Career progression and skills in Smart Local Energy Systems

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. •Educational background is not an impediment for career progression in Smart Local Energy.•Drivers for career progression have been identified e.g. Years of service & personal interest.•Most jobs in Smart Local Energy require hybridized skills (e.g., Project management and programming).