TotalEnergies has set ambitious goals for expanding its presence in the solar energy sector. By 2030, the company aims to achieve 100 gigawatts (GW) of gross installed renewable power generation capacity, with a significant portion coming from solar energy. This is part of their broader strategy to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

TotalEnergies is involved in designing, financing, building, and operating major solar projects worldwide.  From Chile to Japan and South Africa, TotalEnergies’ solar power projects are powering hundreds of thousands of households. The company is fast-tracking the deployment of solar technology, including photovoltaic panels, ground-based power plants, decentralized systems, storage solutions, and marketing to end-customers.

Long term Company solar assets durability and profitability can be affected by climate change, and it is thus necessary to appreciate the risk it induces.

The impact of climate change on solar radiation and its implications for solar energy is a significant area of research. Indeed, climate change affects solar radiation through changes in cloud cover, atmospheric composition, and surface albedo. Studies have shown that these factors can lead to both increases and decreases in solar radiation in different regions. Historical data indicates periods of global reduction in solar radiation (global dimming) from the 1950s to the 1980s, followed by global an increase in solar radiation (global brightening) from the 1980s onwards (ref). Understanding this long-term variability and their future trends is crucial in evaluating solar energy sustainability and profitability and planning its efficient deployment. However, future projections of surface downward solar radiation based on climate models have large uncertainties. For instance, future projections of solar radiation and changes in its diurnal cycle are highly uncertain due to model biases in cloud cover and clear-sky radiation.

In this context, we are seeking a motivated student, who is interested in supporting the energy transition, to work on the understanding and the assessment of the long-term changes in solar radiation and its diurnal cycle with regards to cloud cover and aerosols. 

As a  Assessing the decadal variability of wind speed over Europe in a climate change context and its potential implications for wind energy deployments M/F trainee, your missions will be :

• Conduct literature reviews on the impact of climate change on diurnal variability of solar radiation, cloud cover and aerosols concentration.
• Analyze historical changes of the diurnal cycle of the two components of the solar radiation (the direct and the diffuse radiation) using reanalysis data with respect to the cloud cover and clear-sky radiation over two contracted regions of interest (Europe and middle east).  
• Assess the historical performances of the climate models (from CMIP6) and the impact of the aerosol modeling (prescribed, parametrized or modeled) on the model’s skill to simulate solar radiation and its diurnal variability.
• Evaluate the future changes of the solar radiation and its diurnal cycle with respect to the different climate scenarios (SSPs).       

You will evolve within a team of experienced professionals and with a tutor-coach, the reference for your future profession. Individualized support will help you develop your autonomy and lead you to your diploma!

Currently enrolled in an engineering school or Master's program in the Atmospheric Science, Climate, Environmental Science, Renewable Energy, Meteorology or a related field, are you looking for an 6-month end-of-study internship starting in march 2025?

Are you comfortable with office automation and familiar with the Office suite? You'll be using Excel, Word and Powerpoint in particular. You're familiar with Python, R and Linux ?

Are you a self-starter, rigorous and a team player? Can you take the initiative?

A professional command of English will be essential for this position. Good writing skills are a plus.

So don't wait any longer, apply to join our team!