Company details

HEADCOUNT

100-499

ORG TYPE

Corporate

SECTOR

Energy & Climate

WEBSITE

http://www.next-kraftwerke.com/

About the company

Next Kraftwerke operates a large virtual power plant, connecting decentralised generators, storage and flexible demand so these assets can participate in electricity markets. The company’s work sits at the intersection of energy trading, grid-balancing services, forecasting, and platform engineering. Next Kraftwerke describes an international footprint with European subsidiaries, while keeping a core base in Cologne. The company positions the mission around enabling higher shares of renewables through coordination and market access.

Locations and presence

Next Kraftwerke is headquartered in Cologne, Germany, and publicly references subsidiaries and activity across multiple European countries. Hiring materials are primarily run through the German jobs site, with English-language pages pointing candidates back to role-specific application links.

Palpable Score

64.7

/ 100

Next Kraftwerke is a solid option for early-career learning once hired, with unusually explicit benefits for training time and structured onboarding support. The score is held back by limited evidence that 0–3 year roles are consistently available, plus a lack of public salary ranges across listings.

Pillar 1: Early-career access

Score

8.0

/ 20

The company’s live vacancies skew experienced and senior, with multiple “(Senior)” and “Engineering Manager” openings visible on the main jobs page at the time of review.
Next Kraftwerke signals internships in its jobs branding and has at least one publicly reviewed intern experience, but current intern and graduate openings are not consistently visible from the main vacancies feed.
The company lists mid-level roles like “Finance and Risk Analyst” and customer support, yet the requirements shown include prior professional experience rather than 0–2 year entry thresholds.

Pillar 2: Hiring fairness and transparency

Score

15.3

/ 20

The company clearly describes a structured application flow: PDF application via ATS, receipt confirmation by email, typically two interviews, and a “meet the team” step.
Next Kraftwerke explicitly states a non-discriminatory process and that no photo is required, which reduces bias pressure for early-career candidates.
The company has interview feedback describing a multi-step process including an HR and team lead video call, onsite interviews, and a short case presentation, which is transparent and role-relevant when kept time-bounded.

Pillar 3: Learning and support

Score

15.7

/ 20

The company commits to four working days per year for training with costs covered, plus in-house German and English courses and individual coaching.
Next Kraftwerke explains onboarding support in concrete terms, including HR involvement, team lead support, peers, an optional buddy, and regular feedback meetings.
The company’s work environment (energy trading, risk, forecasting, and platform delivery) is naturally high-feedback, but Next Kraftwerke does not publish a role-by-role progression framework, so consistency across teams is hard to verify.

Pillar 4: Pay fairness and stability

Score

13.7

/ 20

The company publishes a detailed benefits set that supports stability: hybrid work setup support, mobility support (bike leasing and public transport allowance), and an employee assistance program.
Next Kraftwerke offers flexibility features that matter for early-career sustainability, including flexible hours, flextime that can convert into additional leave, and part-time options.
The company does not publish salary ranges on the main careers pages or the sampled role listing, which caps confidence on pay fairness despite generally solid benefits.

Pillar 5: Early-career outcomes

Score

12.0

/ 20

The company has employee review signals pointing to good team spirit and fair work hours, which supports retention potential, but the review sample is small.
Next Kraftwerke has review feedback noting limited formal development opportunities and pay concerns relative to industry averages, which can dampen early-career progression outcomes.
The company’s LinkedIn and hiring footprint show ongoing recruitment, but Next Kraftwerke does not publish early-career outcomes like promotion timelines, junior tenure ranges, or internal mobility examples.