The renewable energy buildout across regional Victoria is creating a category of jobs that didn’t exist a decade ago: technology roles supporting wind farms, solar installations, and grid infrastructure.

I’ve been exploring this intersection of energy and tech employment.

Where Tech Meets Renewables

Renewable energy projects are fundamentally technology operations. Beyond the obvious engineering roles, they need:

Control systems specialists: Managing the software and hardware that monitors and controls generation equipment.

Data analysts: Processing the enormous volumes of data from sensors, weather systems, and grid connections.

Network and communications technicians: Maintaining the connectivity that allows remote monitoring and control.

Cybersecurity specialists: Protecting critical infrastructure from digital threats.

Software developers: Building and maintaining the platforms that manage operations.

Current Projects and Employers

Wind Energy

Major wind farms across western Victoria (Ararat, Mortlake, Dundonnell areas) employ ongoing technical staff. Each large wind farm typically has 10-20 permanent employees, including several tech-focused roles.

Control centres in regional centres like Ballarat and Geelong manage multiple sites, concentrating technical employment.

Solar

Large-scale solar projects across northern Victoria (Kerang, Mildura, Shepparton regions) have similar staffing profiles.

Solar farms tend to require less ongoing maintenance than wind, but monitoring and control systems still need support.

Battery Storage

The emerging battery storage sector is creating new roles. Grid-scale batteries near renewable installations need monitoring, maintenance, and software management.

This sector is growing quickly and offers opportunities for early career positioning.

Skills in Demand

Conversations with employers reveal consistent skill requirements:

Electrical qualifications combined with IT skills are particularly valuable. People who understand both power systems and data systems are rare.

Industrial control systems (SCADA) experience commands premium rates. Critical infrastructure operates on these systems.

Data analytics skills applied to operational data—predicting failures, optimising performance, understanding patterns.

Networking and communications for remote site connectivity. Many installations are in areas with challenging connectivity.

Cybersecurity awareness, particularly for operational technology environments.

Salary Expectations

Renewable energy tech roles typically pay above average for regional positions:

• Technical support/monitoring: $70,000-90,000
• Control systems technicians: $90,000-120,000
• Data analysts: $85,000-115,000
• Senior engineers/specialists: $120,000-160,000
• Management roles: $140,000+

Many positions include vehicles, regional allowances, or other benefits.

Entry Pathways

For people interested in entering this sector:

Electrical trades provide strong foundation. Apprenticeships in electrical work, followed by specialisation in control systems or data.

IT qualifications combined with interest in industrial applications. General IT skills are transferable; industrial context can be learned.

Engineering degrees from regional universities are well-regarded. Federation University and others have programs aligned with industry needs.

Existing energy sector experience translates well. People moving from traditional power generation bring valuable context.

Geographic Concentration

Tech jobs in renewables concentrate in several patterns:

Control centres in regional cities (Ballarat, Geelong, Bendigo) provide office-based roles managing remote sites.

On-site roles at wind and solar farms across western and northern Victoria. These often require living in smaller towns or significant commuting.

Melbourne corporate offices still employ many senior and specialist roles, though this is slowly shifting.

For people wanting to live in regional centres while working in renewables tech, control centre roles offer the best combination of interesting work and convenient location.

Outlook

The renewable energy buildout will continue for years. Government commitments to emissions reduction translate directly to ongoing construction and operation of new projects.

Technology requirements will grow as:

• Grid integration becomes more complex
• Battery storage expands
• Hydrogen production emerges
• Smart grid technologies develop

This creates sustained demand for tech-capable workers in regional locations.

Challenges

The sector isn’t without challenges:

Project-based employment: Construction phases create temporary spikes in employment that don’t all convert to permanent roles.

Remote locations: Some positions require living in small towns or extensive travel.

Skills mismatches: Employers sometimes struggle to find people with the right combination of electrical and IT skills.

Corporate instability: The renewable sector has seen company failures and ownership changes that affect job security.

Recommendations

For people considering this career path:

Build hybrid skills that combine electrical/engineering knowledge with IT capabilities. This combination is rare and valuable.

Get relevant certifications in industrial control systems, networking, or data analytics.

Target control centre employers if you want regional city living with interesting work.

Accept that some travel is likely part of many roles in this sector.

The intersection of technology and renewable energy represents a genuine career opportunity for regionally-based workers. The skills are transferable, the sector is growing, and the work contributes to something meaningful.

Regional Development Victoria tracks renewable energy projects and employment opportunities across regional Victoria, and CSIRO conducts research into energy technology that sometimes leads to regional employment.