Renewable Energy
Supporting a Renewable Energy Developer's Growth in the USA
Our client, a global leader in renewable energy project development, operates across multiple countries including Spain, the USA, Brazil, the Caribbean, Italy, Colombia, Romania, and the UK. Since its founding in 2006, the company has steadily expanded, focusing on three core renewable technologies: photovoltaic, photovoltaic-wind hybridization, and green hydrogen. Covering every stage of the project lifecycle—from origination and development to execution and asset management—they bring an all-encompassing approach to renewable energy solutions.
With over 15 years of experience, the company consistently delivers top-quality, environmentally conscious projects worldwide, adhering to the highest industry standards. Their remarkable international expansion has strengthened their global presence, empowering them to make a larger positive impact.
Partnership Initiation
The partnership began in October 2023, when Oliver Hastie, Vice President of our USA Renewable Energy team, was introduced to the company through our Valencia office. At the time, they were in the early stages of planning their US expansion and seeking to build a local team. As they explored direct advertising for initial hires, they were quickly overwhelmed by a flood of irrelevant resumes and inquiries, which distracted them from their primary goal—growing their US presence. By January 2024, our partnership was officially launched.
Our collaboration thrived because we swiftly developed an efficient recruitment process, gaining a deep understanding of the company's specific needs and timelines. This allowed us to provide top-tier candidates with quick turnaround times.
One of the first roles we filled was the Head of Development. Within seven days, four candidates were shortlisted, and within three weeks, the position was successfully filled. Thanks to our vast network and expertise in the USA renewable energy sector, we were able to exceed standard recruitment timelines, which usually span two to four weeks. In addition, we offered valuable guidance on budget and bonus structures, leveraging our network to identify the best strategies for incentivizing senior hires. Ollie’s insight into the company ensured that the selected candidates aligned with their values, ambitions, and growth plans.
Overcoming Expansion Challenges
Despite the client’s international presence, entering the US market posed challenges due to their limited brand recognition locally. Competing in a market dominated by well-established players made their expansion more difficult.
To successfully navigate this landscape, it was clear that they needed seasoned professionals with proven experience in managing large-scale renewable energy projects. We adopted a strategic approach to recruitment, tapping into our deep industry knowledge and extensive network to find candidates who could not only contribute to the company’s growth but also enhance its presence in the US.
As the client’s US footprint expanded, we scaled our recruitment efforts accordingly. After the initial Head of Development role, Sam Smart, our Senior Consultant for USA Renewable Energy, took on three additional positions: two Senior Project Development roles and one Project Development role. Sam successfully placed candidates in all three roles, helping them advance their careers while supporting the client’s long-term growth objectives. Through this successful collaboration, we crafted competitive offers that benefited both the company and the candidates.
Tailored Recruitment Solutions
Since the start of 2024, we’ve maintained a close consultative partnership with the client, delivering a range of recruitment services including permanent recruitment, retained search and market analysis. Our holistic approach has enabled us to consistently find top talent, working exclusively with the company as they establish themselves in the competitive US market.
For each recruitment project, we regularly consult on role specifications, explore the unique benefits the company can offer, and fine-tune their competitive positioning. We go beyond merely advising on salaries, recognizing that top talent often seeks opportunities for professional growth, a sense of purpose, and a collaborative work culture. Our consultative approach ensures that candidates see the full value of joining the company.
Results and Impact
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Our exclusive partnership has positioned the company as a recognized leader in attracting top talent in the renewable energy sector. Through our competitive pricing structure and tailored approach, we’ve successfully filled four key roles and are currently working on more.
Since the start of the partnership, we’ve consistently delivered top-quality candidates for both junior and senior positions across the renewable energy project lifecycle. Whether filling technical engineering roles or senior leadership positions, we have leveraged our network and expertise to meet the client’s diverse needs efficiently.
Our collaboration, rooted in a shared commitment to advancing clean energy, has been crucial in helping the company build a strong presence in the US. We are proud to be their recruitment partner of choice, playing a vital role in their continued success since 2024 and into the future.
Interested in partnering with us? Let’s work together to drive positive change. Discover more about our USA Renewable Energy services here.
Other success stories
Renewable Energy
Spurring LumenHaus’ launch in Germany
LumenHaus, a leading-edge platform for smart home energy solutions, has made its presence recognised in the solar and energy storage industry in Germany. Since the beginning of 2024, we have partnered with LumenHaus to assist with acquiring distinct talent, allowing the company to initiate operations, meet business objectives, and establish themselves as a key driver of homeowners & small enterprise owners transitioning to clean energy.
About LumenHaus
Established in 2024 and operating out of Dusseldorf, LumenHaus is an innovative platform that drives the energy transition through decentralised, community-based, and sustainable energy supply. Partners and customers alike benefit from the advantages of the platform, which enables a sustainable and convenient energy future. They provide solar systems and EV storage systems which help store solar energy, manage usage, and provide blackout protection. The myLumenHaus app allows users to monitor and control their energy systems in real time, optimising energy usage with AI. LumenHaus aims to simplify green energy adoption through customisable systems for residential needs.
Partnership Initiation
Our partnership with LumenHaus was initiated by Lucas Seyda, Head of Germany at Climate17, following the successful placement of a candidate who later became an integral part of LumenHaus’ growth journey. Like many renewable energy startups, LumenHaus was concerned about being able to secure top level talent in a pool scarce of professionals and restricting their early growth. Recognising the complexity of establishing a foothold in the German market alongside our industry leading knowledge, LumenHaus sought our expertise to recruit key talent that would anchor their initial operations in Germany. Specifically, the company required critical hires, including a Senior Business Developer and a Head of HR, to drive their expansion.
Challenges and Our Consultative Solutions
LumenHaus faced several challenges as they embarked on their journey to establish a strong foothold in the German market. One of the initial hurdles was the highly specialised nature of the roles they required. With limited experience in Germany, LumenHaus needed professionals well-versed not only in the energy sector but also in the nuances of the local market. We tackled this by drawing upon our extensive network of candidates across the European energy sector. Through deep connections and a clear understanding of the industry’s competitive landscape, we quickly identified talent with the right mix of skills and knowledge, streamlining the hiring process and ensuring a high-quality match for LumenHaus’ objectives.
Another significant challenge emerged when a leading candidate dropped out just a week before the scheduled start date. Given the urgency of LumenHaus’ launch and the critical nature of the role, this sudden change could have severely impacted their timeline and business security. However, we utilised our adaptive recruitment approach to enable a swift and seamless replacement. Leveraging our robust network and close communication with both LumenHaus and potential candidates, we filled the position within the original timeframe despite the challenging setbacks, underscoring our commitment to client success.
In addition to candidate sourcing, we provided salary guidance and advised on bonus structuring. This consultative support was particularly valuable, given LumenHaus’ limited experience in the German market. We proposed a performance-based bonus structure, where incentives were tied to the creation of new partnerships, aligning well with the client’s growth-oriented goals.
Throughout this partnership, we remained committed to fostering a long-term relationship with LumenHaus, providing continuous insights into market trends and maintaining open lines of communication. This collaborative approach ensured that we could respond quickly to any evolving needs, refining their processes and solutions in real time to align with LumenHaus’ growth journey.
The Outcomes
“I have worked with Climate17 as a candidate previously and now from the client side. I would highlight Lucas’ total availability and ability to advise and guide both parties throughout all phases of the selection process.
They know the renewable sector very well and are very well connected. We will continue to rely on Climate17 for future selection processes.” – HR Manager, LumenHaus
We successfully filled both roles within three weeks of our first point of contact, submitting four remarkable candidates and securing two hires on their first interview. As a result, we have maintained a strong relationship with LumenHaus, with regular communication to support the client’s ongoing recruitment needs. As LumenHaus continues to scale, we remain a trusted partner, dedicated to contributing to their mission of a sustainable energy future across Germany.
Interested in collaborating? Let’s work together to make a difference. Reach out to our team here.
Renewable Energy
Acquiring a Battery Storage Optimiser for Innova
About Innova
Innova is a pioneering renewable energy company, employing over 120 specialists across its offices in London and Cheltenham. The company is driven by a vision to deliver large-scale renewable energy projects using diverse technologies. Its core aim is to enable energy-intensive users to operate off-grid, fostering environmental sustainability and creating tangible benefits for local businesses and communities.
With expertise spanning the entire lifecycle of renewable energy projects, Innova provides a fully integrated service. This includes planning, securing grid connections, project rights development, financing, construction, asset management, power purchase agreements, and long-term operational support.
With a portfolio of cutting-edge technologies such as solar energy, battery storage, green hydrogen, and advanced thermal conversion, Innova is at the forefront of transforming the renewable energy landscape.
The Partnership
Innova engaged Climate17 to recruit a BESS Optimisation Manager, a pivotal new role essential to their vision of advancing energy flexibility solutions. Recognising our expertise in renewable energy recruitment from our extensive work and exclusive partnering with them, Innova sought not only to fill the position but also to leverage strategic insights into a niche and rapidly evolving market.
Our collaborative approach involved a detailed brief to develop Innova’s goals, ensuring alignment with their vision and team dynamics. Tom Dufaur, our leading energy flexibility consultant, worked closely with Innova to develop a tailored strategy, focusing on transferable skills and non-traditional candidate profiles. This included refining salary benchmarks and streamlining the recruitment process to meet the demands of such a specialised role.
Challenges and Our Consultative Solutions
The primary challenge in filling the BESS Optimisation Manager role stemmed from the dawning nature of the field itself. This role required expertise in a rapidly evolving market with few established benchmarks, no in-house precedent, and a limited pool of professionals possessing the necessary combination of skills.
This included knowledge of ancillary services, energy markets, and the ability to roll out tender processes for energy contracts. The small talent pool and lack of comparable roles in the market meant that we had to approach the search innovatively and strategically.
To address these challenges, we began with thorough market research and market mapping, identifying key talent sources and untapped opportunities. We developed an extensive long list of potential candidates based on transferable skills and credentials that aligned with the role’s requirements.
After collaborating closely with Innova to refine this list and consider unconventional talent pathways, we proceeded to actively engage with shortlisted candidates who matched the unique demands of the role.
This methodical and collaborative approach required additional time during the early stages but ultimately streamlined the latter phases of the process. By focusing on transferable skills and exploring non-traditional candidate profiles, we encouraged Innova to think beyond conventional boundaries, creating new opportunities to discover exceptional talent that were aligned with their vision for their optimisation team.
Additionally, Climate17 provided consultative services around salary structuring. Initially, Innova’s salary banding for the role was broad. By leveraging data from candidate discussions and understanding current salary trends in adjacent roles, we helped refine the banding to align with market expectations, ensuring the role remained attractive while meeting the company’s budgetary goals.
The Outcomes
“Tom was extremely helpful in finding our company a suitable candidate for a new role in a relatively short space of time in quite a challenging market. Tom worked in a very collaborative manner which enabled us to identify the right type of candidate for the role and bring forward the best applicants for interview. As a result of Tom’s hard work, we’ve ended up finding a perfect match for the niche role we needed to fill.” Innova – Head of Energy Sales
Despite the highly specialised nature of the role, we successfully identified eight suitable candidates, of whom four proceeded to first-round interviews and two to final interviews. Innova was ultimately able to secure a talented professional who aligned perfectly with their requirements to fill their BESS Optimisation Manager position. This success reinforced the value of our expertise and methodology in niche markets.
The relationship between Climate17 and Innova has evolved into an exclusive and often retained partnership, reflecting the trust and effectiveness established through this project. We continue to support Innova in their talent acquisition needs, contributing to their success as a leader in renewable energy space and leading the development of their specialised workforce.
Looking to expand your team and focus on energy flexibility? Let’s work together to make a difference. Reach out to our team here.
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