Renewable Energy
Supporting the Expansion of GridBeyond
As the world shifts to a Net Zero future, the rapid rise of renewable energy generation drives the ever-increasing need for grid balancing and flexibility. No matter how environmentally urgent it is to transition to solar and wind, there is no denying that renewable energy is an intermittent energy source. Without the technology with the power to balance it, a clean energy transition would be impossible.
The energy systems of tomorrow are in dire need of scalable solutions. GridBeyond are one of the leading suppliers and developers of one such solution. Their award-winning AI-powered technology platform manages distributed and flexible energy resources, with a powerful vision to dispatch flexibility to the right market at the right time, supporting the transition to Net Zero and enabling asset owners and energy consumers to unlock revenue and savings.
To support their growth, GridBeyond identified a need to add several specialists to their existing team. After unsuccessfully engaging with several other recruitment firms, GridBeyond appointed Climate17 to help fill crucial roles across market development, trading and marketing.
Working with GridBeyond on these requirements was a fantastic opportunity to work closely with an organisation so well-aligned with our mission to support organisations that are working directly on initiatives to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.
About GridBeyond – Key Information
- GridBeyond’s Intelligent Energy Optimizer lies at the core of what they do – by connecting load, generation and storage assets with opportunities within energy markets.
- Their innovative platform bridges the gap between distributed energy resources and the requirements of the power grid.
- Their unique and award-winning energy flexibility technology is currently deployed on over 400 sites worldwide, empowering C&I businesses, EV fleet operators, generators and energy storage operators to maximise revenue and savings.
Understanding the main challenges
GridBeyond’s requirements presented two key challenges – experience and location.
GridBeyond’s niche meant that it was vital for new staff to possess prior knowledge and experience in the energy flexibility space. The number of specialists within this field is extremely limited, and those who have the required experience are usually passive candidates who are unavailable through traditional recruitment methods (advertising etc).
In addition to this, GridBeyond operates both from London and Ireland, with the latter being a particularly challenging location to source candidates from.
Filling crucial roles at GridBeyond
In June 2020, one of our Associate Directors’, Kris Kobi, took charge of the search. He worked in close partnership with GridBeyond to develop competitive and appealing remuneration packages, as well as to gain a strong understanding of company culture, short- and long-term objectives.
Over a period of 8 months, as requirements arose, Kris conducted a targeted search of both UK and Irish markets and was able to present GridBeyond with a number of highly qualified profiles against their requirements.
Kris supported GridBeyond closely during the entire recruitment process, maintaining an open and honest dialogue with them and providing structured and constructive feedback throughout.
Kris played an active role in the creation of job descriptions, person specifications, structure and organisation of interviews, offer management and onboarding.
The outcome and impact
In a specialised and challenging market, Kris successfully identified and placed a Business Development Executive, two Market Development Managers and a Marketing Communications Manager.
GridBeyond continues to power innovation and provide innovative software solutions to solve balancing and flexibility challenges, thus supporting the transition to Net-Zero.
As Climate17 proved themselves invaluable fulfilling these challenging and crucial roles, we are now the exclusive recruitment partner of GridBeyond, and continue to support their growth across all areas of the business.
Other success stories
Renewable Energy
Driving EDP Renewables' expansion in France
EDP Renewables (EDPR), a global leader in renewable energy, has made remarkable strides in the sector, building a robust presence in the French market. Since 2018, EDPR has partnered with Climate17 to secure specialised talent, enabling the company to expand operations, meet project demands, and drive its mission to transition the world to clean energy.
About EDPR
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Madrid, EDPR is the fourth largest wind energy generator globally. The company designs, develops, manages, and operates renewable energy power plants worldwide, focusing on onshore and offshore wind as well as solar energy, contributing significantly to the clean energy transition. EDPR has expanded its operations to regions such as Europe, North and South America, and Asia, solidifying its reputation as a renewable energy powerhouse. The firm has been accredited with a listing in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index and named a Top Employer 2024 in Europe, Singapore, Brazil, Colombia and Chile.
Partnership Initiation
Climate17’s partnership with EDPR began in 2018, initiated by Carlos Soria, Climate17’s Director and Co-Founder. EDPR came to us looking to expand into the French Renewable Energy market. They required candidates who had experience working within the renewable sector with skills suitable to support their growth ambitions to expand within the French market.
Initially focusing on recruitment in France and Spain, the partnership expanded over the years to support EDPR’s international growth in other regions such as Colombia, Greece, the UK, Vietnam, Italy, Poland, Romania, and Germany. The need for international hires reinforced the necessity to collaborate with a recruitment specialist capable of targeting candidates directly and delivering comprehensive market insights.
Despite this international coverage, the core of the collaboration remained focused on France where Damien Mura, Head of France, was instrumental in managing and growing the account, partnering with EDPR on an exclusive basis.
Challenges and Our Consultative Solutions
As EDPR continued to focus on their growth plans within the French market, their expansion was met with difficulties as their specialist roles were unable to be filled due to a finite number of professionals with experience working within the renewable energy sector. As well as struggling with limited talent, the rapid growth of the renewable energy industry in France meant demand for accomplished executives was excessive. Without filling their roles with suitable candidates, EDPR would be unable to meet its growth objectives and struggle to expand and become an industry leader within France. Subsequently, the need for a specialised recruitment partner was crucial to be able to identify and head-hunt suitable candidates.
We addressed these challenges by consulting with EDPR about their expansion aims and business objectives and the required skills and desired attributes for each vacancy. This supported us in identifying candidates from diverse sectors such as agriculture and real estate, leveraging our expertise to highlight transferable skills suited to the renewable energy sector. This approach expanded the talent pool, providing expert market insights and gaining a competitive advantage over other contenders, enhancing the resulting outcomes.
Recruiting for a growing company like EDPR in a competitive industry within France posed challenges, but we were able to navigate these effectively. EDPR required a variety of roles in the French Market throughout our partnership, from Country Manager to Origination Managers. Our teams’ advanced renewable energy expertise combined with extensive market knowledge and our retained search & selection process assisted in fulfilling permanent recruitment.
We consistently maintained flexibility in our approach, adapting our services to meet EDPR's evolving needs. By staying in close communication, regularly seeking feedback, and refining the search process as necessary, we developed a strong rapport with key team members and hiring managers, helping us form an exclusive basis with EDPR throughout our relationship.
Outcomes and Impact
“Damien is a highly professional, detail-focused consultant. He is passionate about the renewable energy market and proven to be an expert. He is very focused on quality, always striving to find the best talent for our business.”
Javier Gomez, Head of HR
“Damien was very professional and understood what I was looking for when I changed jobs. I’d like to thank him again for giving me this opportunity.”
Kevin Wavelet, Head of Asset Management
Climate17’s tailored consultative solutions played a pivotal role in fulfilling EDPR’s need for top-tier candidates to support their growth in the French market. By thoroughly understanding EDPR’s specific requirements and long-term objectives, we were able to identify talent with the right attributes and experience to drive their expansion efforts. Our bespoke recruitment strategies not only ensured that EDPR had access to a diverse talent pool but also provided insights into market trends and hiring best practices. This partnership has been instrumental in helping EDPR meet their ambitious growth targets while positioning them for continued success in the renewable energy sector.
In a similar position as EDPR and looking to expand or enter a market with finite talent? Let's work together to drive change. Learn more about our French services and team here.
Renewable Energy
Powering Fotowatio’s Growth in Italy
About Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV)
Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV), a leader in renewable energy solutions, has consistently driven innovation and excellence in the renewable energy sector. Founded in 2006, the company rapidly expanded its operations globally, including into Italy in 2008. Italy's renewable energy market is primarily focused on photovoltaic (PV) solar energy, but FRV has also emerged as a leader in Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). Their commitment to renewable energy has positioned them as a key player in the transition to a clean energy future.
Our Partnership Initiation
Our strategic partnership was initiated in 2015 by Carlos Soria, Climate17 Director & Co-Founder, by signing an agreement with FRV’s HR team at their headquarters in Madrid, Spain. At the time, FRV faced challenges in attracting top-tier talent in regions where they had minimal presence or brand recognition. The need for international hires in these underserved markets made it crucial to engage with a specialised recruitment partner who could proactively approach candidates and provide strategic market mapping.
Our teams’ advanced renewable energy expertise, combined with our extensive network and deep market knowledge, made us the ideal partner for FRV. The excellent communication between both parties further solidified our partnership, leading to the successful placement of key roles in Spain, Mexico, Australia, and Dubai. The initial focus was on Project Managers for PV solar plants.
In 2023, our collaboration expanded to support FRV’s Italian growth, marking a significant milestone in our partnership.
Expanding into the Italian Market
As FRV continued to grow and the need to source specific talent was also on the rise, this presented both opportunities and challenges for FRV. Despite these obstacles, Martina and Claudia, our Italian Renewable Energy team, successfully placed eight key roles over a year and a half. These placements included positions in legal, project development, project management and project engineering, construction, and accounting—all based in Rome, where FRV has fostered a dynamic, welcoming, and innovative workplace culture.
The successful placement of a Grid Connection Specialist, a critical role in the renewable energy sector, highlights the team’s ability to overcome the significant challenge of finding the appropriate candidates willing to join a new and growing company in a competitive market, who aligned with FRV’s vision, growth plans and ambitions.
The strong relationship between our team and FRV, as well as our deep understanding of the candidates’ profiles and the company’s needs, has contributed to a high retention rate within FRV’s Italian market. The collaboration has been key in building a strong team that continues to drive FRV’s success in Italy.
Our Tailored Recruitment Solutions
Our partnership with FRV is built on a foundation of close collaboration and flexibility. We have provided tailored recruitment solutions, including comprehensive salary surveys in each international market where FRV operates outside of Spain: Mexico, Australia, Dubai, and Italy. Our approach is entirely adaptable, tailoring our services to meet FRV’s specific needs and requirements.
The Italian team has developed a deep connection with both the candidates and FRV, ensuring that every placement aligns perfectly with the company’s goals and culture. Our tailored recruitment solutions have been key to our success in filling diverse roles across the organisation.
The Outcomes
Our ongoing partnership with FRV continues to thrive. We remain committed to supporting FRV’s growth and success, consistently delivering top-quality candidates who contribute to the company’s mission of advancing renewable energy solutions.
We look forward to continuing our collaboration with FRV, helping them build and expand their teams globally as they lead the change in the renewable energy sector.
Interested in partnering with us? Let’s work together to drive positive change. Discover more about our Italian services and team here.
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