Energy policy drives the energy transition – encompassing every aspect from energy production to consumption. Without energy policy geared towards decarbonisation, all the newly founded technologies and advances in sustainable energy would go unused or underutilised. It’s a high stakes game, requiring vast technical knowledge and broad perspectives to make all the pieces fall into place. An environment where EIT InnoEnergy Master’s in Smart Electrical Networks and Systems (SENSE) graduate Emilia Chojkiewicz shines.
Working for ACER
Emilia shares her experience at the EU Agency for Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), where she is now working in the beautiful city of Ljubljana, Slovenia: “A key reason that Europe leads the energy transition is the EU’s energy policy, whether it be setting targets for renewable penetration, creating a carbon market via the Emissions Trading System (ETS), or developing a regulatory framework to spur the adoption of hydrogen. It’s an exciting field to be in… and an exciting time at the agency with a new policy package for hydrogen and decarbonised gases set to come out in December! It’s all part of the EU’s Green New Deal and “Fit for 55” ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. My work mainly focuses on data, market and policy analysis for gas wholesale markets and electricity/gas retail markets. Ultimately, I contribute to various research and reports from ACER, such as this one.”
An International Perspective
Emilia came to Europe after studying at Duke University to not only further her technical knowledge but also to gain a broader perspective. She shares, “The energy transition is a global effort, so international perspectives are indispensable – and since the U.S. does not have comparable master’s programmes specifically in energy engineering, the dual-degree (which allows you to study at two different universities in Europe) programme offered by EIT InnoEnergy was perfect! I studied my first year at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden and my second year at KU Leuven in Belgium. The experiences were completely different but equally eye-opening. Students come from all over the world, with many backgrounds and different motivations, to Europe to study energy – and I have gained so many valuable perspectives and insights simply from the friends I have made here.”
The Master’s programme
While the programme is associated with smart grid design, Emilia explains how it is so much more:
“Master’s in Smart Electrical Networks and Systems simultaneously provides a strong technical foundation in energy engineering while also giving a big picture view of the electricity system. It was a great fit with my background in Mechanical Engineering (like the other students with backgrounds in Mechanical, Electrical, or Energy Engineering). From there, students are involved with a wide variety of subfields such as sustainable mobility, energy storage, artificial intelligence in the power system, optimisation of electricity markets, and more. I’ve gained a wealth of different experiences and perspectives from various stakeholders during the programme, providing solid expertise for my career – and there are many open doors for me because of it!”
The opportunity to launch her own venture
Coming from an engineering background, one of the top merits that attracted Emilia to pursue an InnoEnergy Master’s programme was the interdisciplinary education. Besides finding a passion for energy policy, she also developed her entrepreneurial side by founding a start-up with other students. Emilia explains: “Part of the Master’s in Smart Electrical Networks and Systems is a month-long summer business school at ESADE. There, we learned the basics of entrepreneurship and finance, then applied it to a project creating a new venture. However, my team and I decided to take our idea out of the classroom and into the real world, further developing the idea through the EIT InnoEnergy Battle of Green Talent. Through this competition, we refined our business model, grew the team, connected with stakeholders and ultimately won first place! Thanks to the support, the start-up – ReLi – now has a prototype ready to pilot and test further, meaning exciting times are ahead!”
Next career steps
As Emilia goes on to pursue her PhD in energy policy, she offers parting advice for students to get the most out of their studies: “I am a big believer that you will get out what you put into something. So, take advantage of all the opportunities that come along, such as hackathons and conferences, workshops, and services from the EIT InnoEnergy Career Centre, connecting with industry and professors and learning from your international peers. Because with today’s high energy prices and huge new policy packages coming out, the energy sector has never been more dynamic. There are so many opportunities – and EIT InnoEnergy Master School will prepare you to take advantage of them!”