YEP Austria
Young Energy Professionals at WEC Austria
The group for young energy industry experts
The World Energy Council aims to facilitate the advancement of young professionals in the energy industry through social and educational events worldwide. Founded “by young people for young people” at the World Energy Congress 2007 in Rome, the aims of the Young Energy Professionals are to
- impart fact-based knowledge on energy industry topics,
- create their own personal network,
- bridge the generation gap,
- facilitate the exchange of experience and knowledge within the WEC network,
- support the international activities of the Future Energy Leaders Community of WEC.
What does a member of the Young Energy Professionals expect?
WEC Austria decided to establish a national YEP group in 2015. On the one hand, the YEPs of WEC Austria support the work of the international junior organisation of the World Energy Council. On the other hand, proposals for solutions to various energy issues are being developed at the national level. An interdisciplinary pool of young professionals from the energy industry covers a wide range of topics. A board supports and accompanies the YEP.
On an international level, the YEP meet twice a year at the invitation of a member. Telephone conferences and network meetings also take place at international and national level.
A YEP cycle lasts about three years. The YEP program participants are then accepted into the YEP alumni community.
The 1st cycle of the WEC Austria YEP was launched in October 2015 and lasted until autumn 2018. The topics dealt with by the participants of the 1st cycle included energy system transformation, investments and subsidies and the effects of digitisation on Austria’s energy industry. The results of the 1st cycle are available in the reports Energy Future in Austria – Current Trends and Approaches for Innovations and Digitisation in the Energy Industry.
The 2nd cycle started in February 2018 ended 2020. Future perspectives were developed in working groups on the topics of storage & grids, buildings, industrial processes, oil & gas and #emission2030. The final reports of the working groups on buildings, storage & grids and industrial processes are now available.
The 3rd cycle began with the call for proposals issued in the fall of 2020. The following topics were addressed in the 3rd cycle: Energy Efficient Resource Use in Energy Intensive Industry – Potential Opportunities for Site Protection, EVU 2050: Tech Company or Dinosaur?, Business Models Beyond Pure Energy Supply, Barriers to Innovation in the Energy Sector – YEPs as Enablers for Innovation in the Energy Sector, and Back from the Future: Target Images of a Decarbonized Energy System. You can access the final reports here.
On April 05, 2023, the 4th cycle was launched. More than 70 participants have joined over 11 groups and will work intensively on areas such as battery technologies, electromobility, energy education, electricity market models, heat transition and grids over the next 2-3 years. This fourth cycle provides an exciting platform to develop groundbreaking solutions for a sustainable energy future and advance the energy industry on its path to positive change.
You want to join in?
New Young Energy Professionals and project ideas are welcome. Anyone who is interested in YEP membership can send us a short application with curriculum vitae. The YEP program is aimed at young professionals between the ages of 25 and 35 in the energy sector. As a rule, YEPs work for member companies of WEC Austria. An essential prerequisite for acceptance as a YEP is the motivation to actively participate in projects and the interest in interdisciplinary exchange of experience.