Title: Energy Systems Analyst

Location: Remote, anywhere in Canada

Details: Full time, virtual role

Compensation: To be negotiated. This position has a competitive compensation package benchmarked to sector standards.

Application: Applicants interested in this position are invited to forward their resume and short cover letter to info@transitionaccelerator.ca. Please put ‘Energy Systems Analyst’ in the subject line, and tell us where you found this job posting (e.g. LinkedIn, Transition Accelerator website, etc.). We will be accepting applications on a rolling basis, until the right candidate is found.

Overview

The Transition Accelerator (The Accelerator) exists to support Canada’s transition to a net zero future while solving societal challenges. Using our four-step methodology, The Accelerator works with innovative groups to create visions of what a socially and economically desirable net zero future will look like and build out transition pathways that will enable Canada to get there. The Accelerator’s role is that of an enabler, facilitator, and force multiplier that forms coalitions to take steps down these pathways and get change moving on the ground. Our four-step approach is to understand, codevelop, analyze and advance credible and compelling transition pathways capable of achieving societal and economic objectives, including driving the country towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Background

In a net-zero energy system, clean electricity and clean fuels are important energy carriers for a sustainable and resilient economy. Electricity is already a fuel of choice for many businesses and increasing electrification of the passenger transportation sector and buildings will only add to electricity demand. But not everything can be electrified. Clean fuels are expected to play a critical role in hard-to-decarbonize sectors such as heavy industry, transportation, and buildings in cold temperatures. The Accelerator’s Net-Zero Fuels team focuses on catalyzing and accelerating the adoption and deployment of viable net-zero fuels across a multitude of industries and applications based on sound techno-economic analysis.

The Transition Accelerator is staffing a full-time Energy Systems Analyst to support the advancement of net-zero fuels and related clean energy systems in Canada.

If you are an energetic, highly quantitative, and analytical individual with a solid understanding of energy systems and you would like to be part of a team helping to build a great energy future for Canada, this position could be for you.

Values

Candidates for this position must reflect the values of The Transition Accelerator. These values include: 

• Embracing a positive, forward-thinking attitude in an often fluid environment with multiple unknown technical and practical variables
• Working collaboratively with individuals sometimes having diverse and opposing views
• Grounding all work in evidence-based analyses and sound technical practices
• Hard-working, with attention to detail and a skill in communicating complex insights to a broad audience
• Embracing a multi-disciplinary and pluralistic approach, with the ability to quickly change direction and opinions based on new evidence
• Focusing on innovation over status-quo
• A can-do attitude with a commitment to help drive change

Responsibilities and Focus Areas

The Energy Systems Analyst will:

• Review the reports and understand the analytical work that has been completed to date by The Transition Accelerator and work to advance this body of work by contributing to the preparation and publication of future reports
• Work in a team environment to develop and critically assess promising pathways and deployment strategies
• Carry out detailed techno-economic analyses and environmental assessments (Excel and/or Python-based models) on components of existing and possible new energy systems that may include, but are not limited to:
• Hydrogen production from fossil fuels, biomass, water electrolysis, etc.
• Carbon capture utilization and storage
• Admixing hydrogen into natural gas networks
• H2, O2 or CO2 purification, compression, pipelining, and storage
• Material challenges with hydrogen (embrittlement, leaks etc.) and solutions to those
• Hydrogen use in combustion, fuel cells, reciprocating engines or gas turbines etc. for the production of heat or power from hydrogen or conventional fuels
• Hydrogen use as a reductant/industrial feedstock in various sectors
• Hydrogen fuel cell electric hybrid vs. battery electric vehicles and the fueling stations that support them.
• Keep engaged with and informed by the latest scientific, and gray literature related to a low carbon hydrogen economy, including the technologies and strategies that other jurisdictions (provinces, countries) are taking to deploy a hydrogen economy
• Understand and model how fuel standards, regulations or tax rebates would affect the economics of the energy system and contribute to policy recommendations that will accelerate the transition
• Identify and prioritize pathway opportunities and challenges
• Prepare well-documented technical reports and modelling tools that could be used by project developers, policymakers, investors and researchers etc. to explore opportunities as well as policy and investment decisions
• Draw on the insights generated within the Accelerator and elsewhere to build scenario models for 2050, thereby informing decision-makers regarding the required policies and investments as well as the societal benefits
• Create impactful visualizations to communicate the Accelerator’s results and insights
• Contribute to the publication of results in reports, presentations and web-based communications, and be the primary drafter of reports and presentations

Qualifications/Expertise Required:

The following qualifications / expertise are required:

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in science or engineering, but ideally with a graduate degree and/or work experience in a sector involved with energy production or use
• Demonstrated expertise in techno-economic analysis, energy systems modelling or life cycle assessment of complex energy systems
• Skills in internet searching of the academic and grey literature in a wide range of disciplinary fields
• Ability to read, understand, evaluate and communicate, in a timely fashion, the results of published reports from a wide range of disciplines related to energy systems, and energy systems change
• Ability to multi-task and deal with repetitive tasks as necessary
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Excellent skills in developing and documenting the case for and against a logical, well-researched argument that could be built into a scenario model and associated transition pathway
• Good verbal and great written communication skills
• Must be comfortable working as part of a diverse research team and have good interpersonal skills

The following skills would be beneficial:

• Integrating technical and economic analyses
• Work experience in the area of systems modeling or strategic planning in government, industry or non-governmental organizations
• Proven expertise in using Microsoft Excel for the creation of sophisticated models in a way that can be understood by others
• Demonstrated interest and expertise in the creation of effective data visualizations, and
• Maintenance and use of reference databases such as Zotero

Accountabilities/Tasks and Duties:

Technical

• Detailed computer work collecting, documenting, analyzing and presenting techno-economic analysis and scenario models
• Maintaining shared computer resources
• Extracting, plotting and communicating research results
• Developing and using new visualization tools for communicating research results

Other

• Actively participate in team meetings and in meetings with partners and stakeholder groups
• Be an actively contributing member of a team of researchers creating reports and peer-reviewed publications describing the work of the Transition Accelerator
• Manage time effectively to complete project work and contribute research updates to project sponsors and other interested parties
• Contribute on a daily basis towards a positive working environment within the diverse team of colleagues working in and with The Transition Accelerator
• Perform other duties, as assigned by your Supervisor

Location and Travel

This position is full-time, remote, and may require some travel. The successful applicant is expected to work from home and be available during core hours between 8 am and 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday.

Application

Applicants interested in this position are invited to forward their resumes and short cover letter to info@transitionaccelerator.ca. Please put “Energy Systems Analyst” in the subject line, and tell us where you found this job posting (e.g. LinkedIn). We will be reviewing candidates on a rolling basis until the right candidate is found. Only applicants invited for an interview will be contacted.

The Accelerator recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, colour, age, sex, national origin, disability, and other protected status as required by applicable law.