The energy industry is in upheaval: It is time to say goodbye to the long-standing comfort zone of fossil fuels. New technologies, new political guidelines, a liberalised market environment and changes in basic social conditions will characterise the energy supply of the near future. «This is a major challenge», says Markus Sägesser, Director of Stadtwerk Winterthur (the Winterthur public utility); but he immediately adds: «I nevertheless see energy transformation as an opportunity. Turning away from fossil fuels will mean we will no longer have to pay millions of petrodollars to foreign countries in the future; instead, we can spend them in Switzerland, to create added value here, promote innovations and create jobs.» And Sägesser also believes that the graduates of the Energy and Environmental Technology study program are predestined for these jobs.

Renewable energies and sustainable procurement are plainly the trends of the future, says Markus Sägesser; much uncertainty about their implementation, however, must still be overcome: «And as always, uncertainty prevails when something familiar is abandoned in favour of something unknown: Is this really possible? Won't it cost too much? Will jobs be threatened?» Markus Sägesser sees making the abandonment of fossil fuels as easy and convenient as possible to be a major task of his industry. And this must also be accomplished without neglecting ecological and economic concerns. «We are trying to shape this process at Stadtwerk Winterthur and to keep the impact on daily operations to a minimum.»

The future energy and environmental engineers will be working in this exciting field. According to the director of Stadtwerk Winterthur, their central challenge will lie (but not exclusively) in the development of new sources of energy: «Technologies which we aren't even aware of today will probably be used for the energy supply of the future. It will certainly be a job for the experts to create these innovations. But it will also involve improvements in the efficiency and profitability of existing energy sources. Precisely this has sparked great interest within the industry».

Well-trained and diverse professionals are in high demand to tackle these challenges. Markus Sägesser explains: «Engineers are needed who not only have sound technical knowledge, but also an understanding of social and political issues. They must be able to recognise overall contexts and see the big picture without losing their feel for dimensions.» In light of such a great change as energy transformation, communicative skills are also in demand. «Engineers must be more than just simple technicians. They must also be able to communicate their ideas and to address other people», explains Markus Sägesser.

The new Energy and Environmental Technology study program must first prove and establish itself in the industry. It is precisely for this reason that Markus Sägesser is also convinced that the various job descriptions for the graduates will continue to change. It is essential that young professionals seek out a field that interests them because fascination and a solid education form the basis of a successful career. «I can very well imagine that young engineers will gain a solid foothold in companies such as Stadtwerk Winterthur. I see excellent career prospects for graduates majoring in Energy and Environmental Technology».