Looking for a fulfilling future helping the planet? Climate tech is revolutionizing industries across the globe through the development of technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
In Washington state, start-ups are opening their doors and showcasing their work during events like PNW Climate Week. The University of Washington's CoMotion Labs and Clean Energy Institute are supporting research to bring climate tech ideas to reality. Additionally, the Seattle Office of Economic Development, CoMotion Labs, 9Zero and VertueLab recently launched the Seattle Climate Innovation Hub, an incubator dedicated to fostering partnerships, designs and investments in climate tech.
Want to be a part of this exciting field and drive meaningful change? Read on to learn about three ways to break into climate tech and the UW programs that can help you gain the skills to thrive.
1. Support Renewable Energy Production
Energy plays an important role in many aspects of our lives. We use gas for cooking and heating, and we use electricity for lighting and to power appliances. However, our energy production and use come at a cost, contributing to climate change and accounting for about 25% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. As a result, energy production is a huge opportunity for climate tech innovation. Many climate tech projects aim to modernize aging energy infrastructure, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and expand the use of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and geothermal power.
Creating renewable energy translates into demand for engineering-related roles like energy analysts, energy project managers and project engineering directors. These professionals need a solid understanding of infrastructure and construction, energy use and the environment.
For those interested in breaking into this work, the University of Washington has a program that can help. “The Online Master of Science in Civil Engineering: Energy Infrastructure program prepares students for a career in climate tech by helping them develop their comprehensive knowledge of diverse types of energy systems,” says Julian Yamaura, the program director. “They learn how to construct and operate renewable power plants, energy distribution systems and other types of energy projects while balancing environmental, occupational safety, financial and legal concerns."
2. Advance Battery Technology
Besides generating power in a more climate-friendly manner, many climate tech companies and organizations are exploring ways to improve battery technology. Better battery technology can electrify devices currently reliant on fossil fuels, reduce power loss, enable faster charging and make more efficient use of minerals like lithium and nickel.
In Seattle, start-ups like Ecellix and Group14 are exploring ways to increase power storage and charge speed for batteries for handheld devices. The University of Washington’s Clean Energy Institute is also expanding the Washington Clean Energy Test Beds with a new lab dedicated to climate tech innovations such as higher-energy density batteries for electric vehicles.
Given the upsurge in battery tech projects, companies need employees like battery engineers and researchers who can think big and study how to develop new energy conversion and storage methods. Working and succeeding in this field typically requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering, chemistry or physics, and coursework or a certificate in battery technology. Having a strong mix of manufacturing methods and engineering principles is also helpful. If you want to learn more about battery technology or expand your knowledge, the UW has several programs that can help.
3. Expand Sustainable Transportation
With transportation accounting for about 28% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, improving how we get around is key to mitigating climate change. So, it’s no surprise that employers are looking for professionals like transportation planners and engineers to guide policies and design plans for projects like low-emission public transportation systems and the expansion of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
To explore a career in this field, you’ll need to study topics such as transportation planning, policy and analysis. And the UW Online Master of Sustainable Transportation is a great place to start.
“Our program equips students to understand the enormous potential that lies in technology while also recognizing the limits of technology and the trade-offs that we face between different solutions,” says Don MacKenzie, professor for CET 565: Climate Change & Energy in the Online Master of Sustainable Transportation. “We teach our students how to maximize positive impacts on people and communities by thinking about how technology interacts with urban design, physical infrastructure and individual user behavior.”
If you'd like to dive deep into transportation planning, policy and analysis, here are two UW programs that can help further your career.
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Interested in finding more ways you can make an impact in climate tech? Explore our full selection of engineering, construction and sustainability programs.