What do you do if you want to gain a solid footing in the renewable energy industry through internships?

Solar and wind are among the fastest-expanding segments in the renewable energy sector. They will naturally offer more opportunities for internships. Sidenote: if you like working offshore, you might be interested in offshore wind farms.

Before diving into applications, it's essential to research the renewable energy sector thoroughly. Understand the various segments, such as solar, wind, hydro, and bioenergy, and identify which area aligns with your interests and skills. Familiarize yourself with the leading companies and emerging startups in the space. By doing so, you can tailor your internship applications to positions that will offer the most valuable experience and align with your career goals.

Prepare yourself with the skills and software needed for this industry. It's also beneficial to gain proficiency in tools commonly used in the sector, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for site analysis or computer-aided design (CAD) software for system design.

My first ever internship was possible because of networking. My desire to understand how different industries work took me to not just one or two, but three internships and a final semester project at the industry back in India. Irrespective of these being short stints, I made sure to ask relevant questions to my mentors/colleagues, assimilate thoroughly, and engage with my fellow interns. This helped me build a quality network that I could rely on when I decided to pursue graduate studies.

Apply to start-ups. There are many opportunities in lesser known startups which provide a huge learning curve, if you are starting your career. Don't shy away exploring companies which have got DOE or other national institute funding. In those cases, the project that you will be working upon shall be of national Interest.

Post my undergraduate internships, I leveraged my network and the ability to be proactive. I started reaching out for opportunities in the first semester of my Masters program. This helped me get a good graduate level internship at one of the top research laboratories and the fortune to work alongside the best mentors in the research and development team. The first internship became a stepping stone for the next two that followed and helped me gain a ton of relevant industry experience. The variety of internships from focusing on data science for renewables to microgrid hardware-in-the-loop modeling and firmware for high-power inverters, gave me opportunities to learn different dimensions of the issues and was applied in my doctoral work.

Throughout your internship, take time to reflect on your experiences. Assess what aspects of the work you enjoy most and where you excel. This reflection will help guide your future career decisions within the renewable energy sector. Additionally, solicit feedback from your supervisors and colleagues to understand your strengths and areas for improvement. Continuous self-assessment and learning will help you grow professionally and solidify your place in the industry.

My first industrial experience was gained through an internship, a professional commitment which created a crucial step towards my career path. Ultimately, you get the opportunity to showcase your skills, positive attitude, and potential to the organization, while gaining insights into its dynamics, culture, business area, and team dynamics. Approach it with a mindset of learning and growth, dedicating the initial three months to absorbing knowledge and demonstrating your capabilities. Naturally, discussions about your career trajectory should arise during this period. If they don't, don't hesitate to raise the topic, but not too early in your internship. Remember, the primary focus should be on learning and assimilating information.