France’s RTE extends support for training for energy transition skills

French TSO RTE has signed a sponsorship to promote the employment and training of students in the Electrical Engineering Department at the Lyon National Institute of Applied Sciences (INSA).

The three-year agreement will see RTE’s sponsorship covering the 2026 class of students, which should enhance the development of its image in the academic world but also provide a potential source of new and future recruits to the company.

As part of the agreement, RTE will make available the equipment and facilities of its Campus Transfo innovation and training centre at Jonage on the outskirts of Lyon to students and teachers. With an area of 30,000m2, it is the largest of its type in Europe.

In addition conferences and simulations on technical and practical use cases will be offered to students and led by RTE experts.

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“We are pleased to sponsor the Electrical Engineering Department of INSA Lyon, which aims to strengthen students’ interest in RTE’s role in the energy transition,” said Sophie Moreau-Follenfant, Managing Director of the Transformation – Employee Environment Division and Director of Human Resources at RTE.

“To support the historic shift from fossil fuels to carbon-free energy, the company will increase its workforce. We need new talent to make all energy futures possible.”

With the proximity of the Campus Transfo and INSA Lyon, the two organisations have historical linkages and RTE has expressed its reliance on INSA Lyon’s excellence to promote the training and recruitment of engineers with specialised skills.

Network schools for energy transition

In addition to this initiative, RTE also is a participant with the DSO Enedis and other organisations including the industry association SERCE (Les entreprises de la transition énergétique et numérique) and the network construction and maintenance company organisation SRER BPDL in the “Network Schools for the Energy Transition’ initiative.

The initiative, being run in partnership with France’s Ministry of Education, is aimed to introduce network training at secondary level into the baccalaureate for the electricity and connected environment professions, both to enhance the know-how but also to promote its attractiveness as a sector for young people.

Since the start of the school year in September 2023, some 2,000 second, first and final-year students at 50 high schools have attended the electricity network classes, Enedis has reported.

In 2024 the plan is to extend the programme to the ‘Brevet de technicien supérieur’ (BTS) higher education certificate level.