Intern Energy and Living Environment

31-38.75 hours per week | Utrecht | Hybrid | € 600 internship allowance | Bachelor/Master | 6-12 months

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 translate policy into implementation, diverse interests, convictions, and visions must come together. The boundaries between policy and implementation are sometimes vague. We work at that intersection: what is the best strategy to achieve the goals, and how do we work together towards them? For that, you need knowledge of the energy transition, but also a sense for people, context, and organizations. This is challenging, complex, and fun!

Do you want to work on the most urgent energy and climate issues in the Netherlands? Do you want to contribute to solutions for diverse organizations with fresh ideas and new insights? And are you curious about working at a consultancy firm? Berenschot offers you the chance to actively work on these complex and topical challenges during an internship! The start date of your internship is October 1, 2026 (in consultation).

As an intern, you will work on assignments concerning 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, executive organizations, and housing associations. In doing so, we do not only work for, but especially with our clients.

A number of examples of assignments we have worked on:

• Designing and building large national implementation programs of the Climate Agreement, such as the National RES Program, the National Local Heat Transition Program, the National Energy System Plan, and programs surrounding renewable generation (solar on roofs, wind on land, 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.

• Helping governments draft effective climate policy using forecasts based on our own Regional CO2 Roadmap.

• Performing volume projections for hydrogen carriers towards 2035, to gain insight into the various flows and bottlenecks.

• Developing an alternative grid tariff system for grid operators, with which grid load is distributed and grid congestion is limited.

• Helping governments draft and implement policy and plans to make the energy transition more equitable (for example, by combating energy poverty, the deployment of fix-teams, steering on insulation, etc.)

During your internship, you will get the chance to work on advisory assignments and contribute to internal projects, such as events. Which advisory assignments you do, we will determine together with you (depending on your interests, background, and knowledge, and which assignments are ongoing).

"The variety of projects, clients, and colleagues ensures that you quickly get an idea of what you do as a consultant. As an intern, you truly work on socially relevant projects!"

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

You will be working within the Energy and Living Environment advisory group in the Energy & Strategy Expertise Center (ECES). We are a group of young, enthusiastic, and ambitious professionals who are strongly motivated to contribute to the energy transition. For example, your colleagues have studied (technical) public administration, or business administration, urban planning, energy and environmental sciences, environmental studies, or political science.

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

• strong analytical abilities and excellent social skills

• strong communication skills and the ability to report clearly and in a structured manner

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

• the intrinsic drive to make a social impact.

At Berenschot, we offer a unique working environment without shareholders or partners, which gives us the freedom to take initiative and commit ourselves to social themes. We have an informal culture, short lines of communication, and create plenty of opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Additionally, we offer:

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

• a laptop

• flexible (home) working options

• personal guidance by an experienced advisor

• a stimulating and educational working environment in which there is room for your own input

• the opportunity to build a network within Berenschot and our relations

• the opportunity to enter a Berenschot traineeship.

To be able to do an internship at Berenschot, you must be enrolled at a university educational institution throughout the entire internship period. Graduating with us is an option; we would love to discuss the possibilities of a thesis with you further.

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

Do you have substantive questions about this vacancy? Colleague Rob Lindner will be happy to answer all your questions. Contact Rob via r.lindner@berenschot.nl.