Senior Energy Trader Andrew gives us a look into what it’s like to be at the centre of Australia’s transitioning energy landscape in one of the industry’s most dynamic and fast-paced work environments.
Our Trading team is responsible for managing Shell Energy’s electricity , gas, renewable and emissions trading and supply activities.
I am a Senior Energy Trader, in the Forward Markets Trading team, which is responsible for managing the retail business’ power and environmental markets exposure, while protecting and creating value through proprietary trading.
On a typical day, if I’m not buying or selling power derivatives on the ASX Futures Exchange, trading environmental products, negotiating with energy brokers, analysing market trends and providing wholesale pricing for retail customers, I could be catching up on latest energy news, examining weather forecasts, valuing a renewable project, or meeting with one of our customers to provide educational information on the market.
I came into the business via ERM Power. I wanted to work within a great team, plus have the opportunity to be a part of the future of Shell. The exposure to a global company has been a big learning experience and opened doors to collaborating with teams across the world.
Energy trading is a dynamic, high-paced working environment, that offers a variety of challenges and opportunities to apply a range of skills. On the one hand, it can be quite technical and analytical, when it comes to understanding the physical power network, following weather patterns, developing models to value financial products, analysing trends in the markets, or putting together complex deals. On the other hand, negotiating trades, or providing market updates to customers, takes interpersonal skills, while high-pressure situations require fast decision-making.
Trading is at the core of the Shell Energy business. The Trading team works with many other teams throughout the business. We work closely with the Pricing team to provide wholesale prices, with account managers to help our customers understand the markets and tailor products to suit their needs, with the Spot Trading team on products for our generators, with Energy Solutions and New Energies to value projects, and with the Strategy and Portfolio Development team on long-term market outlooks. This provides for a breadth of projects that we can be involved in, outside of day-to-day trading activities.
Highly collaborative, with plenty of opportunity to bounce around ideas, work closely with both people from your own team and throughout the business.
I have a young family, with my second baby girl born in September 2020. The ability to work flexibly has meant I’ve been able to spend more time with her, despite the busy period. Little Isadora has even made a few special appearances in our team meetings!
The Trading team works to create innovative risk management products to facilitate the efficient integration of new renewable and supporting technologies into the power market. We work with the Retail team to find solutions for customers looking to back their power contracts with renewable generation, or offset their carbon footprint. We also work with project developers to value new projects and help determine the optimal risk management product characteristics.
The biggest challenge is identifying the right mix of new technologies, and best steps forward to efficiently integrate new renewable and clean energy technologies into the existing market. Having the right people, with the best skills and a collaborative attitude is key in achieving these goals.
A career with Shell Energy has the potential for a breadth of opportunities across all aspects of energy markets, and a chance to access and develop a diverse range of knowledge and skills.
