Green Career Choices: Solar and Wind Sales Firm

More and more people are turning to solar or wind power for their homes. With better methods of storing this energy for later use, it is possible that these people will not have to use the utility companies at all. It is also possible that there will be a surplus amount of generated power that can be then sold back to the utilities for a credit on their bill. On a professional level, businesses are also turning to alternative energy sources and many are in the business of only creating and harnessing this type of power. The surplus that they create can then be sold to the utility companies at a profitable price. The solar/wind sales firm can negotiate the best price for this generated power so that the company profits and the utility companies in turn use less conventional fuels to power the world.

What is the income potential?

A marketing report released by Business Communications Company of Norwalk, Connecticut in August of 2005 predicted that the various storage systems of the world would be over twelve billion dollars by the end of 2010. (Source: Power Electronics Technology.com) This figure was generated using a growth factor of 5.9% at the time of the completed report. An aggressive salesman with both solid figures and the knowledge to back up his pitch could have an unlimited salary depending on the area of the world as well as the state of the local economy.

Another report, this one generated by John R. Tuttle, PhD, President and CEO of Daystar Technologies Incorporated, listed photovoltaic (solar/electric energy) sales at $3.5 billion dollars for 2002. (Source: AllExperts.com)

How many jobs are available in this industry?

According to reports by SmartGridNews.com the annual growth rate for jobs in this sector is fairly steady with a rate of about 9000 jobs or more created each year in the field. These are both direct and in direct jobs in the smart grid industry, which an unknown percentage would be counted as the solar/wind sales agents. (Source: SmartGridNews.com)

What are the Educational Requirements?

As a relatively new field there are not as many stringent demands on the level of education that you must have to be successful. However, it is a very competitive field and having at the least a marketing or sales degree is a must to even get your foot in the door. In addition, having additional education in solar and other alternative energies is highly desirable.

What is the Start up Costs?

To begin a firm you would have to have a fairly large investment as you would either buy the shares of excess energy yourself and then resell them at a profit or be forced to work as the middle man between the energy generator and the energy consumer. This would be the far less profitable of the two choices.

References: David Morrison, Editor PETech. Energy Storage Device Market to Hit $12 Billion by Decade's End Power Electronics Technology August, 31, 2005 posted to http://www.powerelectronicstechonology.com

SmartGridNews.Com Smart Grid Technologies Can Yield $110M annually for Typical Utility Posted 11/5/2009 to http://www.smartgridnews.com/artman/poublish/business_business_case_news

John R. Tuttle PhD. Pres./CEO posted to AllExperts.com at http://wwwallexperts.com

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