Students' insight into renewable energy

Students across Devon have been gaining an insight into the training and work opportunities in renewable energy.

Kevin Ciolino, who has been a solar installer, operations manager and technical support specialist at SunGift Energy, met with Exeter College students at Falcon House Construction Training Centre.

Kevin said: "This is a tremendously exciting time for students who are interested in a career in renewable energy, whether that's Solar PV, solar thermal, biomass, heat pumps or wind turbines.

"Renewable energy has reached record levels, and with companies such as IKEA, British Telecom and Mars recently committing to procuring 100 per cent of their energy from renewable sources, employment prospects in this area are only going to improve further.

"While careers in fossil fuels companies will decline, renewable energy really is the future, so it makes sense for the next generation to understand the opportunities that are out there," he adds.

SunGift began as a one-man operation, before founder and managing director, Gabriel Wondrausch, took the opportunity to grow the Exeter-based company into a national player.

Seven years on and SunGift is now the UK Solar Installer of the Year, the most recommended renewable installer in the country, with a distribution arm that supplies the industry with some of the world's most advanced solar panels and components.

Kevin added: "Exeter students already have a great start, so this talk will hopefully give them further food for thought about where their future prospects lie.”