I found the facilities great; using the remote lab in Solar 1 was really interesting. I have never tested solar cells and to be remotely controlling the test equipment from Wales was great. Access to industry software and modelling tools is also fantastic, particularly WindFarm and PVsyst.

This MSc programme has helped me to get a research position at Swansea University, where I have been modelling PV systems and the active buildings in place there. Swansea University were already working with the Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology and my experience with PVsyst helped me enormously. As I have now moved to Portugal, I aim to continue working in solar modelling or to move into a career in either wind farm design, wind turbine design or dynamics, or a career in aid work, assisting those without any form of power generation. The CREST course has covered all of the above career paths in great detail, but learning Portuguese must come first!