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Each year on June 15th, Global Wind Day is celebrated across the world. It is a day for recognising wind energy, its power, and the possibilities it holds to reshape our energy systems, decarbonise our economies, and boost jobs and growth. This year, as we mark Global Wind Day 2024, we reflect on the advancements in wind technology, the growing importance of renewable energy, and the exciting opportunities in the clean energy sector. The Power of Wind: Driving a Sustainable Future Wind energy has emerged as one of the most efficient and sustainable sources of renewable energy. According to windenergy.org, wind power is the largest source of renewable electricity generation in the United States, providing 9.8% of the country’s electricity and growing. (1) Harnessing the natural power of wind through turbines, this clean energy source generates electricity without emitting greenhouse gases or other harmful pollutants. As we face the urgent challenges of climate change, wind energy emerges as a promising solution, providing a practical way to reduce our carbon footprint and transition to a low-carbon economy. In fact, wind power helps avoid 346 million metric tons of CO2 emissions annually—equivalent to the emissions of 76 million cars in the US. (2) In 2024, the global wind energy capacity continues to soar, with significant investments in wind farms, offshore wind projects, and innovative technologies. These advancements are not only helping to meet the growing energy demands but are also creating a multitude of job opportunities in the clean energy sector, with the role of wind turbine technician being the fastest-growing job in the US, increasing by 44% over the next decade. (3) Opportunities in the Wind Energy Sector As a clean energy recruitment brand, we are excited about the diverse career opportunities available in the wind energy sector. Spanning engineering and project management to research and development, the wind industry is brimming with possibilities for professionals eager to make an impact. Here are some key areas where the demand for talent is increasing: Engineering and Technical Roles: With the continuous innovation in turbine technology, there is a growing need for skilled engineers and technicians to design, install, and maintain wind turbines. Mechanical, electrical, and civil engineers are particularly in demand to ensure the efficiency and reliability of wind energy systems. Project Management: Developing and managing wind farms requires adept project managers who can oversee the entire lifecycle of wind projects, from planning and permitting to construction and operation. These roles are crucial for ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and to high safety standards. Research and Development: As the wind energy sector evolves, there is a constant need for research and development to improve turbine efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance grid integration. Scientists and researchers play a pivotal role in driving innovations that make wind energy more competitive and sustainable. Environmental and Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring that wind projects comply with environmental regulations and standards is essential. Environmental scientists and compliance officers work to assess and mitigate the impacts of wind farms on local ecosystems and communities. Sales and Marketing: As the wind energy market expands, professionals in sales and marketing are needed to promote wind projects, secure investments, and educate the public and stakeholders about the benefits of wind energy. Looking Ahead As we look to the future, the importance of wind energy will only continue to grow. The transition to a sustainable energy system is essential, and wind power will be at the forefront of this transformation. By embracing the opportunities in the wind energy sector, we can drive innovation, create jobs, and build a cleaner, greener world for future generations. At Piper Maddox, we are committed to connecting passionate individuals with leading companies in the clean energy sector. Our mission is to support the growth of renewable energy by ensuring that the industry has access to the best talent. Whether you are an experienced professional or just starting your career, there is a place for you in the wind energy sector.

Celebrated every year on April 22nd, Earth Day is a reminder of the importance of environmental conservation and sustainability, encouraging us to come together and take action for a healthier planet and brighter future to raise awareness, inspire change, and foster a deeper connection with nature. Today, as we celebrate Earth Day in 2024, it's important to reflect on the steps made in sustainable technology and their role in shaping a more environmentally conscious future. From renewable energy breakthroughs to innovative solutions, these four groundbreaking technologies are at the forefront of shaping the future of sustainability. Next-generation solar panels: Traditional solar panels have long been recognised as a clean energy solution, but advancements in photovoltaic technology are making solar power even more accessible and efficient for powering homes, cars, boats, you name it! We need to ensure that we can continue to revolutinise the way we harness the sun's energy, as currently nearly all solar panels are made from silicon, which boast an efficiency of 22%. This means silicon panels can only convert about one-fifth of the sun's energy into electricity, because the material absorbs only a limited proportion of sunlight's wavelengths. Producing silicon is also expensive and energy-intensive. Scientists have been testing perovskite solar cells by stacking them on top of traditional silicon cells to make tandem cells. Layering the two materials, each absorbing a different part of the sun's spectrum, can potentially increase the panels' efficiency by over 50%. (1) Carbon capture and utilisation (CCU): Addressing the challenge of carbon emissions is crucial in the fight against climate change. CCUS involves the capture of CO2, generally from large point sources like power generation or industrial facilities that use either fossil fuels or biomass as fuel. CCUS facilities currently capture more than 45 Mt CO2 annually. (2) Since January 2022, project developers have announced ambitions for over 50 new capture facilities to be operating by 2030, capturing around 125 Mt CO2 per year. By doing this, it will help to tackle emissions in hard-to-abate sectors, particularly heavy industries like cement, steel or chemicals, and remove CO2 from the air to balance emissions that are unavoidable or technically difficult to abate. Vertical farming and controlled environment agriculture (CEA): With the world's population continuing to grow, sustainable agriculture techniques are essential for ensuring food security while minimising environmental impact. Vertical farming and CEA methods utilise indoor farming systems equipped with LED lighting, hydroponics, and advanced climate control technologies to optimise crop production in urban environments. CEA allows us to produce crops with 70% to 95% less water than required for normal cultivation (3), and therefore by reducing water usage, eliminating the need for chemical pesticides, and minimising land use, these innovative farming practices are revolutionising the way we grow food. Electric and autonomous vehicles: There is no doubt that transportation is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, especially with the increase of cars per household, but electric and autonomous vehicles (AVs) offer a cleaner and more efficient alternative. The widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), coupled with advancements in AV technology, promises to revolutionise the way we travel, reducing carbon emissions, easing traffic congestion, and enhancing road safety. In fact, under an appropriate pricing strategy, SAV deployment could reduce PM2.5 emission and energy consumption by 56–64% and 53–61%, respectively (4). As we look ahead to a more sustainable future, these four groundbreaking technologies are paving the way for transformative change. Through innovation and collaboration, we can create a world where economic wellbeing aligns with environmental care, securing a healthier planet for future generations. This Earth Day, let's celebrate these technological advancements and pledge to advance sustainability even further.

S2 E3: Powering Progress: The Public-Private Partnership with Jen Daloisio Welcome to the third episode of the second season of the ‘Clean Fuels Podcast’ hosted by Alex Horne of Piper Maddox. In this series, we will explore the dynamic CleanTech sector, where we are joined by industry leaders to delve deep into the evolving landscape across North America. Specifically, we focus on Clean Fuels, Hydrogen, and Sustainability markets. Our discussions center on the latest technologies, trends, and the visionary individuals driving change, with a particular emphasis on hiring trends and the influential figures shaping the future of our planet. In this episode, we are thrilled to have Jen Daloisio, SVP of Corporate Operations with FirstLight Energy. This episode, Jen delves into the various types of organizations and environments within renewables/cleantech, highlighting how entities across the spectrum—public, private, non-profit—play pivotal roles in achieving the planet’s decarbonization goals. Jen also explores the diverse skillsets that thrive in different organizational contexts and discusses the challenges newcomers may face. ABOUT JEN DALOISIO: Jen Daloisio currently serves as the SVP of Corporate Operations at FirstLight Energy, following an extensive tenure at The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center as CFO and CEO. With a career spanning consulting, the public sector, and renewable energy development, Jen offers valuable insights into the skills and qualities essential for success in various professional settings. She has also made significant contributions through board work and volunteering with organizations such as Greentown Labs, NECEC Institute, and the MA STEM Advisory Council, focusing on workforce development in the climate space, establishing herself as a pioneering force for sustainability in the industry. You can also listen to the Clean Fuels podcast on the below platforms:Spotify > https://open.spotify.com/show/69TS4ekYNMyYh32JmGxwPV Apple > https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clean-fuels-podcast/id1649553222 Youtube > https://youtu.be/IwsrrIfnv0k?si=zH2GROeVadhewMQ0

S2 E2: The CleanTech Career Ladder We are back with episode 2 of the second season of the ‘Clean Fuels Podcast’ hosted by Alex Horne of Piper Maddox. In this series, we will explore the dynamic CleanTech sector, where we are joined by industry leaders to delve deep into the evolving landscape across North America. Specifically, we focus on Clean Fuels, Hydrogen, and Sustainability markets. This episode is a deep dive into the different steps of someone’s potential career in the CleanTech space. Claire Broido Johnson, Co-Founder and Operating Advisor and Board Member at Sunrock Distributed Generation gives terrific insight into ways to best stand out as a junior person, and what intangibles she and other leaders most look for – and delves into the best resources and tips for executives and potential founders in the space. We give some color into what the sentiment is in the market, and how to best stand out on a resume and interview as well.. ABOUT CLAIRE: Claire is career Leader, Founder, and Advisor in the Renewable Energy and CleanTech industry, currently serving on several boards and supporting dozens of startups in the space with how own consultancy CBJ Energy. She is the founder of SunEdison, who at one point was the largest solar energy services provider in North America; at its height, the company had an asset value of over $10 billion and more than 7,000 employees. She’s also spent time with the Department of Energy, as an advisor to their energy efficiency vertical. Claire has dedicated much of her career now to helping others in the Climate space grow their careers and reach their potential. USEFUL RESOURCES: https://careers.powerhouse.fund/companieshttps://wrisenergy.org/https://www.womeninrenewables.org/https://newiee.org/ To get in touch with Alex, get in touch at a.horne@pipermaddox.com. You can also listen to the Clean Fuels podcast on the below platforms:Spotify > https://open.spotify.com/show/69TS4ekYNMyYh32JmGxwPV Apple > https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clean-fuels-podcast/id1649553222 Youtube > https://youtu.be/a0pSDK3inEA?si=bAxwCnoufYvt8qnq

S2 E1: The Green Shift; Fueling the future Welcome to the first episode of the second season of the ‘Clean Fuels Podcast’ hosted by Alex Horne of Piper Maddox. In this series, we will explore the dynamic CleanTech sector, where we are joined by industry leaders to delve deep into the evolving landscape across North America. Specifically, we focus on Clean Fuels, Hydrogen, and Sustainability markets. Our discussions center on the latest technologies, trends, and the visionary individuals driving change, with a particular emphasis on hiring trends and the influential figures shaping the future of our planet. In this episode, we are thrilled to have Eric Planey, the CEO at SolaBlock, joining us. Together, we delve into the anticipated trends across the CleanTech industry in 2024, particularly from an investment and growth perspective, focusing on hiring and talent trends. Eric provides an incredible perspective on ways to transition into the CleanTech space from other sectors – and what soft skills are most in need when growing your career in the space. We talk through expectations and hopes for the year, and provide some resources for people looking to kickstart their career in the space. Eric is a career finance and commercial leader – who made the transition to CleanTech to head up SolaBlock; a startup creating solar capturing building blocks and materials. A cross section between CleanTech and the ConstructionTech space, he’s had a unique journey in building relationships in the space. From the Rust Belt of Ohio, he’s been passionate about creating a more sustainable future for our planet, and has hosted a podcast in the past about topics in the space. Check it out! “Pirates of CleanTech” You can also listen to the Clean Fuels podcast on the below platforms:Spotify > https://open.spotify.com/show/69TS4ekYNMyYh32JmGxwPV Apple > https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clean-fuels-podcast/id1649553222 Youtube > https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6AFhp_PmPf_FBMqW0F3GGJ-5HjJk4tfO&si=TLnsS7MNXFdQRKk9

Why was 2022 an important year for renewable energy? There is no doubt that 2022 was an important year for renewable energy. Despite delayed supply chain turbulences and skyrocketing raw material costs caused by the lingering coronavirus pandemic, the renewable energy industry maintained its upward growth trajectory over the past year, with the global renewable net capacity increasing by a groundbreaking 295 Gigawatts [1]. We can attribute these positive trends primarily to the largest global power players – notably China, the United States, the European Union, and India – and their commitment to market reforms and new renewable energy policy implementations. The most influential of these policies; China’s “Five-Year Plan” and Europe’s “REPowerEU”, have played an integral role in marking this year as the beginning of the green transition [2],[3]. On the American side of things, no law has been more integral to Biden’s presidency and contributed more to clean energy investment than the ‘Inflation Reduction Act of 2022’. In addition to combatting the national inflation crisis and reducing prescription drug prices, the US IRA aims to inject 369 billion dollars into the renewable energy industry, “lower overall energy costs, increase cleaner production, and reduce carbon emissions by roughly 40 percent by 2030” [4]. What markets are likely to benefit most from IRA? Being only a few months into IRA, it is challenging at this stage to discern IRA’s direct impacts on the industry and how successful it will be in the long term. That said, its presence has certainly created quite a buzz in several renewable energy markets. Assuming the IRA forecasts are correct, and this past decade’s growth trend is maintained, the markets that are likely to benefit the most from IRA lie in solar. This, of course, is probably not very shocking to most industry leaders; although hydropower and wind remain the largest source of global renewable energy capacity, solar PV has contributed to over 60% of capacity growth in 2021 and is expected to be “the most installed power capacity worldwide by 2027, surpassing coal, natural gas, and hydropower” [2]. As it currently stands, the solar cell market continues to be dominated by crystalline silicon - the leading material in photovoltaic energy harvesting technology. This has been the case since 1954, when Bell Labs modeled the first silicon cell to have an energy efficiency of over 6 percent [5]. 70 years later, most of the solar panels available for commercial use have an efficiency that fluctuates between 15 - 22 percent [6]. Although this progress is substantial, silicon-based solar projects are still relatively inefficient for how much they cost to manufacture and upkeep. Some even argue that the processes and materials involved in the production of solar panels are not environmentally friendly, casting even more uncertainty on solar as a potential long-term renewable energy source. What will most likely increase scientific research? The good news? Laws like the Inflation Reduction Act will most certainly increase scientific research in solar efficiency, both in silicon technology and in other materials whose efficiency potentials have yet to be fully recorded. Perovskite technology has been on the radar for many researchers and industry leaders, primarily due to its remarkable efficiency levels, low production costs, and commercial viability. We must note however, that a lot of work needs to be done before we can expect to see perovskite cells take over our suburbs. Its primary limitation is its durability; perovskite cells have continuously demonstrated short life lengths and a tendency to decompose when interacting with moisture and oxygen (two things that are somewhat common on this planet) [7]. That said, compared to silicon, progress in perovskite solar cell technology has been much faster; efficiency levels that were first reported at 3% back in 2009 are now standing at 25% today, making its durability issue slightly less concerning [7]. In addition to its competitive power conversion efficiencies (PCE), perovskite technology has received a lot of attention for its small size and low production time, cost, and complexity. As such, it seems that from both a business and scientific perspective, its commercial viability is not a matter of if, but a matter of when.