Our client is a well-capitalised and rapidly growing renewable energy platform that is investing heavily in distributed energy solutions across the UK.
Having already established a strong position within the commercial and industrial energy market, the business is now expanding its ground-mounted solar offering, with a particular focus on private wire projects and long-term corporate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).
To support this growth, they are seeking an experienced Commercial Director to lead the origination, development and commercial delivery of ground-mounted solar opportunities from inception through to financial close.
This is a highly commercial position combining business development, project origination, technical development oversight and route-to-market strategy. The successful individual will play a key role in building a significant pipeline of private wire opportunities with major industrial and commercial energy users.
The Role
Reporting directly to the Chief Commercial Officer, you will take ownership of identifying, originating and progressing new ground-mounted private wire solar opportunities across the UK.
Working closely with internal technical, legal, finance and delivery teams, you will lead projects through the full development lifecycle whilst acting as the commercial lead with landowners, customers, advisers and strategic partners.
Key responsibilities include:
- Originate new ground-mounted solar and private wire opportunities across the UK.
- Build and maintain relationships with major industrial and commercial energy users.
- Develop commercial structures for private wire projects and long-term corporate PPAs.
- Lead commercial negotiations with customers, landowners, advisers and delivery partners.
- Assess project feasibility from both technical and commercial perspectives.
- Coordinate internal development activities including grid, planning, engineering and financial modelling.
- Manage projects through development towards financial close and construction.
- Identify strategic partnerships with developers, landowners, EPC contractors and advisers.
- Develop route-to-market strategies for new projects and energy offtake arrangements.
- Support investment committee approvals and commercial decision making.
- Work closely with the Chief Commercial Officer in shaping the company’s wider distributed energy strategy.
Candidate Profile
We’re looking for someone who combines strong commercial instincts with an excellent technical understanding of UK ground-mounted solar development.
You will already possess an established network across developers, landowners, consultants, corporate energy users and energy buyers, with a proven ability to originate opportunities rather than simply manage existing projects.
You are likely to have experience within:
- Ground-mounted solar development.
- Distributed energy.
- Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
- Renewable energy developers.
- Infrastructure or energy investment platforms.
The renewable energy or infrastructure team of a major land agency or property consultancy, where you have advised on or originated renewable energy developments, negotiated with landowners and developers, and built strong relationships across the market.
You will ideally demonstrate:
- Significant experience developing front-of-the-meter or private wire solar projects.
- Strong understanding of UK planning, grid connection and project development processes.
- Experience negotiating corporate PPAs, private wire agreements and other energy supply structures.
- Existing relationships with large commercial and industrial energy users.
- Strong knowledge of electricity markets, routes to market and renewable energy commercial models.
- Excellent commercial negotiation skills.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary development teams.
- Ability to operate comfortably within a fast-growing entrepreneurial business.
Candidates coming from leading renewable energy teams of large land agencies may be particularly well suited to this opportunity. They often combine a strong technical understanding of project development with extensive relationships across landowners, developers, investors and advisers, making them well placed to originate opportunities and lead projects from inception through to commercial delivery.
If you are interested in discussing this opportunity, please reach out to David Blake at Climate17.
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