Career progression and skills in Smart Local Energy Systems

2023. Timeyin Arueyingho, Ruzanna Chitchyan & Caroline Bird
Applied Energy.

Abstract

Newly emerging digitally-connected and renewables-based energy systems (often referred to as ‘Smart Local Energy Systems’) aim to generate, supply, manage and balance energy across all vectors as well as to improve efficiencies and deliver social, environmental and economic benefits to the local communities. This paper presents a qualitative study of fifty current Smart Local Energy System professionals to report on the career progression paths taken to engage in this newly emerging sector. Based on the careers of these professionals, we sketched examples of career progression paths in various sub-sectors of the Smart Local Energy System, as well as discussed the factors that foster professional development. Drawing on the evidence from this study, a set of desirable actions for employers, policy makers, teaching and training providers, and accrediting bodies are also discussed.

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Citation

Arueyingho, O., Chitchyan, R., & Bird, C. (2023). Career progression and skills in smart local energy systems. Applied Energy, 349, 121596. URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261923009601, doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.121596

BibTeX

@article{ARUEYINGHO2023121596,
title = {Career progression and skills in Smart Local Energy Systems},
journal = {Applied Energy},
volume = {349},
pages = {121596},
year = {2023},
issn = {0306-2619},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.121596},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261923009601},
author = {Oritsetimeyin Arueyingho and Ruzanna Chitchyan and Caroline Bird},
keywords = {Smart local energy system, Career progression, Factors impacting careers in smart local energy, Interview study},
abstract = {Newly emerging digitally-connected and renewables-based energy systems (often referred to as ‘Smart Local Energy Systems’) aim to generate, supply, manage and balance energy across all vectors as well as to improve efficiencies and deliver social, environmental and economic benefits to the local communities. This paper presents a qualitative study of fifty current Smart Local Energy System professionals to report on the career progression paths taken to engage in this newly emerging sector. Based on the careers of these professionals, we sketched examples of career progression paths in various sub-sectors of the Smart Local Energy System, as well as discussed the factors that foster professional development. Drawing on the evidence from this study, a set of desirable actions for employers, policy makers, teaching and training providers, and accrediting bodies are also discussed.}
}