should be working on. The below courses do not cover energy efficiency, weatherization, demand response, electrification or electric vehicles — all of which should arguably be addressed prior to assessing your renewable energy needs. Those skills, along with skills related to the supply side of things, will be the topics of future articles.
As is often the case with these types of lists, I’m sure I’ve missed some. If your favorite offering isn’t included here, I warmly invite you to join the conversation on LinkedIn to tell me and your fellow readers about it. Thanks in advance for your help with bringing these resources out into the open so that more people can get to work on advancing sustainable business practices.
Courses on the global energy transition and grid modernization
These courses provide important context around the global energy transition. Each one emphasizes a unique combination of the various aspects of the transition: technology; geopolitics; environmental impact; business models; and grid modernization.
Power Sector Decarbonisation and Energy Transition from Shortlisted Productions
This course provides an overview of the developments in the power sector, including the transition to a low-carbon economy and emergence of new energy business models. It covers key energy sources and how the grid is changing to integrate renewables (grid modernization, grid flexibility, long-duration energy storage) and the impact of various technologies on the energy sector including carbon capture, storage and utilization, battery storage, hydrogen, advanced fission, small modular reactors and nuclear fusion. This training can be taken individually or as part of the Climate Change and Sustainability Professionals Program.
- Cost: 49.99 British pounds (approximately $64)
- Time to complete: 2.5 hours
- Training format: On-demand videos
- Key topics covered: Introduction to the energy transition and the response from the fossil fuel industry; power sector transition and integration of renewables into the grid; biofuels and hydrogen; nuclear power; critical minerals for the energy transition
Transforming the Grid: AI, Renewables, Storage, EVs, and Prosumers from Stanford Online
This course teaches strategies for the modernization of the electric grid to support the incorporation of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar and the growing use of storage, electric vehicles and smart devices. The focus is on the deployment of transforming technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), sensors, controls and communications devices.
- Cost: $395
- Time to complete: 6 hours
- Training format: On-demand e-learning, exercises, quiz
- Key topics covered: How electricity is generated, transmitted and distributed; using AI and ML for forecasting, demand response, network management and determining asset locations; the digital transformation of the grid and the role of prosumers; calculating pricing and rate models for storage and renewables; managing the impact of EV charging demand; selecting storage technologies for managing intermittency and ensuring grid reliability
Clean Energy Transitions 101 from Terra.do
This introductory course explores the fundamental principles driving global clean energy transitions. Learners will develop the ability to calculate the opportunities, costs and impacts of these transitions, uncover high-impact pathways to decarbonize energy systems, identify bottlenecks in the clean energy value chain and understand the interconnectedness of policy, justice, technology, labor and markets.
- Next start date: Fall 2024
- Cost: $399
- Time to complete: 4 weeks, 4 hours per week
- Training format: Live online classes, exercises
- Key topics covered: The clean energy landscape; energy analysis; electrify everything; scaling the smart grid; batteries; quantitative tools for power sector planning; EVs and decarbonizing long-haul transport; heat pumps; cleaning up steel, cement, fertilizers and plastics; policy, regulation and market design for enabling energy transitions; electricity rates and economics; politics and justice in energy
Global Energy Transition from the Renewable Energy Institute
The Renewable Energy Institute offers training that has been developed in close partnership with organizations such as the United Nations Environment Programme and leading universities around the globe. This course will guide learners through the complexity and challenges of the global energy transition from fossil fuels to other sources of energy. The material includes a wide range of examples and case studies to illustrate each concept.
- Cost: 540 British pounds (approximately $685)
- Time to complete: 20 to 30 hours
- Training format: On-demand e-learning, optional certification exam
- Key topics covered: The terminology and history of the global energy transition; technologies, electricity and supply chain decarbonisation; ESG; COP, commitments, and the role of the U.N.; global challenges and geopolitics; policies and the role of governments; international, national and industrial challenges and solutions for decarbonization; the Sustainable Development Goals and their impact
Energy Transition from Infocus International
This live online course is designed to provide business decision-makers with a comprehensive overview of the energy transition: what it means, the technological solutions which will compete and coexist, and the policy and practical factors that will determine deployment pathways. Attendees will leave able to make more informed investment decisions based on a nuanced understanding of how the pieces of the energy transition fit together, link and interact.
- Next start date: Started July 9; new dates will be announced soon
- Cost: From $1,500
- Time to complete: 4 weeks, 3 hours per week
- Training format: Live online classes, exercises
- Key topics covered: The changing energy mix and pathways to net zero; electrification: its drivers, applications and limitations; sources and applications of “clean fuels”; Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): a lifeline for fossil fuel producers?
Courses on supporting an equitable transition
These courses provide an understanding of the equity and justice considerations related to the renewable energy transition as well as frameworks to help ensure individual projects support a more equitable future.
Gender Equality and Human Rights in Climate Action and Renewable Energy from the One UN Climate Change Learning Partnership
This course offers two learning pathways: one for renewable energy experts and financial institutions and one for policymakers. Participants may follow one or both pathways. The course provides an overview of the interlinkages between gender, human rights, climate change, and renewable energy and enables participants to integrate and implement gender equality into renewable energy planning.
- Cost: Free
- Time to complete: 6 hours
- Training format: On-demand e-learning, videos, exercises
- Key topics covered: The nexus between gender equality, human rights, renewable energy and climate change; how to implement gender responsive and human rights-based renewable energy policies and entrepreneurship; gender and human rights in climate action; turning commitments into action
Energy Justice: Fostering More Equitable Energy Futures from Dartmouth College
This course introduces the concept of energy justice and provides a toolkit to identify and leverage opportunities to increase fairness and equity in energy-related decisions and actions. Learners will be equipped to recognize and confront energy injustice in their personal and professional lives, and to help envision and foster energy justice in society.
- Cost: Free
- Time to complete: 16 hours
- Training format: On-demand videos, reading, quizzes
- Key topics covered: Energy justice and its relationship to environmental justice, climate justice, and energy democracy; structural inequity the impact of historical racism on energy systems; energy justice principles and frameworks; forms of injustice in energy systems and potential remedies; integrating energy justice into professional work and civic life; advocating for energy justice
Clean and Equitable Energy Development Certificate from Yale Center for Business and the Environment and the Yale Center for Environmental Justice
This program enables policymakers, developers and communities affected by energy projects to understand key justice principles and their implication in the development process, build capacity for the design of clean energy projects that advance equity, and grow a network of leaders advancing an equitable transition to a clean economy. Participants will learn how to design and evaluate clean energy projects, promote policies that accelerate the just energy transition and advocate on behalf of vulnerable communities that could be or are already affected by energy crisis and inequality.
- Next start date: Jan. 14
- Cost: $4,500
- Time to complete: 12 weeks, 5 hours per week
- Training format: Live online classes, on-demand videos, quizzes, assignments
- Key topics covered: Foundations of energy; foundations of environmental and climate justice; energy poverty, energy justice and just energy transition; principles for a clean, affordable, just and equitable energy project; site selection and interconnection; community engagement; origination; energy markets and deal structuring; procurement, construction and operations and maintenance
Courses on renewable energy generation and storage technologies
Some of these courses provide an overview of several renewable energy generation and storage technologies so that you can learn how to select the most appropriate solution for your project’s needs. Other courses focus on a single solution and provide a more detailed understanding of the technology’s components, generation potential, market opportunities, deployment requirements, value chain, competitive landscape and economic considerations.
Renewable Energy Technology Fundamentals from University of Colorado, Boulder
This course begins with an overview of the key physical characteristics of electricity and renewable energy and then covers the advantages and disadvantages of each technology so that learners can evaluate and recommend specific generation and storage technologies for projects. This course is available individually or as part of a renewable energy specialization, which also covers renewable power and electricity systems, renewable energy projects and renewable energy futures.
- Cost: Free
- Time to complete: 12 hours
- Training format: On-demand videos, reading, quizzes, final assessment
- Key topics covered: Energy fundamentals; wind energy; solar energy; other renewable energy technologies such as hydropower, biomass, concentrated solar, geothermal and ocean energy; energy storage including pumped hydro, batteries, thermal storage and hydrogen storage
Clean, Renewable Energy & Storage for a Sustainable Future from Stanford Online
This course teaches learners how to evaluate strategies for transforming our energy infrastructure and policies at the local, regional and global levels. Special emphasis is placed on understanding how each technology works and its impact on climate change, air pollution and energy security. This is part of a suite of online courses from Stanford Online related to energy technology which also includes an in-depth course on energy storage. Classes can be taken individually or as part of the Energy Innovation and Emerging Technologies Certificate Program.
- Cost: $395
- Time to complete: 12 hours
- Training format: On-demand e-learning, exercises, quiz
- Key topics covered: Energy technology’s impact on air quality, health, land and water use, grid reliability, equity and security; energy technologies: wind, water, solar, storage, coal, natural gas, hydrofracking, nuclear, and carbon capture; industrial energy consumption; transportation: EVs, hydrogen fuel cell trucks, buses and aircraft; energy storage technologies: batteries, flywheels and hydroelectric storage; transition policies
Renewable technology overview and specialized courses from the Renewable Energy Institute
Each course provides an overview of how the technology works, how the technology’s market works, considerations for grid connectivity, standards, financing and regulations. Learners may take an optional final exam at the end of each course to earn a Galileo Master Certificate, and courses may be combined to earn energy expert certificates. Some courses are also offered in a live online format.
- Cost: 410 to 540 British pounds (approximately $500 to $685) per course
- Time to complete: 20 to 30 hours per course
- Training format: On-demand e-learning, optional certification exam
- Course topics available:
- Renewable Energy Solutions provides learners with an overview of the various technologies so that they can determine the best one for a given situation.
- In-depth training on individual technologies: solar photovoltaic, wind power, wave and hydro power, hydrogen energy, biomass and energy storage
Applying Renewable Energy — Complete Overview from Renewables Academy
This customizable program includes courses covering the fundamentals of up to seven renewable energy technologies: photovoltaics, windpower, biogas, solar thermal, small hydro power, concentrated solar power (CSP) and PV-diesel hybrid systems. The academy also provides learners with free access to short, optional introductory courses on energy and electricity basics and offers an extensive catalog of project development, technology and finance courses and certification programs, including ones on green hydrogen and energy storage technology.
- Cost: From 749.70 euros (approximately $675)
- Next start date: Oct. 1
- Time to complete: 100 hours across 6 months
- Training format: On-demand e-learning, live online webinars, assignments, final exam
- Key topics covered: How the technology works; technology markets and applications; system types, resource requirements, components and sizing; site assessment; physical and environmental considerations; energy yield and performance ratio calculations; economic evaluation
Clean Energy Solutions from MIT Professional Education
This course presents a holistic and quantitative picture of clean energy solutions — including hardware — to meet emissions reduction targets. Participants will use data to evaluate clean energy systems, model emissions reduction frameworks within their own organization, develop a target technology portfolio and strategize about the development and adoption of clean energy technologies.
- Next start date: Started July 9; new dates will be announced soon
- Cost: $3,200
- Time to complete: 8 to 10 hours per week for 8 weeks
- Training format: Live online classes, exercises
- Key topics covered: Understanding energy supply and demand technologies; comparing energy conversion and storage technologies; analyzing technological change trajectories; modeling carbon emissions reduction scenarios across energy systems; optimizing technology portfolios for your organization; effective strategies for innovation
Renewable technology specialized courses from Infocus International
Infocus International provides a suite of training offerings designed to provide business developers and investors with an accessible, concise and comprehensive understanding of the processes and risks involved in renewable energy and storage projects. Each course covers a given technology’s terminologies, metrics, value chain, market opportunities, deployment considerations, competitive landscape and economic variables that affect the business case. All courses are delivered live online in the GMT time zone.
- Next start date: Start dates vary by course
- Cost: Prices vary by course
- Time to complete: 4 to 5 weeks, 3 hours per week
- Training format: Live online classes, exercises
- Course topics available: Mastering Solar Power; Offshore Wind; Mastering Clean Hydrogen; Energy Storage; Mastering Clean Ammonia
Courses for valuing and financing clean energy projects
These courses concentrate on the financial and risk aspects of renewable energy projects. Some take an investor’s perspective and focus on understanding the risks or economics of projects, while others provide an overview of funding options and how to pursue them. Still others do both. The common thread is that these courses provide skills for assessing, managing or financing individual projects to help them move forward.
Renewable Energy Project Finance from Renewables Academy
This course focuses on how to obtain funding from financial institutions that analyze the bankability of wind, PV and biogas projects during the due diligence process. Learners will understand the different financing options for renewable energy projects; perform a risk assessment of a project; understand project risks and concerns from a bank’s point of view and understand the data requirements for bankability assessment of a project.
- Next start date: Started July 3; new dates will be announced soon
- Cost: From 270 euros (approximately $257)
- Time to complete: 25 hours across 1 month
- Training format: On-demand e-learning, live online webinars, assignments, final exam
- Key topics covered: Project value chains; financing options for RE projects; special purpose vehicle contract negotiations; business planning for RE projects; bankability assessments; financial engineering; RE project case studies
Renewable Energy — Solar Financial Modeling from the Corporate Finance Institute
This solar financial modeling course covers critical concepts in evaluating the profitability of a renewable energy project. Learners are given a confidential information memorandum (CIM) containing project details and financials and are then guided through building a financial model and analyzing the return to investors. This is one of 200-plus courses and six certifications included in a self-study annual membership from CFI.
- Cost: $298.20 for an annual membership
- Time to complete: 6.5 hours
- Training format: On-demand e-learning
- Key topics covered: The definition of renewable energy and important industry terms; the development timeline and funding structure of a solar project; constructing a robust financial model for a solar project; calculating key return metrics (NPV, IRR, credit metrics, cash flow, payback) and the capital stack to assess the project’s profitability
Economics of the Clean Energy Transition from Stanford Online
This course enables both companies and households to compare alternative energy systems with different capital expenditures and ongoing operating costs. Participants will also learn the role of public policy instruments including taxes, regulations and incentives in accelerating the transition away from traditional fossil fuels.
- Cost: $395
- Time to complete: 6 hours
- Training format: On-demand e-learning, exercises, quiz
- Key topics covered: Assessing the cost competitiveness of different energy technologies; the role of markets and public policy; comparing the cost of renewable energy, electric vehicles, and energy storage against fossil fuels; calculating the cost for energy projects using a Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) and the Levelized Cost per Mile Driven (LCOMD); the changing business model for utilities
Renewables Analyst Certification from Voiz Academy
This course provides both a high-level understanding of the trends, players, technologies and markets involved in the global energy transition and hands-on experience with the tools required to evaluate specific opportunities at the project level. There is emphasis on the development of a nuanced understanding of the relationships, regulations, risks, business models and funding mechanisms that exist along the power value chain so that analysts can assess any project within the appropriate context. After its September launch, this certification will be added to Voiz Academy’s unlimited sustainability upskilling platform.
- Next start date: Sept. 7
- Cost: $495 for an annual subscription, get 10 percent off with code GB10
- Time to complete: 36 to 48 hours
- Training format: On-demand e-learning, assignments
- Key topics covered: Types of projects and technologies; the power value chain; business models for power generation and distribution; modeling a renewable project from a financial and stakeholder perspective; forecasting and analyzing risk from pricing fluctuations, regulatory changes and development; modeling the value of subsidies including renewable energy certificates, tax credits and concessionary financing
Renewable Energy Market Trends and Finance from the Renewable Energy Institute
This course teaches participants how to manage renewable energy projects, understand policies and finances and use financing tools. The course enables participants to work successfully in the renewables and green finance industries, both locally and internationally and is suitable for those with both a basic and advanced understanding of the sector.
- Cost: From $595
- Time to complete: 20 to 30 hours
- Training format: On-demand e-learning, optional certification exam
- Key topics covered: Introduction to renewable energy; renewable energy market trends & finance; U.S. government policy and support schemes; developing country financing: microlending, multilateral banks, crowdfunding; project finance including deal structuring and finance tools such as PACE, CREBs and QZEBs
Live online project financing courses from Infocus International
Infocus International also provides a suite of offerings related to renewable energy project financing which covers financial modeling and transaction management techniques, reading, writing and negotiating power purchase agreements and public-private partnerships. Each course is designed to enable participants to successfully navigate and complete these transactions and provides real-life project examples from Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America.
- Next start date: Start dates vary by course
- Cost: Prices vary by course
- Time to complete: 5 to 6 weeks, 3 hours per week
- Training format: Live online classes, exercises
- Course topics available: Renewable Energy Project Finance & Financial Modeling; Power Purchase Agreement; Renewable Energy Power Purchase Agreements; Public-Private Partnerships
Financing and Deploying Clean Energy Certificate from the Yale Center for Business and the Environment
The key objectives of this program are to grow a powerful network of clean energy experts at the forefront of our energy transition and to help professionals understand the interplay of the financial, technological and socioeconomic drivers in financing and deploying clean energy. Participants will gain an understanding of the challenges associated with current policies, energy business models, technologies and development practices and will learn the key levers for change in various sectors to overcome these obstacles.
- Next start date: July 2025
- Cost: $10,800
- Time to complete: 10 months, 5 hours per week
- Training format: Live online classes, on-demand videos, quizzes, assignments
- Key topics covered: Energy foundations; finance foundations; clean energy policy including electric utility policy, carbon pricing and energy justice; technology transitions including solar, wind, transmission, distribution and storage; renewable energy project finance; innovation including green banks, IT, carbon removal, geoengineering, next gen nuclear and the grid of the future
Join the conversation
I hope this article has helped you find at least one great new resource to help you better support the global transition to clean and renewable energy. Remember, if I’ve missed one of your favorites or if you want to tell me about a resource that could be relevant to a future article, please join the conversation on LinkedIn. Until next time!
[Supercharge your impact alongside other visionaries, experts and innovators leading the way to a regenerative future at VERGE 24, Oct. 29-31, San Jose.]
