What do you do if you want to excel in renewable energy careers by thinking outside the box?

Keep in mind that the 'box' is ever-changing, and no place more than in the energy field. What was once considered dogma is now completely refuted. I remember not so long ago that 'experts' predicted that 5% penetration of wind and/or solar would be devastating to the grid. Now we're conceiving a completely carbon-free grid. Who knows what we'll 'know' tomorrow?

All I can do is to respect the design and to add the good things according to my experience coming from nuclear side in respect of quality control. In energy it is not too good to think outside the box to prevent improvisation.

One example of thinking outside the box in the field of renewable energy is co-locating offshore wind farms with agriculture-related activities, eg raising crops or practicing fishery in-between offshore wind turbines.

It's important to keep up to date with the latest trends, technologies and regulations in the sector. In addition, having a mindset of continuous learning and adaptability is essential in a field as dynamic as renewable energies.

You must understand the whole chain of the industry. This is a key point when it comes to outstanding in the market. Understand the manufacturers, the wholesalers, retails and the end client. By doing that you can let creativity flow through the business and do the right communication to the right stakeholders. Remember that energy is the most consumed commodity in the world and also top 3 industry. So no matter if you’re in renewable, fossil or whatever niche of energy market, make sure to understand macro to perform micro.

This is likely the most important factor to excel above the crowd. Many people in renewable energy stick to individual disciplines such as solar, wind, wave of bioenergy. In reality these are all inter-related. Understanding how to solve problems associated with intermittency of wind and solar, understanding the limitations of storage, understanding wider correlated subjects of sustainable organic waste management and how renewable energy can be a by-product of this (biogas or biomethane) and finally the decarbonisation of heat or cooling and the potential for cogeneration. Having broad understanding of these subjects will help you to excel in your career.

Solar providers should understand they can sell a larger system if the buildings and associated vehicles are electrified. Our home's first array allowed us to be net zero electricity. Every device that could use natural gas did (with the exception our our space heating). When we purchased EVs and electrified the rest (water heating, dryer, and cooking), we doubled our solar array to meet these new loads. Partner with HVAC contractors and electrification consultants. Get into the business yourself. Educate your potential customers.

Avoid preconceived ideas. There is no single solution to improve current energy consumption. Each sector requires a different solution, and technical solutions should not be imposed to adapt them to a preconceived scheme.

And why is it an interdisciplinary perspective critical! Because you need to recognize the connections between issues. There's way too much myopia! How many times have you attended a meeting about an environmental issue - renewables, clean tech, land-use, alt modes, EVa, etc. and nobody is carpooling or biking, they're serving lunch on plastic plates and passing out plastic water bottles and plastic cups! Or passing out more useless pens or other worthless stuff! Much of this is done in the name of convenience or to make people feel comfortable! Do we really need to pacify people to this extent!

Thinking outside the box in renewable energy careers can lead to innovative solutions and advancements in the field. Combine knowledge from various fields like engineering, science, economics, and policy to approach challenges creatively.Explore emerging technologies like AI and IoT for innovative solutions.Use artistic and design approaches to create visually appealing installations..

Networking is helping you in many ways. One of the major advantages is that while networking, you are able to collect a variety of opinions and feedbacks for your objective, which will help you to settle a certain projection of your out-of-the-box thinking. What is important, networking and communication will help you with the risk assesments and perhaps you will be inspired with some other points of view, which might be important within your decisionmaking process.

Understand wind in great detail. 90% of wind engineers I have met do not understand wind. The more you can talk about wind characteristics the greater a specialist will you be considered. Pick top 10 components of the turbine spend a month studying each component and you will be a specialist. Understand SCADA data being generated and it's analysis.

Just like any profession, RE will also require an urge to change the course of conventional use of energy ! RE can absorb bold innovations more than other industries as it's evolving at a rapid pace. Learning Hands On Wind, Solar, Hybrid BESS, GH2 right from concept to operations will be crucial, with regulatory updates. As this industry is policy driven, a lot of good innovations get sacrificed at the altar of a viable techno commercial model. Meeting grid load requirements to sync the RE ops is paramount. Variable voltage, Variable frequency generations, Local weather variations pose huge Demand vs Supply deficits. Hence, an exhaustive knowledge of the RE technology (ies), applications, large scale integrations will be the key !

My latest risk was back in 2017 when I gambled on the thermal battery storage market growing with higher global temperatures. Seems I was right! See O-Hx.com to look what we are doing!

Embracing risk-taking and thinking outside the box are crucial for excelling in renewable energy careers. Innovation and creative solutions are often born from willingness to explore uncharted territories and challenge conventional norms. This approach not only leads to breakthroughs in technology and methods but also opens up new market opportunities and ways of addressing climate change. As the renewable energy sector thrives on evolution and rapid growth, professionals who are adaptable, forward-thinking, and unafraid to take calculated risks stand out and drive the industry forward.

Out of the box thinking is always a risk. We do not know, what sort of situations and circumstances are waiting for us "out of the box". Certainly, we have a chance to eliminate the risks by the properly managed risk assesments, however, there will still certain risk be present. Don′t get me wrong, I am not encouraging you to take any risk blindly, but the one you plan to take shall be well evaluated. The truth is, that each materialized really fruitful business opportunity is always associated with a risk.

To excel in renewable energy careers with innovative thinking, actively engage in continuous learning. Pursue further education, attend relevant workshops, and enrol in online courses focused on renewable energy and adjacent areas of innovation. Expanding your knowledge base not only broadens your perspective but also equips you with the tools to approach challenges creatively and develop groundbreaking solutions in the renewable energy sector.

Maintaining a global perspective is paramount for “outside the box” thinking in renewable energy. The field is constantly changing, so understanding the approaches of various countries’ cultures and, especially, their public and private sectors is crucial in proactively anticipating global interconnected trends that might impact local projects. International collaboration with different stakeholders can also help shape effective strategies, which can further improve renewable energy practices and standards globally.

Understanding diverse energy needs, regulations, and cultural attitudes towards renewable energy across different countries can inspire innovative approaches and solutions tailored to various global markets. This broad viewpoint enables professionals to anticipate emerging trends, adapt technologies for different environments, and collaborate on international projects, fostering cross-cultural exchanges of ideas and best practices.

Renewable enery is a fast paced industry with a significant regional differentiation. Renewables are based on natural resources, and therefore, its availability varies a lot. Therefore, if you wish to proceed with innovations and unusual solutions, you need to be aware of the regional specifics. Therefore, having a global perspective, and deciding which region is worth which technology, helps you to take regional decisions.

Stay agile, resilient, and receptive to pivot when necessary to seize new opportunities and overcome challenges would be the key factors to consider if someone wants to think divergently within the constantly evolving renewable energy industry. It's not always about technical innovation but capability to address present challenges on market conditions, policies and regulations, supply chain bottlenecks, to name a few.