Traineeships

Job Description

We offer various traineeship opportunities to university and high-school students who require work experience to complete their courses.

As a trainee you will gain first-hand insight into SolarPower Europe's activities and contribute to the associations work to make solar the leading contributor to Europe's energy system. The tasks performed by you as a trainee are supervised and differ according to the unit you join. We have regular traineeship openings in policy, business development, market intelligence, events and communications.

To apply for a traineeship, please send your CV and cover letter to [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!

The opportunities at SolarPower Europe helped me enormously. I was able to expand my network in the EU energy policy field, and I also gained a crash course on EU policymaking and energy policy specifically.

Soenke Jordan, Policy Traineeship 2022

Traineeship stories

Ilaria Di Gennaro

Events & Marketing Traineeship 2024-2025

What was your role at SolarPower Europe?

I worked as an Events and Marketing Intern, guided by Lorena, Marketing Manager, and collaborated closely with Daniel, Business Development Director.

Why did you apply for the position at SolarPower Europe?

I applied because I wanted to step into the "EU bubble" and experience first-hand what it means to work in an international, policy-driven environment. At the time, I had just graduated and, like many young people at the beginning of their professional journey, I had more questions than answers. I followed the advice of a friend who suggested moving to Brussels, and that decision opened up a whole new world. It was there that I discovered SolarPower Europe, a place that felt like the perfect meeting point between sustainability, European affairs, and professional growth. I was looking for meaning, impact and learning, and SolarPower Europe showed me that working on events is far more than just a pastime.

What were your main tasks at SolarPower Europe?

One of the most valuable aspects of my traineeship was the opportunity to follow events from A to Z. I supported the organisation of high-level events and webinars throughout their entire lifecycle, from early planning and logistics to speaker outreach and coordination, event set-up, on-site support and tear-down. Alongside this, I worked closely with the marketing team on updating event webpages, preparing DEMs and creating social media visuals to promote the events. This hands-on experience gave me a 360-degree understanding of how events are designed, communicated, and delivered within a European association.

What did you enjoy the most about working at SolarPower Europe?

What I enjoyed most was the open, friendly, and youthful environment. From the very beginning, I felt encouraged to ask questions, take initiative and step outside my comfort zone. It was a place where learning happened naturally and where personal growth was genuinely supported. Working alongside motivated young professionals made the experience both stimulating and inspiring.

What did you find most challenging?

One of the biggest challenges was starting to work entirely in English, particularly finding the confidence to speak up in professional settings. Another challenge was understanding the scale of impact of an organisation that may seem small at first, but in reality plays a significant role in shaping European energy policy.

How has the SolarPower Europe traineeship helped your career?

SolarPower Europe was truly a great place to start my career. At a time when I was still figuring out my professional path, this traineeship gave me the solid foundations I needed to grow as a young professional. Through hands-on experience, I learned the fundamentals of event organisation and marketing. Most importantly, it helped me gain confidence in myself and in my abilities. It gave me clarity, direction, and tools to take my next steps with purpose. Looking back, this experience opened the door to the world of European institutions, showing me what was possible and giving me the confidence to pursue that path.

Soenke Jordan

Policy Traineeship 2022

What was your role at SolarPower Europe?

I was a Policy Intern, working within the Policy Team on energy files relevant for our members.

Why did you apply for the position at SolarPower Europe?

I had just finished my B.A. in International Relations at George Washington University and I was seeking practical experience in EU policy. I had always been interested in lobbying and curious to learn about how renewable energy policy was made in practice. Not only that, but I realized that Brussels would be the ideal place to gain exposure to these interests and inform my choice for a future master's degree.

What were your main tasks at SolarPower Europe?

I worked mainly on EU solar manufacturing policy, supporting SolarPower Europe's leadership at the intersection of business and policymaking with the goal of positively influencing EU policies for the industry and the planet. I closely monitored the political discourse on key industrial policy files, organized webinars and CEO meetings, and wrote internal and member-oriented position papers on EU funding instruments.

What did you enjoy the most about working at SolarPower Europe?

I think the mission-driven work environment coupled with fascinating topic areas was the best part. People were very kind and encouraging, always ready to give constructive feedback, and gave me the freedom to take ownership of projects. For me, the work struck the right balance between technical policy analysis and the exciting political advocacy side.

What did you find most challenging?

I think it was sometimes challenging to prioritize tasks, because unexpected events sometimes required us to adapt on the fly. Figuring out strategically the best way to manage projects is definitely a skill that I developed during my time at SolarPower Europe.

How has the SolarPower Europe traineesship helped your career?

The opportunities at SolarPower Europe helped me enormously. I was able to expand my network in the EU energy policy field, and I also gained a crash course on EU policymaking and energy policy specifically. The time period of early 2022 was pivotal for the EU energy space, and through that experience I feel especially confident in my ability to be resilient in the future.

Omar Hatoum

Policy & Market Traineeship 2020

What was your role at SolarPower Europe?

During my Master's degree in Renewable Energy at l'école polytechnique de Bruxelles, I did a 6-month traineeship at SolarPower Europe as a Policy and Market Advisor.

Why did you apply for the position at SolarPower Europe?

After acquiring strong technology and scientific background in the energy domain from my Master's degree, I wanted to join SolarPower Europe to learn more about policy and market analysis to diversify my experience.

What were your main tasks?

I was involved in market analysis around SolarPower Europe's flagship publication, the Global Market Outlook & the EU Market Outlook, alongside my policy analysis role on grid integration and the National Energy & Climate Plans.

What did you enjoy the most about working at SolarPower Europe?

I enjoyed working at SolarPower Europe with a highly dynamic, flexible and motivated team who are passionate to learn and grow their expertise while also making a positive impact on the energy transition.

What did you find most challenging?

The most challenging part of my job was the diversity of my tasks where I was involved in several policy and market intelligence projects at the same time. However, this was an exciting and fast-paced working experience that helped me grow and learn faster.

How has the SolarPower Europe traineeship helped your career?

Thanks to my traineeship at SolarPower Europe, I acquired solid analytical and communication skills in energy markets and policies, which helped me join a leading company in the energy transition as a Financial and Market Analyst as part of their Energy Talent Program.

Alexia Pedo Lopes

Event Management Traineeship 2018

What was your role at SolarPower Europe?

I was an Event Management Intern working with the best and sweetest supervisor Charlotte, in the team led by Daniel at the time.

Why did you apply for the position at SolarPower Europe?

I was finishing my MBA at KU Leuven when I applied and I always enjoyed working with events, so I decided to try an internship in the area. I wanted to work for a fast paced and growing organization as well, which is why SolarPower Europe was the perfect fit. Alongside, I always believed in working for organizations you believe in or believe in what they are doing, and I definitely believe in sustainability and renewable energies and I was excited about working to help the sector grow.

What were your main tasks at SolarPower Europe?

Pre-event: Organisation, travel bookings, communication with speakers coming to events, making sure website was updated. During event: make sure everything was running as expected. Post - event: follow up with speakers and attendees.

What did you enjoy the most about working at SolarPower Europe?

Definitely the people! Everyone is super friendly and open-minded. I miss the team a bunch. One of the best places I have worked for. We worked hard but we also had a great time together.

What did you find most challenging?

I would say events are always unexpected, so dealing with something you cannot plan for is a challenge. But that was part of the job, so I did not have a problem with it.

How has the SolarPower Europe traineesship helped your career?

It was definitely a great place to start my career and it provided me with the skillset to grow my career as a young adult at the time. I would say working in an international environment, learning from different and diverse backgrounds, was also an enriching experience professionally. Besides, I had great mentors throughout the way who always provided great feedback and made me a better professional, and those are people I still look up to!