Inside the Energy Transition
Edition #1 - Talent in a Shifting Regulatory Landscape in Europe & the US
October 2025
Welcome to the first edition of Inside the Energy Transition
It’s safe to say this is long overdue. Over the past 5 years, we’ve heard the same message from clients, candidates and friends of Brightsmith: you want one place that cuts through the noise and explains what actually matters.
As one of the only search firms globally with a singular focus on the energy transition, we’re in a unique position to share the market intelligence and talent insights that matter most. Our aim is not just to inform, but to add value to the sector and our community by connecting people, ideas and opportunities that accelerate progress.
That’s exactly what this newsletter is designed to do. Each month, we’ll bring together the stories and signals we’re seeing first-hand across our hubs in Europe and the US. From funding shifts and regulatory updates to talent shortages, emerging trends and policy changes, we’ll cover the key movements of recent months and what’s coming next.
Alongside that, you’ll find fresh conversations from Conversations in Cleantech and a look ahead at the events bringing the sector together. Our goal is to share clear, useful insight in a way that’s easy to digest, supporting decision-making, learning and strategic planning.
If there’s a topic you’d like us to cover next month, let us know. And if you’d like this delivered straight to your inbox, you can subscribe on the right.
The Numbers Behind the Transition
Technology is ready. Capital is flowing. But across the US and EU, policy and regulatory delays are setting the pace. These figures show why permitting, interconnection, and reform are now the decisive factors in clean energy growth.
United States
- Major energy projects take about 4.5 years for NEPA review, and transmission projects can take 6.5 years or more.
- More than 650 projects are still awaiting federal approval as of mid-2025.
- Over 2,000 GW of clean energy is stalled in US interconnection queues.
Europe
- New solar projects often face 2–4 years of permitting delays, far above RED III targets.
- Member states have implemented less than half of required RED III permitting reforms.
- More than 1,700 GW of renewable capacity is blocked by grid bottlenecks.
The bottleneck isn’t technology, it’s regulation and infrastructure. These delays add cost, risk, and complexity, and they’re creating sharp demand for policy specialists, permitting experts, and regulatory strategists.
Sources: Berkeley Lab News Center; US DOE/LBNL; American Clean Power; McKinsey; SolarPower Europe; European Commission (Eurostat); Strategic Energy; Clean Energy Wire.
The Shifting Landscape of Incentives: Europe & the US
Policy is no longer a backdrop, it’s a moving target. Incentives that once felt like reliable tailwinds are now shifting under political and regulatory pressure. For executives, this volatility creates both opportunity and risk.
In the US, The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has unlocked hundreds of billions in incentives, but evolving IRS guidance and proposals like the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) are creating new uncertainty. Clean vehicle credits, domestic content rules, and bonus incentives for low-income communities are all under scrutiny. Developers must secure current incentives while preparing for future changes.
The EU Net-Zero Industry Act is designed to accelerate energy transition manufacturing and renewables, but implementation is uneven across member states. Some are moving quickly to align subsidies and permitting reforms, while others lag far behind. The result is an uneven investment landscape and continued questions about how national support schemes will interact with EU-wide frameworks like RED III and the Emissions Trading System.
To thrive amid incentives volatility, leadership teams should:
- Anticipate shifting eligibility rules and model multiple policy scenarios.
- Build regulatory agility into investment planning and boardroom strategy.
- Hire policy leaders who translate evolving regulation into resilient commercial decisions.
Bottom line: In both the US and Europe, incentives are no longer a guaranteed tailwind, they’re a strategic variable. Treating policy fluency as a core leadership capability is now essential for growth.
Sources: U.S. Department of the Treasury; Internal Revenue Service (IRS); U.S. Congressional Research Service; Brookings Institution; Rabobank; European Commission (Net-Zero Industry Act, RED III); Council of the European Union.
Conversations in Cleantech - Season 9: Investing in Transition Infrastructure
Catch up on our latest episodes:
Marieke Beeuwkes Spence, Executive Director at the ClimateWorks Foundation
From philanthropy consulting to founding ICM, Marieke shares how $80 billion of private capital is being mobilised for climate and social impact. The conversation spans investor appetite across clean tech, the business case for DEI, and how collaboration can turn market fundamentals into long-term resilience.
Mona Dajani, Global Co-Chair of Energy, Infrastructure and Hydrogen at Baker Botts
With a career spanning engineering, law, and finance, Mona offers rare insight into how clean energy deals get done. From AI-driven energy demand to the risks of policy volatility, she explains how developers can safeguard projects, build investor trust, and lead with transparency in an uncertain landscape.
Upcoming Episodes
Releases 3 Oct 2025
David Bird from Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust on unlocking climate finance and building resilient investment strategies.
Releases 17 Oct 2025
Deep Dive: Policy Talent in Focus
Written by Chloe England, Senior VP, this piece explores why policy is no longer a backdrop to the U.S. energy transition, it’s the deciding factor in project success. The Inflation Reduction Act opened the floodgates, but new legislation like the OBBBA and evolving IRS guidance have added layers of complexity...
Read the full piece on LinkedIn →
Written by Paul Mazalov, Director, this piece examines why policy is now the key driver of Europe’s clean energy transition. The EU’s Net-Zero Industry Act has set ambitious goals, but uneven implementation across member states is creating uncertainty...
In-Demand Roles This Month
Lead Grid Integration Manager EMEA (remote)
Financial Planning & Analysis Manager Germany
Project Manager - Onshore Wind Munich, Germany
Director of Origination United States (remote)
Origination Manager Paris, France
Lead Process Engineer Washington DC
Director of Engineering London, UK
Vice President - Infrastructure & Real Assets London, UK
Senior Legal Counsel London, UK
General Counsel United States
On the Road – Global Events You'll Find us at!
Our team will be out in the field throughout October, connecting with clients, candidates, and partners across the clean energy ecosystem. Events are where ideas turn into action and where we get the chance to hear directly from the people driving the transition forward.
Come and find us at:
Hydrogen Technology World Expo
Carbon Capture Technology World Expo
Methane Pyrolysis Summit 2025
Let’s Talk Talent
Whether you’re growing your organisation or exploring your next move, success in today’s market depends on more than technology, it requires leaders who can navigate regulation, policy, and grid complexity as well as scale innovation. That’s where we come in.
If you’re a client, we help you find purpose-driven leaders who understand the realities of scaling in a policy-driven environment. If you’re a candidate, we’ll connect you with opportunities that align with your skills, ambitions, and values.
