Green Jobs: First Solar, Ostara, On-Ramp, AEE, Crystal Solar, Hydrovolts

Job moves in solar, water power, agriculture, and the smart grid

Eric Wesoff December 06, 2012

Eric Wesoff

Editor-at-Large
Greentech Media

Eric Wesoff is Editor-at-Large at Greentech Media. Prior to joining GTM, Eric Wesoff founded Sage Marketing Partners in 2000 to provide sales and marketing-consulting services to venture-capital firms and their portfolio companies in the alternative energy and telecommunications sectors. Mr. Wesoff has become a well-known, respected authority and speaker in these fields.

His expertise covers solar power, fuel cells, biofuels and advanced batteries. His strengths are in market research and analysis, business development and due diligence for investors. He frequently consults for energy startups and Silicon Valley's premier venture capitalists.

Crystal Solar's CTO, K.V. Ravi, recently left the firm. Crystal Solar falls in the direct-gas-to-silicon wafer technology segment, along with Solexel and the now defunct Ampulse.

First Solar (Nasdaq: FSLR) named Johan Cilliers as Regional Director of Business Development for Sub-Saharan Africa and Managing Director of its new SA subsidiary. Cilliers joins from Suzlon, where he was VP of sales and marketing in SA. Also at First Solar, Tim Harris has been replaced as Antelope Valley Solar Ranch construction manager. Steve Kevish will assume that role, with experience at projects such as Silver State North and Copper Mountain Solar 2.

On-Ramp Wireless, a maker of wireless communications for energy automation and M2M, named Brad Wallace as VP of Operations. Wallace served as the Director of Operations for Intel's New Business Investments. Kevin Hell was named CEO of On-Ramp in early November.

Advanced Energy Economy named Steve Chadima as director of California initiatives and SVP of Communications. Chadima previously served as Suntech's VP of External Affairs. AEE is a think tank and lobbying group that promotes the advanced energy industry.

The UK's National Renewable Energy Centre, Narec, named Ignacio Marti as CTO.

Ostara Nutrient Recovery, a startup that recovers phosphorus and nitrogen from water streams at water treatment facilities to create fertilizer, appointed Scott McDonald as EVP and CFO.

Burt Hamner, co-founder of five-year-old water power startup Hydrovolts, is leaving his CEO post. Mike Layton, COO, is becoming the President of the firm. Hydrovolts plans to capture micro-hydropower flowing out of wastewater treatment plants.