Grow your Career with the Paid IRENA Internship – Flexibility Analysis Application

Ednah Carrick July 5, 2024

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Closing Date: 14 July 2024

Grow your Career with the Paid IRENA Internship – Flexibility Analysis Application

Background

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an inter-governmental organisation that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future, and serves as the principal platform for international co-operation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy. IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy, in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity. At present, IRENA has 169 Members (168 States and the European Union) that acceded to its Statute, and 15 additional States in the process of accession and actively engaged.

To achieve its aims, IRENA develops analytical and empirical products that provide comprehensive and timely information, evidence, and recommendations to increase, to the necessary levels, global investments in renewable energy and the corresponding enabling technology. The World Energy Transition Outlook (WETO) is the central annual product on IRENA´s Work Programme for this purpose. The analyses from WETO include an important component dedicated to the transformation of the power sector. This component, led by IRENA’s Innovation and Technology Centre (IITC), is supported by a sound analytical and modelling work in terms of the power system needs for expansion and operation, to guarantee reliability under the transition to a clean energy supply.

To support the alignment of regional strategies and investments with mid- and long-term development and climate goals, several Regional Energy Transition Outlooks (RETOs), also with a strong power-sector analytical component, will be developed under IRENA´s 2024-2025 Work Programme. Furthermore, during the 2024-2025 biennium, IITC will continue assisting countries and regions in building their planning capacities in using different energy planning models and tools. The IITC will work towards providing technology insights through the development and application of its power sector planning toolbox and enhancing its knowledge framework.

Paid IRENA Internship Assignment

The intern will provide support to the work of the Energy Planning and Power Sector Transformation (EPPST) team within IITC. Specifically, the intern will work towards in enhancing and simulating power sector operation and expansion models, that will provide inputs to IRENA’s Regional Energy Transition Outlook for Africa and IRENA’s flagship report, the World Energy Transition Outlook (WETO).

In line with the objective above, the intern is expected to perform a range of technical and organizational functions, including but not limited to:

Support the power sector flexibility modelling using IRENA FlexTool. The work will give inputs to RETO Africa, comprising the continent’s 54 countries
Support the migration of the existing global power sector and hydrogen models currently built in PLEXOS to IRENA FlexTool
Work with FlexTool developers to implement new features to better model the global power and hydrogen sectors.

Perform any other duties as required

Learning Areas

During the internship, the successful applicant will develop a deep understanding of the main challenges of the energy transition for the operation and expansion of the power systems. The intern will also be able to further develop skills in power systems modelling, which are closely related to research and analytical thinking.

Minimum Requirements

Candidates must have completed an undergraduate degree and be enrolled in a Master’s or doctorate programme at a recognised university at the time of application and for the duration of the internship, or they must have the recent graduates will also be included in the internship programme provided the start date of the internship is less than six months from completion of studies.

Preference is given to candidates studying engineering or technology with a proven background in power systems modelling. Experience with IRENA FlexTool, PLEXOS, SDDP, or other energy modelling software is required.
Candidates must be fluent in English (both oral and written) and demonstrate excellent writing and communication skills.
Competencies: Candidates should demonstrate solid teamwork, planning and organizing, professionalism and communications skills.

Candidates must be able to work in a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment.
Candidates should indicate the period of availability in their cover letter.

Application Procedure

Candidates interested in this Paid IRENA Internship assignment and meeting the minimum requirements must apply for the abovementioned vacancy online through IRENA’s recruitment platform ORC, by submitting a complete and comprehensive CV and a letter of interest. Due to the high number of applications, only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted for a pre-recorded and/or telephone interview.