Octopus Energy is planning to double its existing workforce by the end of 2021 by hiring for new jobs across its sites in London, Brighton, Warwick and Leicester. It said that most of the roles would go to graduates, particularly those with STEM backgrounds.
The company is also planning to build a new technology centre in Manchester, where it will develop smart grid technologies required for a renewable system and the electrification of transport and heating.
Octopus already uses its smart grid technology to offer customers discount rates on electricity when renewable production is abundant and will even pay them to use it during a surplus.
Greg Jackson, CEO, Octopus Energy, said: "When Apple created the App Store, nobody knew that it would change the way we order food or transport forever.
"Through 'Kraken', our cloud-based energy platform, we're revolutionising the energy industry in the same way, creating jobs not just through increased demand for affordable renewables, but by facilitating the development of new and emerging industries like electric vehicles, electric heating and vertical farming."
The firm has been recently running vehicle-to-grid trials, whereby excess energy can be stored in the batteries of electric vehicles which is then returned back to the grid when there is a deficit.
Today's jobs announcement was welcomed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak. Johnson said: "These 1,000 jobs will provide exciting opportunities across the country for those who want to be at the cutting edge of the global green revolution.
"And it's UK tech companies like Octopus who will ensure we continue to build back greener and remain a world leader in pioneering renewable energy, leading the path to net zero whilst creating thousands of skilled jobs."
Sunak added: "More green jobs is not only good news for British job seekers, it's a vote of confidence in the UK economy as it recovers and pivotal to our collective efforts to build a greener, cleaner planet."
