Updating Results

Clean Energy Regulator

3.9
  • 100 - 500 employees

Joshua Otten

My particular role includes tracking large-scale renewable energy power stations and any relevant announcements.

What's your job about?

The Clean Energy Regulator’s primary function is to increase the Australia’s reduction of carbon emissions. My team is the Market and Metrics section, and we provide reports that tracks the certificate markets associated with Australian renewable energy and carbon credits.

My particular role includes tracking large-scale renewable energy power stations and any relevant announcements. This tracking is used to model the future position of the Australian large-scale generation certificate market, particular as the large-scale renewable energy target peaks in 2020.

What's your background?

I was born in Canberra and have lived there for most of my life. I studied at the Australian National University studying engineering. After my honours I had a gap year, during which I worked in Melbourne as a Customer Service Attendant and travelled.

During my engineering studies I became interested in renewable energy as it is a developing industry, and since have been searching for jobs within the industry.

I came to the Clean Energy Regulator in 2016, during which I gained a lot of experience in the different roles of the agency. After the graduate program I joined the Market and Metrics section which I have really enjoyed!

Could someone with a different background do your job?

Yes, I have found that the problem solving and research techniques which I learnt during my study has helped me with my job, rather than the technical knowledge I gathered.

What's the coolest thing about your job?

I really enjoy observing how the markets reacts to different public announcements and events. These announcements and timings affect how much LGC supply will be going forward to the 2020 large-scale renewable energy target’s peak demand.

I particularly focus on the announcement of new renewable energy powers stations. As in the 2015 and 2016 Annual Statement and Administrative Report the agency projected that approximately 6 000 MW of renewable capacity is required to be built to reach the 2020 target. There has been big progress towards the 6 000 MW in 2016 and 2017 as the announcement of renewable capacity has indicated that Australia is on track to build the capacity in required timeframe.

What are the limitations of your job?

My role has some quick deadlines and difficult problems to solve, such as determining specific terms and technical views, these views are passed through to agency executives. Further, my team develops new tools and reports which require a strong understand of each schemes legislation, and how different legislative parts interact.

3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...

  • Make the most of your casual work, your managers become good references for when you apply for a graduate program.
  • Focus just as much on working with others as you do with studying technical aspects. You are able to be selective about what you apply for, but you limited on selecting who you work with.
  • Challenge yourself, by making difficult but achievable goals you will push yourself to develop new skills.