Intern - Renewable Potential Assessment

Vacancy Announcement

Secretariat of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

Knowledge Policy and Finance Centre (KPFC)

 

Publication/Transmission Date:     4 November 2026

Deadline for Application:                 18 November 2026 (at midnight, Abu Dhabi Local Time)

Title and Grade:                                  Intern - Renewable Potential Assessment

Indicative Remuneration:                 Monthly stipend and accommodation allowance[1]

Duration of Appointment:                6 Months

Background

 

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organisation mandated to promote the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy. At present, IRENA has 171 Members that acceded to its Statute. IRENA supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future and serves as the principal platform for international cooperation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource, and financial knowledge on renewable energy. The Agency implements its mandate with a view to sustainable development, increased energy security, and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity.

Within this mandate, the Knowledge, Policy, and Finance Centre (KPFC) focuses on collecting data, developing knowledge platforms, and conducting analysis to support the creation of enabling environments for investment and growth in renewables. This entails analytical work on policy and finance, building a gateway to knowledge, providing input to advisory services that the Agency provides to its member states and at regional levels, and engaging in targeted ways with the private sector and civil society.

The Global Atlas for Renewable Energy (hereafter referred to as Global Atlas) is an international partnership coordinated by IRENA. It aims to provide data and tools for countries and communities to prospect for and harness their renewable energy potential. Initiated in 2010, it has gathered a community of 300 000 users as of 2023, exploiting freely available renewable energy resource and ancillary datasets. The Global Atlas continues to evolve both in the scope of renewable energy resource datasets available on the platform and in the number and applications available, including SolarCity and Bioenergy simulators. 

The SolarCity simulator is designed to help cities in developing countries assess the business case for solar energy in urban development planning. This tool would enable the user to simulate profitability at the individual homeowner level and the prospective positive impact at the policymaker level of establishing solar rooftop markets in a specific city, to understand the parameters that could drive such a positive impact. 

The Bioenergy Simulator is a web-based application developed to estimate potential bioenergy and plan bioenergy development across numerous combinations of area, biomass resource, technology, and end-use. The simulator aims to raise awareness on modern bioenergy production options to help meet global climate goals, decarbonise the world’s energy system, and ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable energy for all.

The prospective recruit will support IRENA’s Resource Assessment unit in maintaining the Global Atlas platform and its applications and provide assistance to more member countries of the Agency.

Objectives of the Internship Assignment

Under the overall guidance of the Director of KPFC, and in close cooperation with the lead of the Renewable Energy Resource Assessment unit, the intern will perform the following duties:

• Support the development of the Global Atlas platform and its applications. 
• Support the development of approaches to assess geospatial renewable potential 
• Support in collecting impacts related to the team activities.
• Assist in the preparation of various workshops related to the activity areas described above, including research, compilation and background material, presentations, talking points, concept notes, agendas, etc. 
• Participate and assist in implementing a database of stakeholders related to the platforms, including contributors, users, and service requests, and conduct regular analytics of the user base of the platform and related tools.
• Perform other duties as required. 

Learning Areas

During the internship period, the successful applicant will develop a deep understanding of renewable energy resources and the processes for delivering the Global Atlas platform and related activities to member countries. The intern will also be able to further develop their skills in research, spatial analysis, analytical thinking, modelling, and communication.

Timeframe

The internship is for 6 months. The exact period will be determined based on the availability of the intern and the needs of the programme. The maximum duration of the internship is nine months, subject to the intern’s continued university enrolment and performance.

Minimum Requirements

• Candidates must have completed an undergraduate degree and be enrolled in a Master's or doctorate programme at a recognized university at the time of application and for the duration of the internship. Recent graduates will also be included in the internship programme provided the start date of the internship is less than six months from completion of studies
• Candidates must be fluent in English (both oral and written) and demonstrate excellent writing and communication skills.
• Competencies: Candidates should demonstrate solid teamwork, planning and organizing, professionalism and communications skills.
• Candidates must be able to work in a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment.
• Preference is given to candidates studying in the fields of energy, engineering, or other related fields with good understanding of renewable energy resources.
• Candidates should indicate in their cover letter the period of availability.

Internship Conditions

IRENA internships may be remunerated if an intern is not already sponsored by their government, university or institution.   In such cases, the intern is requested to indicate their sponsorship in their cover letter.

Interns of IRENA are not considered to be staff members. The selected intern will work on a full-time basis (40 hours per week) at the IRENA premises in either Abu Dhabi, UAE. 

For those interns selected for a posting in Abu Dhabi, IRENA will assist with the visa clearance if possible. 

For more detailed information about IRENA Internship Programme, please visit the internships section on our recruitment webpage.

Application Procedure

Candidates who are interested in this assignment and meet the minimum requirements must apply for the abovementioned vacancy on-line, through IRENA’s recruitment platform, ORC, by submitting a complete and comprehensive CV and a letter of interest. Due to the high number of applications, only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted for a pre-recorded and/or telephone interview.

IRENA wishes to encourage applications from female candidates and nationals of LDC and SIDS countries.