Graduate Program
Graduate Program
The Clean Energy Council (CEC) and AEMO have teamed up to offer the Grid Connection Engineer Graduate Program, an industry-first initiative for electrical engineering graduates. This initiative aims to address the shortage of connections engineers by establishing an industry-wide graduate program, where graduates will rotate through roles with OEMs, developers, TNSPs and AEMO.
Applications for a Trial of the Program closed on 20 May 2024 and successful graduates are due to commence in February 2025. 10 companies are participating in the Trial.
Background
What is a Grid Connection Engineer?
Being a grid connection engineer is an exciting, innovative career pathway, with practitioners driving the energy transition.
Grid connection engineers are needed for all renewable energy technologies at scale. They usually hold degrees in electrical engineering and are required to be proficient in the use of dynamic medium- to long-term simulation models for complex systems. Ideally, practitioners have experience across a range of work settings in which grid connections play an essential role. They have excellent knowledge of the National Electricity Market and compliance requirements of AEMO or other network service providers. Grid connection engineers are employed by developers, balance-of-plant providers, consultants and AEMO.
A Graduate program designed to fast track experience
The demand for grid connection engineers within the clean energy sector exceeds supply, with job advertisements outnumbering applicants. This demand will continue to grow as we race toward our renewable energy targets.
To address this shortage, the CEC and AEMO have come together to create a unique industry-wide graduate program, offering participants experiences and learning opportunities not available in other programs. By bringing together multiple employing organisations as hosts, graduates in this program will have the opportunity to gain invaluable experience and new skills as they rotate through multiple work settings, whilst also receiving additional job-ready training and networking opportunities.
Timeline
- Applications opened – 15 April 2024
- Applications closed – 20 May 2024
- Gamified Assessment closed – 1 June 2024
- Video assessment closed – 24 June 2024
- Assessment centres – 24-26 July 2024
- Letters of offer – early August 2024
- Program commences – February 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
View the answers to our most common queries on the CEC’s website.