
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.

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
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.
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