Intern Energy and Living Environment

31-38.75 hours per week | Utrecht | Hybrid | € 600.– internship allowance | Bachelor's/Master's degree | 6-12 months

Your progress starts at Berenschot

The energy transition is in full swing. Governments and companies are working towards achieving European and national objectives, but this is often easier said than done. To implement policy, diverse interests, beliefs, and visions must come together. The lines between policy and execution are sometimes blurred. We operate at that intersection: what is the best strategy to achieve the goals, and how do we work towards them together? This requires knowledge of the energy transition, but also an understanding of people, context, and organizations. This is challenging, complex, and fun!

Do you want to contribute to the most urgent energy and climate issues in the Netherlands? Do you want to contribute fresh ideas and new insights to solutions for various organizations? And are you curious about working at a consultancy firm? Berenschot offers you the opportunity to actively contribute to these complex and current challenges during an internship! Your internship start date is October 1, 2026 (negotiable).

What you will do

As an intern, you will work on assignments related to energy systems, grid congestion, the heat transition, affordability, and system resilience, at national, regional, and local levels. Clients include governments (ministries, provinces, municipalities), grid operators, energy companies, implementing organizations, and housing corporations. We work not only for, but especially with our clients.

Here are a few examples of assignments we have worked/are working on:

• Developing and establishing large national implementation programs for the Climate Agreement, such as the National RES Program, the National Local Heat Transition Program, the National Energy System Plan, and programs related to renewable generation (solar on roofs, onshore wind, etc.).

• Guiding (large) municipalities in developing a heat (network) strategy.

• Supporting grid operators and provinces in the development and programming of the energy system of the future (Energy Visions) and reducing grid congestion.

• Assisting governments in formulating effective climate policy using forecasts based on our own Regional CO2 Roadmap.

• Conducting volume projections for hydrogen carriers towards 2035 to gain insight into different flows and bottlenecks.

• Developing an alternative grid tariff system for grid operators to spread grid load and limit grid congestion.

• Assisting governments in developing and implementing policy and plans to make the energy transition fairer (e.g., by combating energy poverty, deploying fix teams, steering insulation, etc.).

During your internship, you will have the opportunity to work on consultancy assignments and contribute to internal projects, such as events. Which consultancy assignments you undertake will be determined together with you (depending on your interests, background, and knowledge, and the assignments that are ongoing).

Quote

“The variety of projects, clients, and colleagues ensures that you quickly get an understanding of what it means to be a consultant. As an intern, you truly contribute to socially relevant projects!”

Where you will end up

Berenschot is an independent and autonomous organizational consultancy firm in Utrecht, where over 500 dedicated colleagues work on sustainable solutions for our clients' challenges. We contribute to progress in organizations and society with our advice and solutions. Our organization has a flat structure without partners, giving you influence over the projects you undertake. We always strive for surprising and innovative solutions, which makes us unique. With an open and informal culture, collaboration between different disciplines, and a lot of freedom and responsibility from day one, you get the chance to discover what you find important, where your strengths lie, and in which areas you want to develop.

These are your direct colleagues

You will work within the Energy and Living Environment consultancy group in the Energy & Strategy Expertise Center (ECES). We are a group of young, enthusiastic, and ambitious professionals who are highly motivated to contribute to the energy transition. Your colleagues may have studied (technical) public administration, business administration, spatial planning, energy and environmental sciences, environmental studies, or political science, for example.

What you bring

Berenschot is a collection of personalities and backgrounds. Therefore, we primarily look at whether you fit well within the team. In any case, we are looking for a great deal of energy and enthusiasm, combined with curiosity and the ambition to develop yourself in terms of content and consulting skills. You enjoy working independently, but just as much in a team. Furthermore, you have:

• strong analytical skills and excellent social skills

• strong communication skills and can report clearly and structuredly

• a clear interest in and affinity with the energy transition and sustainability issues

• the intrinsic drive to make a societal impact.

What we offer you

At Berenschot, we offer a unique work environment without shareholders or partners, which gives us the freedom to undertake and commit to societal themes. We have an informal culture, short lines of communication, and create ample opportunities for personal and professional growth.

In addition, we offer:

• a market-conform internship allowance of € 600.– per month (on a full-time basis)

• a laptop

• flexible (remote) work possibilities

• personal guidance from an experienced consultant

• a stimulating and educational work environment with room for your own input

• the opportunity to build a network within Berenschot and with our clients

• the possibility to join a Berenschot traineeship.

To be eligible for an internship at Berenschot, you must be enrolled at a university educational institution for the entire internship period. Graduating with us is an option; we would be happy to discuss the possibilities for a thesis with you.

Apply immediately

Do you also want to become a proud Berenschot employee? Apply directly! Send your CV and motivation letter to Vicky Schats. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Vicky Schats via WhatsApp (06 25 72 26 12) or by email ().

Do you have substantive questions about this vacancy? Colleague Rob Lindner will gladly answer all your questions. Contact Rob via .

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