The Clean Energy Industry From a Student Perspective

Wesley Dunn, Co-op Student

Tomorrow is my last day of a work term at Energy Revolution Services and I would like to provide my perspective as a newcomer to the clean energy sector.

I started my career as a Petroleum Engineering Technologist and worked in that field for four years as a supervisor for an oil and gas services company. I gained a lot of valuable experience, along with many useful skills, but ultimately my passion was not in the oil and gas industry.

My passion was elsewhere, but how would I find it?

To start off, I created a list of my interests. Two options stood out: energy storage and renewable energy. I was always fascinated by energy generation and how energy is stored and used for many different purposes. I realized the energy sector was where I wanted to be, I just wasn’t in the area that resonated with me the most.

With a forward-looking path in mind, I decided to enroll in UVic's mechanical engineering program and pursue a career in clean energy. This decision has led to some wonderful opportunities within the clean energy industry, including my recent work term at Energy Revolution Services. I plan to graduate in December 2021 with specializations in Energy Systems, and Thermo-fluids and Aerodynamics.

Having the opportunity to work for Energy Revolution Services and for Principal Engineer, Michael Pullinger, has been one of the most valuable aspects of my education to date. During my time at Energy Revolution Services, I’ve worked on a diverse set of projects which include areas such as energy modelling, HVAC and plumbing.

During my time at ERS, one of my main tasks was an energy modelling report based on a small commercial building for which ERS is completing a Step Code energy model. The report studied the effects of key modelling input values on building energy consumption simulation results. The results will be effective in reducing energy modelling calibration times for future projects.

Some of you may wonder, how was my experience entering the clean energy sector?

As a student, I would describe it using two words: challenging and rewarding. Starting out in a new industry isn’t easy. Many new skills need to be developed. With this challenge comes the reward of gaining valuable competencies that can be used to take part in the current energy revolution.

It’s exciting to be part of a growing team working towards meeting and exceeding future carbon reduction goals. Work doesn’t feel like work anymore. It feels like a challenge that I am excited to explore. Solving problems is what I love to do and when combined with clean energy, it is clear that I have found the career path for me.

Working at ERS has given me a window into the amazing possibilities that a career in clean energy holds. No matter the challenge, I am ready to tackle it and, in doing so, hope to do my part to contribute positively to the environment and to work toward a more sustainable future.