Our Renewable Future: Foundational Energy Technologies

Our Renewable Future: Foundational Energy Technologies

Two-week Online Skills Development Short Course

Fully Funded Pilot Programme

Develop an understanding of renewable energy technologies, how they work and why the move from fossil fuels to renewables is fundamental to achieving a sustainable energy future.

Join us for a highly engaging, fully funded online hybrid course that will develop your knowledge, skills and practical understanding of renewable energy technologies, and the importance of considering a 'whole system' engineering design approach when implementing them.

With the transition to the green economy underway, we will explore renewable energy sectors such as wind, solarand geothermal, examining the extensive opportunities this brings for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, the engineering approaches availalbe and the professional skills needed to effectively achieve change.

Supported by academic experts within the University of Exeter Engineering School, this course will help you develop the skills and knowledge needed for sustainable high-value green careers across the renewable energy sector.

This professional skills development course is for:

• people across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly interested in exploring new green sector opportunities and embarking on renewable energy careers
• professionals already working in high-growth-potential sectors such as renewable energy and power (as well as engineering, construction or development) looking to progress by broadening their knowledge and skills
• budding entrepreneurs or business leaders exploring new sectorial or supply chain opportunities across renewables

Alongside developing new knowledge and skills, the course offers valuable networking opportunities to extend your professional connections in the region. We will also signpost you towards further skills development support and training opportunities.

This course is aimed at professional individuals working in, or wishing to join, the green economy in Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly. We will particularly focus on high green-growth potential sectors such as engineering, construction, renewable energy, and power, and related supply chains. Even if you don’t see yourself as part of the green economy, we highly encourage your participation in this programme.

Course Overview

Dates: Monday 3 November – Friday 14 November 2025

Topics Covered:

• Week One: The Foundations of Renewable Energy Systems
• Week Two: From Sea to Socket: Building offshore-wind power

Teaching Methods: This is a hybrid course that will involve self-directed online learning, including short study tasks and assessments to solidify your learning. The online materials are supported with live webinars, expert guest speakers, recorded teaching sessions, and a live practical in person workshop session on the Penryn University Campus in Cornwall on Wednesday 5th November 2025.

The course has been designed to be flexible wherever possible. Live sessions are recorded, giving the chance to catch up afterwards; however, these live remote sessions are an intrinsically valuable part of the course & we would encourage you to join live if you can.

Please find further course information below.

Teaching Environment: All course learning materials and resources will be accessed via the University of Exeter's online learning platform, including meeting links to join the live webinar sessions. All live sessions will be recorded and provided within the platform for catch up.

Course Structure

This course is delivered over two weeks, with one module per week:

Week 1 – The Foundations of Renewable Energy Systems

This module uses the UK as a detailed case-study to explore renewable energy systems and key related concepts. Through this module we will explore our current energy system, the different types of renewable technologies available, how they work, why their deployment is accelerating, and the changes to our current system you may soon see as a result.

Week 2 – From Sea to Socket: Building offshore-wind power

This module explains the concept of engineering pathways for delivering renewable electricity to the grid, through the case-study of large-scale offshore wind farms. By focusing on their development in UK waters, we’ll explore the end-to-end process of offshore wind deployment – from site selection and choice of turbine foundation; to power transmission and system-level design.

Programme Overview (subject to change):

Week One - 3 - 7 November 2025

Day 1: Live Lunchtime Remote Welcome Session (~1.5hr)

Day 1-5: Self-directed learning (~2hrs)

Day 3: (Optional) In-Person Live Teaching Session afternoon Wed 5th Nov (~4hrs)

Day 4-5: End of Module Task (~30mins)

Day 5: (Optional) Live Drop-in Support Session ~30mins)

Week Two - 10 - 14 November 2025

Day 1-4: Self-directed learning (~2hrs)

Day 2: Live Lunchtime Remote Guest Speaker Session (~1hr)

Day 2-4: Module Task (~30mins)

Day 5: Live Lunchtime Closing Review Session (~1.5hr)

Who is it for?

This course is open to individuals (16+) living in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly with the right to live and work in the UK. Places on this course are limited and offered to eligible Cornish residents only on a first come basis. Once submitted we will assess your application and confirm if a fully funded place will be offered to you.

Eligibility & Paperwork

This fully-funded event is free to attend for eligible Cornish residents. You will be asked to complete and sign paperwork to confirm your eligibility prior to enrolment. This is a requirement of our funder & your assistance is greatly appreciated.

UK Subsidy Control

The UK Subsidy Aid financial assistance attributed to engagement with this activity is valued at £750 per learner.

UK Subsidy Aid (government state aid as defined at Section 2 of the Subsidy Control Act 2022) will apply if you are accessing this training through your employer or your own business that is an eligible economic entity operating in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Relevant business representatives will be required to sign paperwork confirming UK Subsidy Aid financial assistance attributed to this engagement prior to acceptance onto the course.

To satisfy Subsidy Control law, the award will be made on the basis of the "Minimum Financial Assistance" provision ("MFA"), as set out in Section 36 of the Subsidy Control Act 2022. This allows a business to receive up to £315,000 of subsidy over a rolling three-tax year period (including the current one). The threshold takes account of awards of all MFA awarded in the three-year period.

About the Project - The Future is Green

This event is delivered by the University of Exeter under The Future is Green project, a collaborative research project that delivers skills development courses and programmes to individuals across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The project aim is to support the development of skills needed for the future green economy. The project is led by The Cornwall College Group in collaboration with 8 highly experienced delivery partners, including the University of Exeter. The project runs from January 2024 to March 2026.

Funding Statement

This project is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Cornwall Council has been chosen by Government as a Lead Authority for the fund and is responsible for monitoring the progress of projects funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

General Data Protection Regulation

By attending this course you confirm that you are happy that your data will be shared with the Lead Partner (The Cornwall College Group) and Cornwall Council, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), and their data processors/project evaluators. More information on the University of Exeter's privacy policies can be found here. For more information on the Growth Hub’s privacy policy, please visit this page.

Equality & Diversity
The University of Exeter has an Equality & Diversity Policy and are committed to fair treatment for all regardless of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, marital status, family structure, race, nationality, ethnicity, health, values, social-economic differences, disability, belief, culture, political view. More information on the University of Exeter's Equality & Diversity policies can be found here.

Web links:

University of Exeter sites.exeter.ac.uk/greenskills

Contact

If you need to contact us, please email green.skills@exeter.ac.uk