Turning up the heat on solar

James Pipe, Head of Renewables and Sustainability, Spencer Ogden

The solar power industry has enjoyed a prolonged period of buoyancy in recent years. In January this year, a report by PwC confirmed that the global value of renewable technology deals rose by 40% in 2011 and that a third of these were in the solar sector. But is this trend about to change?

As we move through 2012, the European market can expect to see a reverse in fortunes as companies, in reaction to legislative changes, restricted budgets and evolving technologies, enter into a phase of consolidation. In the next twelve months some solar power companies will struggle to accommodate these changes, and many will, unfortunately, cease trading.

Naturally, the state of any market has a knock-on effect for the recruitment sector and for prospective candidates. In the solar industry this is particularly relevant to those who work in the photovoltaic and concentrated solar power sectors. In these and other areas, recruiters are seeing a clear divide in candidate mentalities. While some are increasingly eager to find the best opportunities with the ‘right' companies, and in markets which are continuing to grow and develop, others are reluctant to move. These candidates are seeking security by staying with their existing employers, despite the fact that remaining sedentary could potentially stunt their career development

Although a variety of factors will influence the European solar power market in 2012, they can be roughly split into two categories; financial pressures, and the shifting scale of projects.