Frequently Asked Questions

The Renewable Energy Institute works to promote best practice and knowledge-sharing in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency topics, by working with leading universities and the United Nations (UNEP) to deliver a range of educational opportunities: professional training courses, qualifications, conferences, publications, European Projects, Global Partnerships, Membership Programmes and the internationally recognised Galileo Master Certificate.

The Renewable Energy Institute is an independent professional body and training provider, which works with leading universities, and has been running courses since 1975. Every year, the Renewable Energy Institute trains over 5000 individuals in 150 countries all over the world in the latest in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. All Renewable Energy Institute course lecturers are university academics and industry experts with many years of experience in their field. The accredited courses take place in the classroom, online in virtual classrooms, or online on-demand through an innovative learning platform.

In collaboration with the United Nations (UNEP), the Renewable Energy Institute works to promote best practice in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency among individuals and companies both locally and internationally.

The Renewable Energy Institute is an SQA accredited, professional body and training provider with over 45 years of experience delivering world-class training courses. The REI’s training courses and the overall pathway for the Master in Renewable Energy Award is accredited by the CPD Accreditation Service. Once you have completed a course, you will automatically become a Member of the Renewable Energy Institute. As a member, you will receive industry recognition, log your annual CPD progression, and receive news and updates on the renewable energy industry.

While the content of the course materials remains the same, it is the format in which the course is delivered that differs. The Live Virtual Classroom course will run on set dates (please contact the Institute for upcoming course dates) and will feature 1-2 full days (9am – 5pm UK time) of interaction and networking with the lecturer and other delegates. You will have the opportunity to sit the internationally recognised Galileo Master Certificate online at the end of the course.

The Online On-Demand courses provide flexibility for you to study whenever it works best for you. The Online On-Demand courses consist of step-by-step learning through practical videos of classes presented by expert lecturers that you can review as many times as you wish; presentations, and additional resources provided by the lecturer, together with self-study and research. The exams for the internationally recognised Galileo Master Certificate will be taken online from your own location. When you are ready, you will book your choice of exam time slot from the available options.

The Renewable Energy Institute’s professional development courses are open to everyone who has an interest in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency. The courses will take you through the basic concepts of a subject before advancing to in-depth knowledge, so they are suitable for people of all levels of experience.

The Renewable Energy Institute’s renowned online courses are open to participants worldwide, regardless of which country or time-zone you live in. With 24/7 access to all the course materials, including the tutorial videos taken from the live classroom courses, you can study from any location, whenever it suits you.

Global courses in Renewable Energy are held all over the world – please let us know where you are and we will let you know your nearest course location. More regular classroom courses are held in the UK at the University of London and Edinburgh Napier University; and in the US at The George Washington University and in central Manhattan, New York City. We also arrange bespoke expert-led courses for companies and organisations all over the world.

The Renewable Energy Institute has made the online on-demand courses as flexible to study as possible so that you can learn whenever it works best for you. All the course materials, including the tutorial videos taken from the live classroom training, are accessible through your online learning account and you can review them whenever you like, as many times as you wish during your enrolment period.

Yes! The Renewable Energy Institute’s expert-led courses are designed to make it possible for you to study around your everyday commitments. The duration of the enrolment has been set to ensure that you have plenty of time to study at your own pace. Read about the positive experiences that other participants have had of studying with the Renewable Energy Institute while working here.

The remote exams for the Galileo Master Certificate (GMC) are taken through the online learning platform. As long as you have a laptop, mobile or tablet, and access to an internet connection, you can take the exam from any location that you like, even from home.

The Galileo Master Certificate (GMC) is an internationally recognised certificate in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, awarded directly by the Renewable Energy Institute. For every course that you study, you have the opportunity to achieve a GMC. If you study an Expert Certificate or the Accredited Master in Renewable Energy Award, you can achieve multiple GMCs. Previous GMC achievers include the National Grid, the World Bank, the BBC, Volkswagen, IBM and many more.

This is an exciting time to be part of the Renewable Energy industry! As the industry is expanding rapidly professionals with knowledge in Renewable Energy are in high demand across all sectors. The Renewable Energy Institute’s internationally recognised courses are led by experienced academics and professionals to provide you with the essential knowledge that you need in order to work in Renewable Energy. Participants on the Renewable Energy Institute’s Renewable Energy courses range from all kinds of professions: project managers, engineers, lawyers, entrepreneurs, and artists. Find out more about career opportunities in Renewable Energy here.

There are two ways to gain REI Membership.

1. You can enrol today on one of our courses or pathways and automatically receive one year of complimentary membership.
2. Alternatively, you can send your application form and supporting documents to membership@renewableinstitute.org and arrange payment of the membership fees here.

The application form is available to download here. Membership is open to professionals and students working or studying in the renewable energy sector.

In order to renew, you can organise payment of the renewal fee here, and email your completed CPD log to membership@renewableinstitute.org. Members must complete 30 hours of CPD accredited activities in a year to renew their membership.

Alternatively, you can enrol on another course and receive a further year included in the price of your course.

Membership is available to those with a background in the renewable energy industry wishing to progress their skills and knowledge further.

In order to help our Membership Team process your application please attach a copy of your CV, educational qualifications and any evidence of training in renewable energy along with your completed application form.

Details on how to claim your membership logo and personalised certificate will be emailed to you upon successful completion of your final exam. In the meantime, we will provide you with access to our regular membership bulletin from the date of your enrolment. Further details of this will be included in your enrolment confirmation.

Your day to day activities in renewable energy may already count towards the 30 CPD hours you need for the year, for example attending seminars, training courses or by reading industry sector publications.

More information regarding what counts towards your CPD progression can be found here.

The Institute’s Professional Membership Network is a key part of our mission to promote knowledge sharing within the growing renewable energy industry. Your membership fees allow us to continue providing members with access to regular industry expert Insights and members-only events in order to promote knowledge sharing within the industry.

We are delighted to offer a year of complimentary membership for all participants who complete one of our accredited courses or pathways.

Institute Membership provides a wide range of benefits, including recognition within the renewables industry and recognition of your achievements in the sector.
Other benefits include access to members-only events and our regular membership bulletin with early access to our latest articles.

You can find out more on the benefits of membership here.

Great, you are one step closer to receiving world-class training in Renewable Energy! You can pay for your expert-led course or pathway through PayPal, or via credit or debit card over the phone: +44 (0)131 446 9479 (Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm UK time). Alternatively, you can pay by making a bank transfer – for bank transfer details, please email: training@renewableinstitute.org

Yes, certainly. Please email the name and address that you would like included on the invoice to: training@renewableinstitute.org and the Finance Department will create the invoice for you.

The Renewable Energy Institute is the chosen professional training provider for many companies and organisations around the world. The Renewable Energy Institute’s expert-led bespoke courses are delivered through live virtual classroom training, or in-house at your location. There are also various advantageous offers on group enrolments on the Renewable Energy Institute’s CPD-Accredited online on-demand courses.