May 2, 2013
National Solar Jobs Census Reveals More Solar Jobs than Texas Ranchers, California Actors
Clean Tech Trends
The Solar Foundation, a 30-year old nonprofit organization, released a special report last year, and an interactive map this month, revealing the nationwide state of solar jobs.
Last year’s National Solar Jobs Census 2012 reported that the U.S. solar industry was employing 119,016 people. This represents 13,872 new solar jobs and a 13.2 percent employment growth rate over the previous year as compared to overall economy growth of only 2.3 percent at best. One in 230 jobs created nationally over the last year was created in the solar industry.
Drawn from Bureau of Labor Statistics, and reported by CNNMoney, apparently there are now more solar workers in Texas than there are ranchers, more solar employees in California than actors, and nationwide more solar workers than coal miners. (more…)
April 25, 2013
 Hiring Trends – StartUps Silicon Valley Bank Tech Needs Talent!
Clean Tech and High Tech Trends
Eighty seven percent of technology startups plan to hire new employees in 2013, which is great news for tech talent. But it means competition for companies trying to attract and retain excellent human capital.
A new report by Silicon Valley Bank shows that in the US, hiring by technology, life science and cleantech companies is up 14% from four years ago when the annual survey began. Software companies plan to do the most hiring, with 90% planning to increase the size of their workforces this year.
The Startup Outlook study, conducted by SVB indicates that 74% of U.S. startups report that business is looking better this year. Texas startups are leading the hiring, followed by the states of Washington, Massachusetts, California, and New York.
The skills that are in highest demand are Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, as well as other business skills in management, operations, sales, and marketing, with most companies seeking a combination of STEM skills and business aptitude.
Startup employers face the challenges of funding salaries and benefits, and competition for needed talent. “Tech companies are a bright spot in the economy worldwide, which is evident from the significant number of startups in the US and the UK that expect to grow and hire this year,” said Greg Becker, president and CEO of Silicon Valley Bank.
A very spiffy interactive hiring report can be engaged with for both the US and the UK on SVB’s website. Results of the survey are being released in a series of reports, which are available at http://www.svb.com/startup-outlook-report.
April 4, 2013
 Affordable, Scalable Clean Energy Storage and Reuse
A Revolution for the Hydrogen Economy?
Clean Tech Trends
An exciting new discovery has been made by Canadian scientists that would allow the electrolysis of water for hydrogen generation. The discovery would allow renewable energy to be stored and reused at a cost of 1000 less than technologies previously developed.
One of the biggest impediments to affordable renewable energy use on a mass-scale has been timing. Peak use does not necessarily coincide with peak production of wind and solar energy, and storing the energy has not been an affordable option.
Such energy is clean and renewable, but it’s available only when the sun is shining or the wind is blowing. The new technology opens the door to homeowners and energy companies being able to easily store and reuse solar and wind power.
(more…)
March 7, 2013
 Greg Neichin Reigniting Cleantech
Top 5 Reasons for a Post Bubble Party
by Greg Neichin (reposted with permission, from the Cleantech blog.)
It is quite fashionable these days, especially amongst those in and around Silicon Valley, to talk about the demise of cleantech. This discussion has always seemed silly to me.
There are only two groups fascinated by this dialogue: (a) US investors who were burned in deals that they likely should not have touched in the first place and (b) industry pundits & consultants with too much time on their hands. Both of these groups are frustrated and vocal, so they create substantial noise, but far less signal.
As Khosla Venture’s Andrew Chung recently said, in a thoughtful piece by Katie Fehrenbacher covering the “cleantech is dead” meme, “venture is a highly cyclical business”. (more…)
February 28, 2013
 Startup Outlook 2013 – Silicon Valley Bank CleanTech/High Tech Trends: Start Up Hiring & Retention Struggles, Silicon Bank Survey Reports
Hiring and Retention of Tech Talent is a Challenge.
“Every time I meet with a group of tech company CEOs they say the same thing: hiring world-class talent is one of their biggest challenges. They struggle to find, attract and retain the engineering, scientific and technical talent they need to grow their businesses.” – Greg Becker, President and Chief Executive Officer, Silicon Valley Bank.
(more…)
January 24, 2013
 SEIA – Solar Energy Facts, from website: www.seia.or Clean Tech Trends: Solar
Great Strides in Affordability Made, Many Opportunities Ahead
Solar had a great third quarter in 2012, it was in fact the third largest on record for the U.S. Solar industry. The U.S. market installed 1,992 MW in the first three quarters, exceeding 2011’s annual total of 1,885 MW. 2012’s total is estimated to surpass 3,000 MW. The U.S. total is now over 6.400 MW, enough to power more than 1 million American households.
The growing affordability due to falling costs has spurred the expansion. Q3 2012’s average cost of a completed PV system dropped by 33% since the beginning 2011. Solar panel prices decreased by 58% in that same time period according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. (more…)
January 3, 2013
Global cleantech to “backtrack” in 2013, predicts consulting & analysis firm Kachan & Co.
 Dallas Kachan Cleantech venture investment expected to decline even further, corporate involvement to increase, and long-term risks coming in solar, wind, electric vehicles and elsewhere, says company
Developments in 2013 will call into question some of cleantech’s traditional leading indicators of health, and risks will develop with the sector’s stalwart solar, wind and electric vehicle and other markets while others will grow, according to cleantech analysis and consulting firm Kachan & Co. (more…)
December 6, 2012
CleanTech Trends:
Industries That Will Be ‘Green’ Hot in 2013!
Solar Panel Manufacturing, and Green & Sustainable Building Construction including Energy Efficiency are leading the green sectors in terms of fastest growing industries for 2013-2017. According to IBISWorld Inc.’s Top 10 Fastest- Growing Industries report the Green & Sustainable Building Construction looks set to surpass 20% growth year over year from 2013 through 2016, reaching $124,693M in 2013 and attaining $287,868M by 2017. Solar Panel Manufacturing is predicted to grow by between 4 and 11% each of the consecutive years 2013-2017, with revenue forecast at $5,030M in 2013 and $6,828M in 2017. (more…)
October 25, 2012
Pacific States Taking the Lead in Advanced Transportation, Green Buildings, Clean Electricity, and Clean Tech Investment
 Find more on the Clean Edge Website Information from the Clean Edge 2012 U.S. Metro Clean Tech Index
You probably already know the Clean Edge State Clean Energy Index but have you seen the new Metro Clean Tech Index? This report evaluates the biggest 50 metro areas to highlight clean-tech leadership, innovation, and cluster development. The evaluation categories focus on four sectors: green buildings; advanced transportation; clean electricity & carbon management; and clean-tech investment, innovation, & workforce. (more…)
October 18, 2012
Cleantech Trends: Energy Policy Debates
Production and Pricing – Fruits of Policy or Market Forces?
The second debate and the many positioning opportunities the presidential candidates have taken show a distinct difference in policy approach. The flamboyant statements that are seized upon as sound bites are often used out of context. Here are some recent claims from both Obama and Romney, and a fact-check to bring it back. (more…)
October 11, 2012
The 100 Most Promising Private Cleantech Companies
Cleantech Trends
The Cleantech Group LLC has recently published its “2012 Global Cleantech 100” report – an exciting list of the most promising privately-held Cleantech companies replete with thoughtful and well-researched information on the various component sectors. Redfish Technology is proud of the recruiting relationships we have with a large number of these winning cleantech firms. (more…)
August 23, 2012
Wind Tax Credits Hanging in the Wind
Cleantech Trends
The campaign trail has been heated over energy tax credits and subsidies. Ethanol, oil, gas, coal, and renewable energies are all being touted as job creators.
In Iowa, where 7,000 people are employed in the Wind industry, the candidates advocated for their positions for and against Wind subsidies. At stake is the federal renewable energy production tax credit (PTC) which provides an income tax credit of 2.2 cents per kilowatt hour for the production of electricity by Wind. It is set to expire on December 31, 2012 unless renewed. (more…)
July 26, 2012
 "PV Technology, Production and Cost Outlook: 2012-2016” upcoming webinar 2012 Q1 U.S. Solar Market Update
From GreenTech Media
Clean Tech Trends
The first quarter of the year was the second highest on record for solar installations. 18,000 photovoltaic (PV) systems were installed generating a total of 506 megawatts (MW) of power. Residential and non-residential PV systems markets grew despite the uncertainty of project finance availability and import tariffs. (more…)
July 5, 2012
From the Deloitte website:
The energy marketplace is dynamic, being continuously influenced by economic conditions, technological developments, regulatory requirements, and customer expectations and behaviors. What are residential consumers and businesses thinking and doing about energy consumption and provider choice as the U.S. economy shows signs of stabilizing? Is corporate progress on energy management likely to continue as the easier tactics are implemented and greater investment is required? To what degree are consumers actually interested in purchasing energy-related products and services, including emerging technologies? (more…)
May 31, 2012
 John Whitney Categorizing Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems
By John Whitney, AIA
What circumstances make hybrid power systems reasonable, economical, and/or highly desirable?
This is a work in progress, but I would like to achieve more clarity in my thinking about hybrid renewable energy systems. Here’s what I’ve got so far (I’m looking for feedback):
By their very nature, hybrid energy systems are developed to solve a problem with a stand-alone generation system. The problem can be situational (remote location makes access to conventional fuels and power grid difficult or impossible) or it can be a system-specific shortcoming (i.e., the intermittent nature of some renewable generation technologies). Additional stimulus for their use may include environmental (desire to lessen impact of conventional generation plant), or economical (use of multiple energy sources to drive a shared generation technology and transmission access) motives. (more…)
May 17, 2012
Would You Pay 13% More for Clean Energy?
On average, Americans are willing to pay 13 percent more for “clean” electricity, according to a new paper “Willingness to Pay and Political Support for a U.S. National Clean Energy Standard” by researchers at Yale and Harvard.
13 percent translates to $162 annually that Americans, on average, are willing to on top of their current electricity costs. People favor incurring the additional cost in order to support a National Clean Energy Standard (NCES) requiring that 80 percent of the energy be “clean,” or not derived from fossil fuels. (more…)
May 3, 2012
CleanTech Trends – Future Growth and Potential
An Opportunity for Modern Support of Fossil Fuels and CleanTech
Renewable electricity generation doubled from 2006 to 2011. The price of solar, wind, and other clean energy technologies fell. American manufacturers have regained market share in advanced batteries and vehicles.
Employment in the CleanTech sector grew by nearly 12% from 2007 to 2010. In fact, during the middle of the recession (2008 to 2009) the clean economy grew faster than the rest of the economy, expanding at a rate of 8.3%; the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) investment in clean energy projects likely spurred much of this growth. (more…)
April 19, 2012
Redfish Presents on Careers in Energy and Clean Technology
 at the Green Festival: Green Economy, Jobs and Opportunities Expo
CEO and long-time Executive Recruiter at Redfish Technology, Rob Reeves will be speaking at the Green Festival’s ‘Green Economy, Jobs and Opportunities Expo’, to be held at the Javits Center in New York on Sunday April 22, 2012 at noon at Stage A. Rob will discuss career opportunities in Energy and Clean Technology, sectors hiring, and job skills in demand.
(more…)
April 9, 2012
Online Social Networking Event Co-Hosted By Redfish Technology
Green Economy, Jobs and Opportunities Expo – Preview Online Event:
Get Your Burning Questions Answered!
The NY Green Festival will host the ‘Green Economy, Jobs and Opportunities Expo’. As a prelude to that event green job seekers can ask questions and join the dialogue during an online Social Media Meet Up to take place on April 12, 2012 6pm – 10pm (Eastern). Co-hosting and answering your questions, Redfish Technology, Inc. is a longtime recruiter in Green Technology. The Greening the Culture Campaign networking event is an opportunity for green and environmentally friendly companies, organizations and professionals to get together in person and virtually to leverage their collective social networks to reach a wider audience. Redfish Technology will be participating to discuss job opportunities in clean technology.
(more…)
March 29, 2012
Clean Tech Trends: Solar’s Banner Year
Last month Solar had exciting fanfare with the USSMI report announcing that the solar industry was the fastest growing industry in America for the second year in a row!
Solar more than doubled in the U.S. in 2011 with growth of 109% in the number of PV installations, reaching 1,855 MW up from 887 MW in 2010. Twenty-eight individual PV projects of over 10 MW were completed in 2011, a marked rise from only two in 2009. (more…)
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