Programme Lead

Location

Delhi | India

Job description

• The Indian power market is evolving rapidly

• The increasing share of variable renewable energy in the electricity system requires a flexible grid, financially sound and efficient power distribution companies and demand to serve as a resource
• Achieving these outcomes would need dynamic regulations, new business models, innovative financial instruments, and robust institutional frameworks
• To enhance grid-flexibility , CEEW team studies the current and future power systems to inform planning and operations, and procurement and dispatch of electricity in cost-effective ways
• We undertake grid simulation exercises, and techno-economic analyses for emerging solutions such as large-scale energy storage, coal flexibilization, and new technologies such as offshore wind
• The candidate in this role will lead power system studies and undertake quantitative and qualitative analysis of issues concerning integration of variable renewables with the grid and market-based procurement of power
• The candidate will work extensively on modelling platforms, CEEW s internal data analytics platforms, and other tools such as excel and Python

Job Duties and Accountabilities


Programme strategy and management

• Contribute to advancing the programme strategy by building on the team s progress and skillsets, assessment of ongoing work in the sector, emerging system challenges, and government priorities

• Engage with donors, as well as new and potential partners to further the work programme objectives

• Ideate new research concepts with team members, develop project proposals and budgets, secure resources for building and expanding the work programme, and deliver high-quality, timely outputs

• Strategise communication and outreach of research outputs and ensure implementation of outreach plans

• Support team members to work on their strengths and complement each other for driving impact

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key policymakers and sector stakeholders based on trust and credibility

Research

• Conceptualise and implement projects related to resource adequacy assessments, establishing the value and role of diverse clean energy resources (solar, onshore wind, offshore wind, storage, demand side management) in meeting demand across states and regions, and simulating the power system operations and optimal capacity mix at the national and sub-national level

• Analyse data pertaining to existing and emerging challenges with high RE penetration in the grid (such as net load variability, transmission bottlenecks, transmission outages /loss of load, reactive power needs, stress on other operating assets and other technical issues) and identify mitigation strategies

• Design and simulate modelling scenarios to reflect transition challenges and opportunities, as well as realities of the current system, analyse model outputs and distil policy and regulatory insights

• Lead efforts to build input databases for modelling exercises by designing templates and enabling data collection from concerned departments and stakeholders at the state-level

• Conduct regular discussions with stakeholders, especially with state load dispatchers, regulators, discoms and other research organisations to understand the needs and challenges, gather inputs and disseminate outputs

• Regularly track important policy and regulatory developments in the sector and conduct rigorous literature review for informing the modelling efforts of the team

• Write high-quality research reports and publishing in leading peer-reviewed journals

• Generate knowledge content through blogs and policy briefs and prepare presentations, fact sheets, and other research communication materials

Selection Criteria

Qualification

• A master s degree in power systems / power systems management, energy economics, and related fields

• Any certifications related to power system modelling and power market operations would be desirable

Work experience

• 5-7 years of relevant work experience

• Knowledge of power markets in advanced and emerging economies will be an advantage

Key skills

• Strong analytical and research skills, and proficiency in using tools such as Plexos, GridPath, PyPSA, and MS excel

• Stakeholder engagement and influencing

• Ability to learn new tools to manage, process and drive insights from datasets

• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team and deliver timely outputs

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Job tags

Salary