Editor’s note: This article was first published in June 2010. Its claim that electricity companies must buy the energy we produce reflects the feed-in tariff regime then in force in Spain, later cut back and replaced; its own undated update already warns about cuts to grants and subsidies.
When we talk about the profitable, emerging businesses of the future, we can’t ignore something as obvious as renewable energy, and more specifically solar energy.
There are many, many ways to take part in this kind of business. Renewable energy is clearly going to create millions of jobs around the world, so that is the first way in. If business isn’t your thing and you’d rather have a job with a future, specialize in some branch of the sector (selling solar panels, installing them, maintenance, and so on).
Those who want to make renewable energy their own business can get involved either by investing in one of the many companies growing in the sector or by setting up their own solar energy company (we’ll explain the business opportunities shortly).
Solar energy is a huge business opportunity for Spanish-speaking countries: thanks to our geographical position, Spain as well as Central and South America enjoy more solar activity than other countries, so we stand to benefit from these businesses.
Basically, the solar energy business consists of properly capturing that energy to obtain heat and electricity, with electricity companies being obliged to buy the energy we produce.
Now that we know how important solar energy is, and how much more important it will be in the future, let’s look at the ways we can take part in this business of the future:
- Selling solar energy
- Solar farms
- Solar panel distributor
Update: Because of recent changes in this sector, the cuts to grants and subsidies, and the lack of clarity about how profitable renewable energy can be as a business of your own, we currently do not recommend starting this business. In the business plan studies we have carried out, we have not been able to see where the profits lie.
Further reading
- How to finance my business
- Why a new business fails
- How to choose the legal structure for my business
- Why a business plan matters and how to structure it
- How to start my business without money
Featured image: Kenueone, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
