Renewables Intern

At UL, we know why we come to work.

Thousands of us around the world wake up every day with a common purpose: to make the world a safer, more secure and sustainable place. Science is in our DNA; we are endlessly curious and passionate about seeking and speaking the truth. We take delight in knowing that our work makes a meaningful contribution to society, and we are proud that our culture is centered on integrity, collaboration, inclusion and excellence. UL stands at the forefront of technological advancement, and we are continually challenged to find new ways to foster innovation and positive change. Satisfying? Yes. Exciting? Absolutely!

As our global footprint continues to spread across the world, we are looking for a Renewables Intern to join our team in Northbrook, IL. or Chicago, IL.

What makes you a great fit:

• Currently pursuing a bachelor’s (rising senior) or master’s degree in engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, or Civil), Renewable Energy, Atmospheric Science, Physics, or a related technical field. 

• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and organizational skills. 

• Demonstrated interest in renewable energy technologies; familiarity with power systems or electrical fundamentals preferred. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint; exposure to financial models is a plus. 

• Strong communication skills, including writing and presenting technical information. 

• Experience with programming languages such as Python or R is preferred; familiarity with data manipulation libraries (e.g., Pandas) and data visualization tools is a significant plus. 

• A process‑improvement mindset, with interest in automation, efficiency enhancements, or tool development. 

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment. 

• Ability to work under deadlines in a fast‑paced setting.

What we offer:

Total Rewards: The hourly rate for this role is $23.00-$25.00. Qualified candidates may be eligible for a sign-on bonus to assist with housing, travel, and other relocation expenses, subject to terms and conditions. Your internship will consist of a 10-12 week long project, networking, learning & development opportunities, and will provide you with the opportunity to make a real world impact.

Learn More:

Join UL Solutions to be at the center of safety. To learn more about us and the work we do, visit UL.com

What you’ll learn & achieve: 

UL Solutions (“ULS”) is seeking a motivated and detail‑oriented Intern to join our Renewable Energy Advisory and Independent Engineering (IE) teams. This role contributes to the development of innovative, analytical, high‑quality services, typically working on several projects in parallel and collaborating with staff at all levels. Interns will be assigned to support either our Wind Energy Advisory group or our Solar Energy Advisory group, depending on project needs and candidate background.

In energy advisory, you will learn the full spectrum of pre‑construction resource assessments and energy production modeling for your assigned technology (wind, BESS or solar) to support bankable energy yield analyses. In technical due diligence, you will help identify project risks by reviewing project design, technology, contracts, and key financial model inputs—working closely with seasoned engineers, project developers, and financial institutions to support project financing transactions.

In this role, you will also contribute to enhancing analytical tools and processes, assist with key internal projects, and support research and technical writing efforts.

As a Renewables Intern you will work on a project focused on one of the following areas:

Wind 

1. Carry out initial steps of pre-construction analyses under supervision, including:
   • Compilation and validation of meteorological data for wind resource assessments.
   • Assist wind energy project planning, provide spatial planning support identifying potential wind farm locations.
   • Management of project documentation and data.
   • Perform data preparation and analysis of raster datasets in support of wind resource mapping efforts.
   • Run atmospheric and wind flow models to develop wind resource maps.
   • Creation of project map images.
2. Assist the IE team with technical due diligence reviews for renewable energy projects (wind energy).
   • Support in reviewing and summarizing project documents such as: Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) contracts, Operations & Maintenance (O&M) agreements, Power Purchase Agreements (PPA), Asset Management Agreements (AMA), Interconnection Agreements (IA) and interconnection studies
   • Contribute to financial model review by validating technical inputs (energy production, operating costs, reserve accounts, availability assumptions, etc.).
   • Conduct research on equipment suppliers, technology trends, and market benchmarks.
   • Prepare draft sections of Independent Engineering reports and QA/QC logs under supervision.
     Support site inspections and construction monitoring (where applicable).

Solar Energy 

1. Assist in the technical evaluation of pre-construction solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, including: 
   • Long‑term solar resource assessment

   • Support with technical due diligence reviews for renewable energy projects, including utility scale solar and DG/C&I systems

   • Support in reviewing and summarizing project documents such as: Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) contracts, Operations & Maintenance (O&M) agreements, Power Purchase Agreements (PPA), Asset Management Agreements (AMA), Interconnection Agreements (IA) and Interconnection studies.

   • Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis
   • Perform data analysis (production data, weather data, performance ratios, etc.)
   • Development of energy yield estimates for bankability assessments 
   • R&D efforts for Solar Back cast studies