The future is clean

International Women in Engineering Day is an opportunity to recognise the women helping to shape technical industries, but it is also a reminder of the work still needed to make these careers more visible, accessible and sustainable for the next generation. Across clean energy, engineering talent is playing a critical role in delivering the technologies, infrastructure and innovation needed for the energy transition. From renewable fuels and bioenergy to Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), the sector depends on people who can solve complex problems and help move emerging technologies forward. But for the industry to keep progressing, it needs a broader range of people, perspectives and leadership styles shaping its future. We spoke to Lacey Collins, Divisional Manager - Renewable Fuels, Bioenergy & CCUS at Piper Maddox, about what drew her to clean energy, the barriers women still face in technical and male-dominated fields, and why representation matters when building long-term careers in the sector. What drew you to work in clean energy, particularly in such a technical and fast-evolving part of the industry? I was drawn to working in clean energy because of the passion shared by everyone in the industry. From my very first conversations with leaders in the space, it was clear that this field is driven by passion, integrity, and hard work From your experience, what are some of the barriers women still face when entering or progressing in engineering-related fields? The main barriers we see for women in male-dominated fields are a lack of representation or role models. It’s difficult for the first woman to pave the path for those behind her. Women also have more trouble as caregivers/parents with the hours, work environments, and inflexibility. Why do you think it’s important to spotlight women working in technical or male-dominated sectors like energy and engineering? When women see others succeeding in these spaces, it helps break down stereotypes and send the message that we all belong. Spotlighting women in industry also brings visibility to the unique perspectives, leadership styles, and innovations women contribute, which are essential for the growth and diversity of thought in any industry. Highlighting these stories helps pave the way for future generations and fosters a more inclusive, balanced workforce What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a woman looking to break into a clean energy or engineering-adjacent career? Find a role model/someone that can understand your position. A role model can help show that success is possible and show the blueprint for navigating any challenges that may come up.

The Clean Energy Six, Finance Edition highlights the people working behind the financial and strategic decisions shaping the energy transition. In this series, Skye Shaffer, Associate Recruitment Consultant at Piper Maddox, speaks with professionals across the renewable energy finance ecosystem to explore their career journeys, the projects that have defined them, and the opportunities they see for the future of clean energy. In this edition, we spoke with Tamara Bordeaux, a clean energy finance professional with over nine years of experience spanning financial services and renewable energy. After beginning her career at UBS, Tamara transitioned into the energy sector to pursue work more closely aligned with her passion for combating climate change. She has since built a diverse background across community solar, utility-scale development, and M&A at AES, where she worked on complex transactions and large-scale projects across the U.S. More recently, she expanded her experience into emerging technologies at Blue Energy, where she was part of the commercial team at a nuclear-focused startup, working across origination, development, and financial modeling. Now at Greenvolt Power, Tamara continues to focus on project finance and M&A, bringing a well-rounded perspective across both established and next-generation energy solutions. 1. When did you start your career in renewable energy or clean tech, and why did you get into the industry? I started my career in renewable energy in January 2021. Before that, I was working in wealth management and financial services, but I wanted to pivot into something more aligned with my interests and passions - specifically, fighting climate change. The energy industry offered a strong intersection between finance and impact, and it felt like a space where I could apply my background while contributing to something meaningful. 2. What was a pivotal moment or project that defined your path in this industry? A pivotal moment for me was working on the Belfield project, which at the time was the largest permitted solar and storage project in the U.S., at around 2 gigawatts. AES acquired it from Avantus, and I had the opportunity to work on the transaction as an associate. It was a very large, complex, and long-running deal, and it really opened my eyes to how intricate the M&A side of the renewable energy industry can be. What stood out most was the collaborative nature of the process - working closely with counterparties to solve problems together. It was also the first time I was able to build meaningful relationships with a counterparty, and it showed me how important those relationships are in getting deals done. That combination of complexity, collaboration, and relationship-building really defined my path and interest in this space. 3. What excites you most about working in renewables or clean tech today? There is a very real and growing need for power - especially zero-carbon power - in both the U.S. and globally. Renewables are one of the fastest and most proven ways to reduce carbon emissions and fight climate change, so it’s an incredibly impactful space to be in. There’s also a significant increase in demand for power driven by technological growth, including AI. What’s unique right now is that we’re still building the physical infrastructure needed to support that demand, while also benefiting from advancements in AI and software ourselves. For example, AI is helping enhance financial modeling and improve efficiency in areas like transaction document review. It feels like we’re in a position where we get the best of both worlds - building critical infrastructure while leveraging cutting-edge tools. 4. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in renewable energy and what did you learn from it? One of the biggest challenges I faced was transitioning from traditional renewables - primarily solar and storage - into nuclear, specifically the small modular reactor (SMR) space. While there were transferable skills, nuclear presents a very different set of challenges. In solar and storage, processes are well established and costs continue to come down. With nuclear, particularly new nuclear development, it’s more like rebuilding an industry from the ground up in the U.S. There are challenges around developing supply chains, advancing new technologies, and working on much longer timelines - often into the 2030s. It also requires navigating significant policy and regulatory dependencies. This experience pushed me to think more long-term, approach problems more creatively, and become comfortable working in areas with less precedent. It was both challenging and incredibly rewarding. 5. Looking 5–10 years ahead, where do you see the biggest opportunities for growth in renewable energy? One of the biggest opportunities is improving transmission infrastructure and the interconnection process in the U.S. Upgrading the grid will be critical to enabling more projects to come online efficiently. I also see strong potential in co-located solutions - bringing power generation closer to where it’s consumed, such as near data centers. As demand for energy continues to rise, proximity to load will become increasingly important. Overall, I don’t think it’s about one technology winning out - we’ll need a mix of solar, storage, wind, nuclear, and geothermal to meet demand. The real opportunity lies in how we build, connect, and optimize across all of these. 6. If someone wanted to break into renewable energy finance, what’s the one piece of advice you’d give? Be willing to take on any role to get your foot in the door - even if it means taking a step back in title or seniority. That’s what I did, and I have no regrets. Renewable energy is very much a learn-by-doing industry. While coursework and reading are helpful, the most valuable experience comes from working on real projects. I’d also emphasize the importance of networking. It’s a relatively small industry, and people are generally approachable. Building connections can go a long way in opening doors and helping you navigate your career. Tamara’s career reflects the evolving nature of the clean energy landscape - from established renewable technologies to emerging solutions like nuclear. With experience across large-scale transactions, development, and startup environments, she brings a well-rounded perspective on where the industry is today and where it’s headed. As demand for clean, reliable power continues to grow, her insights highlight both the challenges and the significant opportunities ahead.

Infocast’s Solar + Wind Finance & Investment Summit once again brought the renewable energy finance community together in Phoenix, Arizona, with conversations spanning deal activity, investment strategy, and the evolving market landscape. Across the week, our consultants Thomas Cooper, Divisional Manager, and Nolan Cridge, Manager, Renewables, connected with clients and industry professionals to understand what’s really happening in the market right now. Here’s what they heard. 1. What were the main finance or investment topics people were talking about around Infocast week this year? The bulk of our conversations with new and existing clients emphasized there is still a tremendous amount of excitement and activity surrounding the renewable space. We are seeing our clients make a very strong push to secure tax equity partnerships for their existing assets, or offload via M&A projects that are earlier stage. Lots of portfolios are growing tremendously through M&A in the solar and storage space as well. 2. From the conversations you had, what are the biggest challenges currently affecting renewable energy project financing? The largest challenge seems to be from within the united states, many foreign countries are hesitant to invest within the united states due to policy changes and an uncertain investment terrain. This year is universally considered more stable, but still gives foreign entities hesitancy to put money back into US markets. 3. What trends are you seeing in the solar, wind or storage investment landscape right now? Overall it seems to continue to be business as usual, just on an accelerated timeline. That said, we had a significant amount of conversations surrounding the integration of AI to all levels of project development, project finance, and M&A transactions. This would likely lead to a downturn in junior level hiring and allow our clients to continue to get leaner. 4. From the people you spoke with, where are investors and developers seeing the biggest opportunities in the market? We are still hearing Solar and Storage as the big winners for the next few years. There are murmurs that Geothermal and Nuclear could be the next renewable assets to be heavily invested in, but there are still a significant number of hurdles to jump through here. 5. Any interesting perspectives or insights from the meetings you had that stood out? The general sentiment around the conference was very positive about the industry as a whole and where opportunity exists. Many of the hiring managers we spoke with express that hiring this year would likely be later in the summer or Q3, and those would be sparce. This year companies seem to be continuing to stay as lean as possible and any hire that is brought on is well thought out, and an extremely high priority. Across the conversations throughout the week, one thing was clear, the renewable energy market remains highly active, with strong momentum across solar, storage, and M&A. At the same time, the landscape is becoming more considered. Investment decisions are more measured, international capital remains cautious around US policy, and businesses are continuing to prioritise lean, high-impact teams. With growing interest in AI and early conversations around geothermal and nuclear, the market is evolving, not slowing. If you’re looking to understand how these trends could impact your team or hiring strategy, get in touch with the Piper Maddox team to continue the conversation.

The Clean Energy Six, Finance Edition highlights the people working behind the financial and strategic decisions shaping the energy transition. In this series, Skye Shaffer, Associate Recruitment Consultant at Piper Maddox, speaks with professionals across the renewable energy finance ecosystem to explore their career journeys, the projects that have defined them, and the opportunities they see for the future of clean energy. Our first guest is Samuel Woo, Senior Analyst, Investment Analytics at Cypress Creek Renewables. After serving as a Marine Corps officer overseas, Sam transitioned into renewable energy in 2022. Today, he focuses on evaluating and modelling renewable energy projects, helping ensure that the infrastructure being built today is both economically viable and designed to power homes and businesses for decades to come. When did you start your career in renewable energy or clean tech, and why did you get into the industry? I started my transition to clean energy in 2022. I was a Marine Corps officer at the time and was deployed in Syria in 2021 for about eight months supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, NATO’s mission to counter ISIS in Iraq and Syria. I was operating out of a region known for a lot of oil extraction. The oil industry is a key part of that region’s economy, and seeing the fossil fuel industry up close - seeing the physical consequences of it - had a pivotal impact on me as I was figuring out my next professional steps. At the same time, the Inflation Reduction Act was heavily in the news. Seeing the impact up close and hearing about the momentum happening in clean energy kind of lined up. I wanted to take the skills I learned in the Marine Corps and apply them to energy security, which I thought was really important. Clean energy appealed to me because while every energy source has pros and cons, it wasn’t as pollutant as fossil fuels. So it was a combination of energy security and building something long-term that I felt was a net positive to the world. What was a pivotal moment or project that defined your path in this industry? One pivotal moment was driving through the region in Syria and seeing the pollution related to oil fields - waterways glistening with oil runoff, smoke in the air, fires tied to extraction. That definitely impacted me. From a more recent perspective, I helped model four projects that we bid into an RFP with a major utility, and they were shortlisted. That was exciting because it’s the closest I’ve gotten to getting projects built. Modeling those four projects and getting them close to offtake reaffirmed why I’m in the industry - building long-term sustainable infrastructure that will last decades. What excites you most about working in renewable or clean tech today? It’s knowing I get to play a part in building infrastructure that will last decades - powering homes and businesses. Every project that moves toward COD or offtake is another step toward building resilient, diverse energy systems. As energy demand increases, it’s good to know that part of our infrastructure is based on renewable, clean energy. What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced in the renewable energy space, and what did you learn from it? The biggest challenge was recommending the termination of a project for the first time. A big part of my job is evaluating project-level economics to make sure a project makes financial sense. Terminating a project was tough because we join this industry to build renewable projects - not cancel them. But I learned that we can’t build projects randomly. There has to be strategy behind it. It has to make sense for the customer and for the company. If projects don’t make economic sense, they can raise energy prices or hurt the company long-term, which limits our ability to build more projects. So I learned to understand the macro-level economics of each project and how it impacts the grid. It’s great to build, but we have to build responsibly and feasibly. Looking ahead 5–10 years, where do you see the biggest opportunities for growth in renewable energy? I think it’s finding ways to adapt and meet customer needs. Market signals show we need firm, reliable energy. One solution is long-duration energy storage, and currently battery energy storage systems (BESS). Being creative and innovative to meet market needs is exciting. Long-duration energy storage is the most exciting area for me right now. More broadly, it’s about adapting to emerging technologies and building firm, reliable energy solutions. If someone wanted to break into the space, what is the one piece of advice you would give them? Learn as much as possible about project-level economics. That includes how projects make money - PPAs, offtake contracts, revenue, expenses, capex, and opex. Also understand capital structures because they’re complex and getting more complex. That means understanding tax equity structures, debt structures, and traditional project finance. Understanding revenue drivers, cost structures, tax equity, and debt are the fundamentals of every project. Huge thank you to Sam for taking the time to share his story and perspective. From serving overseas to now working on the financial and strategic side of renewable energy projects, his path is a reminder that this industry is built by people with very different backgrounds, all working toward something long-term. Thoughtful, disciplined development is just as important as ambition in this space, and Sam brings both. We are xcited to see the projects he helps bring to life in the years ahead!

A decade of purpose, growth and impact in clean energy talent This year marks ten years of Piper Maddox, one of LHi Group’s fastest growing specialist brands, built with a clear purpose, to support the global clean energy transition and help protect the future of our planet through exceptional talent solutions.Founded in 2015 by Alex Cohen under the LHi Group, Piper Maddox was created with a belief that recruitment could be more than a commercial service, it could be a platform for positive change. From the outset, the brand committed fully to renewable energy and cleantech, stepping away from fossil fuels entirely and aligning its growth with the industries actively decarbonising the world. Over the past decade, Piper Maddox has become a trusted partner to some of the world’s most innovative clean energy organisations across the US and Europe, helping them build the teams shaping how energy is generated, stored and consumed. Its rapid growth reflects not only market demand, but the strength of its mission, culture and people, proof that purpose-led businesses scale with impact. At its core, Piper Maddox is driven by the belief that recruitment can be a force for good, contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable future, one hire, one partnership and one business at a time. From Vision to Global Brand As the energy sector began shifting towards renewables, it became clear that traditional recruitment models were struggling to keep pace with the urgency of change. The clean energy transition demanded specialist knowledge, speed and long-term thinking, not legacy approaches. Recognising this opportunity, Alex Cohen and LHi Group Founder, Tom Glanfield aligned on a shared ambition to build a recruitment brand dedicated entirely to clean energy and sustainability. Combining entrepreneurial platform, leadership and a strong cultural foundation, Piper Maddox was born as a values-led business designed to create long-term impact. From those early beginnings, the brand has expanded rapidly across Europe and North America, building leadership teams united by a shared purpose to accelerate the energy transition and support companies working to decarbonise the planet. “The success of Piper Maddox reflects what’s possible when purpose, people and platform align. It’s been incredible to watch the brand grow into a true global leader in clean energy and cleantech recruitment.” ~ Alex Cohen, US Brand Leader Specialist Expertise at Scale Today, Piper Maddox is home to more than 80 specialist consultants delivering talent solutions across: Renewable Energy Energy Storage eMobility Clean Fuels Nuclear Power Energy Trading Sustainability Energy Management and Grid Resiliency Sustainable Aviation Operating with a specialist, quality-first mindset, the brand combines deep market expertise, proactive headhunting and extensive global networks to deliver consistently high-quality outcomes for clients operating in highly competitive markets. With offices in New York, Los Angeles, Austin, Miami, London, Bristol, Berlin and Munich, Piper Maddox provides global reach supported by strong local market expertise across North America and Europe, including the UK, DACH, Benelux and Southern Europe. Evolving into a Talent Solutions Partner In line with LHi Group’s wider evolution, Piper Maddox has grown beyond traditional recruitment into a full talent solutions partner, supporting clients at every stage of scale and maturity through: Permanent and contract recruitment Executive search Subscription hiring models Embedded talent solutions Consulting services through Expert Project Solutions (XPS) This integrated approach enables clients to scale efficiently while maintaining quality, consistency and long-term workforce planning. “Over the past decade, Piper Maddox has matured into a true strategic partner for our clients. The next phase is about continuing to innovate and scaling our impact globally.” ~ Tom Clarke, UK & Europe Brand Leader Looking Ahead: Building a Lasting Legacy As Piper Maddox celebrates its ten-year anniversary, the brand continues to play a critical role in supporting the organisations building a cleaner, more resilient energy future. As one of LHi Group’s fastest growing brands, its success reflects the power of aligning commercial performance with meaningful purpose. By supporting companies whose missions centre on decarbonisation, sustainability and innovation, Piper Maddox is helping shape the legacy LHi aims to leave, protecting the future, enabling progress and proving that business can be a force for positive change. Interested in partnering with Piper Maddox?👉 Discover how their talent solutions can support your organisation’s growth by emailing info@pipermaddox.com Thinking about joining the journey?👉 Explore current opportunities across the Piper Maddox brand and become part of a business making real-world impact. Click here!

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