Renewable Energy Engineering is a specialised field of engineering focused on designing, developing, implementing, and optimising systems and technologies that generate, store, and distribute energy from sustainable sources such as solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass. Australian courses are offered at diploma, bachelor (honours), graduate certificate, and master's levels, and typically draw on foundations in electrical engineering, physics of energy, power electronics, control systems, and energy storage. Students learn to evaluate, design, operate, and optimise renewable energy systems for power generation, as well as to model components such as wind turbines, hydroelectric systems, and photovoltaic arrays. Courses are accredited or provisionally accredited with Engineers Australia, signalling high professional standards across the sector. In 2024, renewable energy accounted for approximately 40% of Australia's electricity generation, with wind, rooftop solar, utility-scale solar, and hydro leading the mix — making this one of the most practically relevant engineering fields in the country today.

Renewable Energy Engineering graduates work across a diverse range of sectors and employer types. Key employers include large energy utilities, independent power producers, engineering consultancies (such as Arup, AECOM, and WSP), government agencies, Clean Energy Council-affiliated organisations, mining companies transitioning to green energy, and infrastructure developers delivering grid-scale solar farms, wind farms, and battery energy storage systems (BESS). As Australia pursues its target of 82% renewables by 2030 and net-zero emissions, graduates find opportunities not only in technical engineering roles but also in project management, energy policy, grid integration, regulatory compliance, and sustainability consulting. Roles are found in both major Australian cities and regional areas near large-scale renewable energy project sites.

For bachelor's degrees in Renewable Energy Engineering, domestic students typically require an ATAR sufficient for entry into an engineering program (generally ATAR 75–90+ depending on the institution and competitiveness of the intake), along with strong HSC/VCE results in Mathematics (Advanced or Methods level) and Physics or Chemistry. Some institutions offer flexible entry pathways for mature-aged students, students with prior TAFE or diploma qualifications (which may attract up to one year of advanced standing), or those who have completed a foundation/bridging program. It is strongly recommended — and in many cases required — that students have completed Year 12 Mathematics at an advanced level, as the degree relies heavily on calculus, physics, and computational skills from the outset. Direct entry via a Diploma of Renewable Energy Engineering may be available at select institutions with recognition of prior learning, bypassing the standard ATAR requirement.

For postgraduate programs such as master's degrees and graduate certificates in Renewable Energy Engineering, applicants are typically required to hold a completed bachelor's degree in a cognate engineering discipline — such as Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or Photovoltaic Engineering — from a recognised institution. Many programs require a minimum GPA (commonly 4.0–5.0 on a 7.0 scale, or a WAM of around 50–65%) in the prior degree. Some programs specify that applicants must have completed a four-year honours engineering degree, while specialist master's programs may require an underlying degree accredited under the Washington Accord or an Engineers Australia skills assessment for international applicants. International students are generally required to demonstrate English language proficiency, typically IELTS Academic overall 6.5 (with no band below 6.0), TOEFL iBT 79+, or equivalent, though requirements vary between providers.