How do I enter the renewable energy industry?

What non-academic options can a fresh Computer Science grad pursue to work in the renewable energy industry?

• I'm a student at University College London (UCL), finishing up my bachelors (which is really an integrated Masters) in CS. I'm currently on a year abroad at ETH Zurich, where among other things, I am taking a couple of renewable energy courses. I've identified the renewables space as an area I'd like to work in in the future, probably on the project management/business analysis side, rather than from a purely engineering perspective, although I'm comfortable with basic mechanics, electronics and thermodynamics. My previous experience is limited to a 2-month internship doing marketing and some business analysis for an Indian renewables start-up. I also have a tangentially-related internship doing analytics and some development at a London finance start-up. Apart from uni courses in energy and business, I have taken quite a few Coursera courses in energy economics and policy as well as general economics and management topics. I've been researching big UK energy companies, but most seem to offer only 1-year placements rather than short-term internships. Big is an unfortunate prerequisite because I'd like to stay on in the UK after I graduate, for which I require a visa sponsorship, and it's generally the big ones that offer this. The option I've currently identified as having the most promise is working for a couple of years at a consulting company where I can work on some energy projects to "make my bones" and use that as a segue. I could go to grad school, but I'm not a classroom person and I'd really like to keep that option as a last resort. If anybody's been through something similar (even if it's not in this specific industry) or has any advice for me, I would whole-heartedly appreciate it.

• Answer:

  The Holy Grail will be organics or nano solar.  There is tremendous work to be done attracting more spectrum and different types of nano structures.  Do that.