Members of Masdar Institute’s Young Future Energy Leaders Program (YFEL) learned about the career prospects of the rapidly-growing global alternative energy sector and the tools and policies that impact it as part of a one-day course.
Around 45 YFEL members participated in the course that was titled ‘Being an analyst in the renewable energy industry.’ It was led by officials from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Masdar corporation, with members of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the International Energy Agency (IEA), and the World Bank participating in a panel discussion that was part of the course.
“Energy markets worldwide are undergoing a rapid transformation, including the emergence of renewable energy as a mainstream alternative to fossil fuels,” said IRENA Director-General Adnan Z. Amin. “Government and business must track these changes for policy and planning purposes, and they will need skilled energy analysts to do so. IRENA is pleased to work with Masdar Institute’s YFEL program to help meet the growing need for future energy experts.”
Over the past three years, renewables have accounted for more than half of net capacity additions in the global power sector – meaning more new renewable energy capacity is being installed than new capacity in fossil and nuclear power combined. Today, more than 7.7 million people worldwide are employed by the renewable energy sector, which has grown 17 percent since last year. In 2014 the sector was valued at US$270 billion by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). These compelling factors encouraged IRENA to organize the one-day course for YFEL members to raise their awareness about career prospects in alternative energy.
“As a program dedicated to creating future energy leaders, YFEL offers various avenues for professional development in collaboration with industry and non-government partners including IRENA,” said Dr. Lamya Fawwaz, Vice-President, Institutional Advancement and Public Affairs, Masdar Institute. “With incremental growth in opportunities in the renewable energy sector, courses such as this are becoming necessary for strengthening and further developing the region’s skill base. Masdar Institute is delighted to work with IRENA and support talented youth through the YFEL outreach program.”
The course panel discussion was moderated by Nicolas Fichaux, Program Officer Renewable Potentials, IRENA. Panelists included expert analysts including Maged Farouk, Senior Manager, Masdar Special Projects Unit, Diako Makhmalbaf, Senior Consultant, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Yasmina Abdelilah, Data Analysis and Modelling, IEA, and Amit Jain, Renewable Energy Specialist, World Bank.
A knowledge-sharing session was followed by a presentation of IRENA analytical tools and data sources. A special session on ‘Resource’ — the world’s largest repository of free information on renewable energy — showed YFEL members how to gather valuable information on the sector. The course also included an introduction to renewable energy policy mechanisms and existing policy databases.
The course also included a practical case study meant to demonstrate YFEL members’ understanding of the renewable energy sector and the related tools and services. They were asked to apply their understanding of the issues and opportunities to a specific country and submit a summary on the status of the energy market, as well as the potential for renewable energy development.
YFEL is a Masdar Institute outreach program with a mission to educate and inspire students and young professionals to become future leaders capable of solving the world’s most pressing challenges in advanced energy and sustainability. Throughout the year, YFEL members are mentored in the fields of advanced energy and sustainability technologies through participation in case study competitions and world energy conferences.
In addition to courses organized by external partners, YFEL offers guest lectures and intensive courses annually on technology, policy, and leadership that are led by renowned industry experts and Masdar Institute faculty.
Clarence Michael
News Writer
10 September 2015
