Electricity from wind and solar, smart grids, storage, hydrogen and e-mobility: our energy system is undergoing fundamental change. This transformation requires not only new technologies, but above all people who develop, plan and implement them. For school pupils and students, this creates many opportunities to work on real challenges for the future.
The energy transition means there is plenty to solve
How can electricity from a wind farm be transported safely to where it is needed? How can a power grid automatically recognise when particularly large amounts of energy are being fed in or consumed? How can battery storage be used effectively? What role can hydrogen play for industry and energy supply? And how can millions of individual installations be connected to form a stable overall system?
These are the kinds of questions people in the energy sector work on. And it is no longer just about power stations, electricity lines or large technical installations. Digitalisation and automation are becoming increasingly important. Data needs to be analysed, systems programmed and power grids managed intelligently. Engineering, IT, business and the natural sciences are becoming ever more closely connected. That is why people with different interests and strengths are needed.
What strengths are in demand?
In the energy sector, technical knowledge and good grades are not the only things that count. Analytical thinking, teamwork and a willingness to familiarise yourself with new topics are also important. Many tasks arise at the interfaces between technology, IT, business and society. Being able to understand complex relationships, develop solutions together and adapt to change therefore provides a strong foundation.
This next generation is needed
At the same time, the sector faces another challenge: many experienced professionals will retire over the coming years.
This is particularly evident in electrical and information engineering. According to research by VDE, by 2029 more than 30,000 more electrical engineers will retire than will graduate from universities. For 2027, for example, the association expects around 13,100 retirements, compared with only around 6,500 university graduates.
There is also an ongoing shortage of qualified workers in many vocational professions. According to the Competence Centre for Securing Skilled Labour (KOFA), almost 100,000 vacancies in skilled trades could not be filled with suitably qualified unemployed workers in 2025. Particularly affected are occupations in building electrics as well as plumbing, heating and air-conditioning – areas that play an important role in expanding renewable energy and energy infrastructure.
For young people with an interest in technology or digitalisation, this creates a wide range of long-term opportunities – and specialist knowledge will be needed in many areas.
There is another development alongside the demand for skilled professionals: student numbers are declining in important STEM degree programmes. This means that the pool of young people who could take on technical roles in the energy sector in future is also becoming smaller.
Sven Kretzschmar, Chair of Network Energy Talents e. V., also highlighted this development in an interview with Zeitung für kommunale Wirtschaft (ZfK):
“Student numbers in relevant STEM degree programmes are falling dramatically, while companies urgently need precisely this kind of technical talent.”
Sven Kretzschmar, Chair of Network Energy Talents e. V.
For school pupils and students, this also shows how important technical and scientific qualifications will be for the future tasks facing the energy sector.
What jobs are there in the energy sector?
The energy sector offers entry opportunities across many technical, digital, scientific and commercial fields. Depending on your vocational training or degree, the tasks can vary considerably – from operating technical systems to planning major infrastructure projects.
Typical professions and fields of work include:
- Electrical engineer – for example in power grids, grid planning or electrical systems
- Industrial engineer – working at the interface between technology, business and project management
- IT specialist – for software, IT systems, data processing or digital grid control
- Data scientist – analysing energy, grid and consumption data
- Industrial electrician – installing, maintaining and operating technical systems
- Mechatronics technician – for example in plant engineering, operations or automation technology
- Project manager – planning and implementing energy and infrastructure projects
There are also many professions that you might not immediately associate with the energy sector. Modern energy supply is about much more than technology and plant engineering. Weather data needs to be analysed, sites assessed, legal requirements taken into account and political and social frameworks understood. That is why the sector also employs specialists from very different disciplines.
These include, for example:
- Meteorologist – for example, forecasting wind and solar power generation
- Geoscientist – for example, working on site assessments or storage solutions
- Lawyer – specialising in energy law, permits and regulatory requirements
- Political scientist – for example in energy policy or stakeholder management
- Communications or market communication specialist – coordinating processes between grid operators, energy suppliers and other market participants
There are many other career paths too, including mechanical engineering, automation technology, natural sciences, planning and technical consultancy. Many roles arise precisely at the interfaces between different disciplines.
Guidance comes from real-world insights
During school or the first few semesters at university, it is often difficult to know which career path might suit you later on. Many roles in the energy sector are also hard to imagine if you only know them from module descriptions or job profiles.
Practical insights can therefore help: What does working for a grid operator actually look like? What kind of tasks does an industrial engineer take on? Where are IT, electrical engineering or data analysis used in practice?
Questions like these are often best answered by speaking directly to people who already work in the sector.
Many challenges are still open
The energy sector continues to evolve. Power grids are becoming more digital, renewable energy needs to be integrated more closely into the overall system, and new solutions are being developed in areas such as storage, hydrogen, automation and data analysis.
For young professionals, this creates a wide range of entry opportunities in technical, digital and commercial fields.
Insights, contacts and guidance
Network Energy Talents brings young people together with universities and companies from the energy sector. The aim is to provide early insights into professions, companies and possible career paths.
This can help you discover which tasks match your interests and what opportunities the energy sector could offer for your future.