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PPA Originator

Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Milano, Milan, Italy

THE ROLE

Starlight Energy is seeking an experienced Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) Originator to drive commercial success and future growth within our Solar, Wind and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) portfolio, which current exceeds 11GW globally. This role is pivotal in structuring and negotiating vPPAs with corporate and utility off-takers, helping expand our renewable energy footprint in key markets, with initially focus on our Southern European activities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Identify and secure PPA opportunities with corporate and utility off-takers across diverse markets.
  • Structure and lead negotiate on complex PPAs, including price, tenor, delivery profile, guarantees, and risk allocation. for solar, wind and storage projects.
  • Analyze market trends, electricity price forecasts, and regulatory developments to optimize deal structures.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional (legal, finance, technical) and cross-jurisdictional teams to mitigate risks and enhance contract efficiency and success.
  • Maintain and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders in global energy markets.
  • Stay informed on renewable energy regulations impacting PPA negotiations and market positioning.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate:

  • Strong negotiation, analytical, and communication skills to develop strategic partnerships.
  • Time management & prioritization skills - things can get a little hectic, so the ability to effectively manage yourself and your workload is critical
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (in English or/and other European languages) - you must be able to organize your thoughts in a way that others find clear and compelling. You will be expected to put together well-written, grammatically correct emails and other communications. When communicating verbally – whether over the phone, on video calls, in person or in meetings – you will need to be articulate, warm and engaging
  • Flexibility - being an effective team player means being flexible in your approach and open to getting involved with new things, even if they are not spelt out in your job description
  • Intellectual Curiosity – we are looking for someone who is truly interested in our profession and has the intellectual curiosity to delve deep into topics and bring fresh ideas to the team
  • IT Literacy - you need to be comfortable with IT systems and working with data (you should have at least intermediate-level excel)
  • Delivery focus – it may sound obvious, but the ability to proactively churn through work at pace and deliver quality outputs really matters
  • Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Passion for our mission ‘to generate a more sustainable future by leading the transition to clean energy
  • Our values: be a leader, build trust, be responsible, be innovative and ‘bring your alpha’.

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS  

  • Bachelor's degree in Finance, Economics, Engineering, or related field (Master’s degree preferred).
  • 5+ years of experience in PPA origination, specifically in renewables.
  • A Utility, iDNO or Power Brokerage background would be advantageous.
  • Deep understanding of global electricity markets, PPA structuring, and IPP business models.
  • Proven track record of closing high-value PPA deals in competitive energy markets.

 WHAT WE OFFER

  • A busy role in a supportive team, with plenty of opportunities to learn
  • International scope – we operate in over 8 countries
  • Hybrid working – we will need you in the office at least twice a week, but you will normally be able to work remotely for the remainder of the week
  • Annual discretionary bonus.

HOW TO APPLY

If you are interested in this opportunity, please follow the link to apply or send your application to careers@nextenergygroup.com. If you have been shortlisted for the next stage, we will be in contact within 14 days. 

By selecting “Apply” or sending us your CV, you indicate you have read and acknowledged NextEnergy Group’s Candidate Privacy Notice.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Our approach to diversity and inclusion is a natural extension of our values. Our entrepreneurial culture inspires us to try new things, be open to different viewpoints and be bold. Our Group is committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of connectedness that values difference and gives space for individual expression. The collective sum of our individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, innovation, self-expression, and talent and hard work form the bedrock of who we are and who we aspire to be.

We are committed to equal employment and advancement opportunity irrespective of race, color, ancestry, social background, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability and gender identity.

ABOUT US 

NextEnergy Group was founded in 2007 to become a leading market participant in the international solar sector.  Since its inception, it has been active in the development, construction, and ownership of solar assets across multiple jurisdictions.  NextEnergy Group operates via its three business units: NextEnergy Capital (Investment Management), WiseEnergy (Operating Asset Management), and Starlight (Asset Development).

NextEnergy Capital manages the Group's investment activities and has invested in over 520 solar plants, exceeding 2GW in capacity across its institutional funds.

  • NextEnergy Solar Fund (NESF): Listed on the London Stock Exchange, NESF manages 102 solar and energy storage assets in the UK and Italy, with a total installed capacity of 983MW and a gross asset value of £1,014m.
  • NextPower II (NPII): A private fund of 105 solar plants (149MW) focused on Italy, successfully divested in January 2022, delivering net IRRs exceeding its 10-12% target.
  • NextPower III ESG (NPIII ESG): A private fund targeting solar infrastructure in OECD countries (e.g., US, Spain, Italy), with $896m raised, exceeding its $750m target.
  • NextPower UK ESG (NPUK ESG): A private fund dedicated to new-build solar plants in the UK, with ~£600m raised.
  • NextPower V ESG (NPV ESG): A private OECD solar fund investing in solar and adjacent technologies like battery storage. To date, it has raised $745m, targeting $1.5bn ($2bn ceiling).

WiseEnergy® is NextEnergy Group’s operating asset manager.  WiseEnergy is a leading specialist operating asset manager in the solar sector.  Since its founding, WiseEnergy has provided solar asset management, monitoring, technical due diligence and under construction services to over 1,500 utility-scale solar power plants with an installed total capacity in excess of 3.4 GW.  WiseEnergy clients comprise leading banks and equity financiers in the energy and infrastructure sector. 

Starlight is NextEnergy Group’s development company that is active in the development phase of solar projects.  It has developed over 100 utility-scale projects internationally and continues to progress a large pipeline of c.10GW of both green and brownfield project developments across global geographies.

NextSTEP is the venture capital fund of NextEnergy Group, dedicated to investing in innovative startups in the field of environmental sustainability. The fund primarily focuses on investments in Italy and the United Kingdom but also extends its reach to the rest of Europe and the United States, targeting startups in the pre-seed and seed stages. NextSTEP pays particular attention to emerging entities from incubators, startup accelerators, universities, and research centers, supporting projects that address global challenges in crucial areas such as Climate Change, Energy Transition, CO2 Capture and Sequestration, Circular Economy, Sustainable Cities, Sustainable Mobility, Sustainable Fashion, Waste Management, Water and much more.

NextEnergy Foundation is a non-profit organisation founded in 2016 by the NextEnergy Group that operates internationally and whose mission is to proactively participate in the global effort to reduce carbon emissions by providing clean energy sources in regions where they are not yet available and thereby contributing to poverty reduction. As the main sponsor of this foundation, the NextEnergy Group donates at least 5% of its consolidated net profits each year. The NextEnergy Foundation has no overhead costs and therefore 100% of the funds raised go to donations for the various projects. Since 2016, in 8 years of operation the foundation has donated more than £1.2 million, supporting over 30 projects in 27 different countries around the world.

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