‘I wanted a career in which I could make a positive impact'

With a background in physics, Bea Brailey (39) from Birmingham, is the Service Owner for DNV’s short-term renewable forecasting services and has witnessed first-hand the growing importance in the role of forecasting – a vital step in the development of new renewable energy projects.

What is space and time? These ‘big’ questions about the nature of reality always captured my imagination growing up. I wanted to learn and understand more about the world around us. This led me to study physics at university.

After I graduated from the University of Bristol, I spent two years in Journal publishing, but I soon realised I wanted a career in which I could use my skills to make a positive impact. The renewable energy sector provided the perfect solution. I undertook a Master’s degree in Sustainable Energy Engineering to further hone my technical skills, before joining DNV to work in short-term renewable energy forecasting.

I have since spent nearly 14 years at DNV, working with the team to produce short-term forecasts of power production from a number of renewable projects. Through reliable and data driven predictions we work with clients to optimise operations. By combining industry-leading models with our knowledge of renewable energy systems and cutting-edge technology, the forecasts we create are renowned for their accuracy and reliability.

In the industry, short term forecasts are increasingly regarded as a necessity for operational renewables projects. Particularly in the case of offshore wind farms, in which it is now a requirement to undertake short-term forecasting as standard. At the beginning of my career, short-term wind forecasting was a fairly niche service, but I have experienced its growth in importance as the role of renewables has increased across the world.

Throughout my career, I have worked to provide highly accurate forecasts for the largest offshore wind farms across the UK. This has allowed me to build and nurture relationships with offshore wind operators, and truly understand the impact made for every improvement to our forecasts. In my opinion, short-term forecasts are crucial for integrating renewables into the grid, which will become crucial as the UK’s energy industry continues to grow in offshore renewables.

When I look across the industry, I can see so many intelligent, passionate and motivated people working to make the energy transition a reality. This makes me positive about the future of our industry. There are so many varied challenges facing us as we work together to produce cleaner energies and accelerate towards a fair energy transition. What this also means is that there is a wealth of opportunities in which people can make a real difference.

The industry is always shifting, and while this can be challenging, it can also be hugely fulfilling to have a role which is driving real change in the world. I would encourage anyone considering a career in the energy industry to come and join us!