Strong together in “NET”: New initiative for promoting young talent in the energy sector starts
13.06.2024The shortage of qualified skilled workers is increasingly challenging companies and institutions in the energy sector. To ensure that this does not become a bottleneck for the energy transition, active engagement and joint action are required. This is where the newly established initiative, Network Energy Talents (NET), comes in. Together, the five founding partners from business and science aim to advance the promotion of young talent in the energy sector, thereby contributing to encouraging more individuals to pursue STEM degrees.
During the Dresden Long Night of Sciences on June 14, 2024, the NET founding members – the Technical University of Dresden, the two German electricity transmission system operators 50Hertz and TenneT, the municipal supplier SachsenEnergie with its subsidiary SachsenNetze, and the independent energy expert and technical consultant DNV – will present the initiative to the public for the first time in the foyer of the TOEPLER building at TU Dresden. The signing of a “Letter of Intent” will mark the start of joint activities.
Graduates in STEM fields – mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, and engineering – will be urgently needed in almost all key industries in the future. They will play a central role in the success of the energy transition and, in doing so, strengthen Germany’s economic standing. Against this backdrop, it is crucial to ignite and foster interest in STEM subjects among young people at an early stage. This is exactly the goal of the NET initiative. It aims to provide guidance and inspiration to students, trainees, parents, and anyone involved in career orientation.
The five founding members of NET are eager to quickly move from the “Letter of Intent” to action. Following their first joint appearance at the Long Night of Sciences, many more collaborative activities will follow, such as informational events, workshops, or themed evenings. The close cooperation between research, teaching, businesses, and energy sector operators aims to create synergies and make the NET initiative a success model.
One focus of the collaboration will be the establishment of both formal and informal networks with schools to spark interest in STEM careers among young people as early as possible. Based on this, the initiative’s plans also include supporting and mentoring students and trainees. This will be complemented by concepts for contributing to talent development programs, such as scholarships and fellowships, as well as offering summer schools, graduate programs, and research projects.
Prof. Ursula Staudinger, Rector of TU Dresden: “As an excellence university with social responsibility, we are pleased to contribute to training the skilled workers of tomorrow. This naturally includes specialists in electrical and energy engineering. These future and urgently needed experts will be crucial in overcoming the transformation of the technology sector towards greater sustainability while maintaining competitive and innovative strength, and in making our energy system climate-neutral. To meet these ambitious goals, initiatives like ‘Network Energy Talents’ are highly welcome. TU Dresden is pleased to participate as a founding member in this innovative endeavor and will contribute its expertise, particularly in reaching potential students, transitioning from study to work, and transferring knowledge from science to society. In this context, it is also a very positive and fitting signal that the alliance will present itself for the first time during the Long Night of Sciences at TU Dresden.”
Dr. Thomas Werner, Managing Director of DNV Energy Systems Germany GmbH: “The transformation in energy supply is a colossal societal task that can only be mastered through intensive cooperation across all areas of the energy industry. With the NET initiative, we aim to tap into new potential, address the shortage of skilled workers sustainably, and further intensify cooperation between science and the energy industry. I am particularly pleased that DNV can contribute in this area as an independent and trusted voice in global transformation processes.”
Tim Meyerjürgens, Managing Director of TenneT: “Without skilled workers, there is no energy transition. The climate-neutral transformation of our energy system requires not only technological innovations but also qualified labor. The shortage of skilled workers across the entire value chain in the energy sector is not a temporary phenomenon. It is already noticeable and will intensify in the coming years unless we actively counter it. We must create incentives for new jobs and employment opportunities in the green economy and introduce young people to energy sector topics as early as possible. That’s why it is only logical that TenneT actively supports the NET initiative from the start.”
Sylvia Borcherding, Managing Director of Corporate Services (CCO) at 50Hertz: “The energy sector is unfortunately still seen as rather conservative – we need to break this image. Because the opposite is true: the renewable energy sector is agile, innovative, and diverse. Choosing a job in the energy transition also has another crucial advantage: the work is meaningful. Together with our network partners, we want to make the many advantages more widely known among students and pupils. The effects of climate change are already noticeable. If we want to counter this development, we need bright minds who want to contribute and move things forward together!”
Dr. Frank Brinkmann, Chairman of the Board of the SachsenEnergie Group: “We are facing the shared challenge of implementing the energy transition across Germany and as a society in a short period. To achieve this, we need experts in electrical energy engineering who will make and maintain our power grids fit for the future. These specialists are the key to success. With united effort, we want to secure the next generation with this initiative by inspiring young people with our meaningful and diverse work in the energy sector.”