Case Study | 31 December 2025
How a Renewable Energy Company Regained Its Market Edge Amid Rising Competition
Posted by : Akshay Pardeshi
Renewable energy is now at the forefront of global conversations, with wind, solar, and hybrid systems being adopted at unprecedented rates. However, even in a fast-evolving sector, failing to anticipate changing market trends and competition can cause a well-established company to lose traction. To solve this challenge and re-establish market dominance, the company reached out to Research Nester to unveil new growth opportunities and refine its competitive strategy.
An overview:
1. A prominent Europe-based renewable energy company with over two decades of operational success had built a stronghold in wind and solar projects across the continent. With a strong portfolio and several high-value government contracts, the company was regarded as a market leader in clean energy solutions.
2. However, in the last five years, the entry of innovative startups using smart-grid technology and energy storage advancements has disturbed the market. The company faced a sharp decline in new project acquisitions, and its market share slipped from 41% in 2018 to 34% in 2023.
3. The leadership aimed to regain an 8–10% market share by 2030 and expand aggressively into emerging green energy markets, including parts of Asia-Pacific and Latin America.
4. Research Nester was brought in to provide a regional and competitive market intelligence solution, focusing on identifying high-growth markets, analyzing shifting customer choices, and building a technology-forward expansion roadmap.
The Story
The renewable energy industry has gone through a rapid transformation in recent years. Governments have increased investments in sustainable infrastructure, and private enterprises are adopting renewable solutions to fulfill net-zero commitments. While this was good news for the sector overall, it also meant the competitive landscape became more crowded. The company in focus struggled to adapt quickly to:
- The rise of modular solar solutions made for small-scale businesses and residential users.
- Battery energy storage systems (BESS) that offered better grid stability and attracted more public funding.
- Competitors forming strategic alliances with AI and IoT solution providers to optimize energy efficiency.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the renewable sector saw a growth in demand for localized, easily applicable power solutions. Research Nester’s market analysis disclosed that off-grid solar installations soared by 25% in 2021 alone in developing regions, a trend that even followed post-pandemic. However, the client’s portfolio mainly focused on large-scale wind farms and utility-grade solar projects, which limited its ability to serve to smaller and fast-growing market segments. Further analysis gave rise to three critical challenges in the company’s current approach, as described below:
- Less product diversification: Being reliant only on wind and large-scale solar projects without trying newer technology like floating solar or hybrid systems limits upgrades.
- Weak partnerships: Minimum interaction with regional distributors and suppliers in emerging markets slowed down growth.
- Insufficient integration of digital solutions: Less use of AI, predictive analytics, and smart-grid management in existing projects.
Recognizing these issues, the company contacted Research Nester to create a strategic market re-entry and diversification plan that could help them reclaim lost market share and open new revenue streams.
Our Solution:
Research Nester conducted a multi-phase competitive benchmarking and opportunity mapping exercise to place the company for sustainable growth.
1. Competitive Landscape Analysis: We examined the ten leading competitors in the renewable energy market across Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. The assessment included:
- Technology adoption rates
- Product diversification strategies
- Localized business models
- Government and private sector partnerships
This enabled the client to reflect on where they fell behind in innovation and how other top players in the market were capitalizing on smaller but faster-growing segments.
2. Emerging Market Identification: Our regional research team identified five high-potential markets where renewable energy demand was anticipated to jump by over 20% CAGR until 2030, including Vietnam, Brazil, and South Korea. We analyzed regulatory frameworks, subsidy structures, and consumer adoption patterns to determine entry feasibility.
3. Product Portfolio Diversification: The client was instructed to expand its offerings by developing floating solar farms in areas affected by water scarcity. They were also encouraged to combine battery energy storage systems with existing solar and wind projects to improve grid reliability. In addition, the introduction of microgrid solutions was recommended, with a focus on serving rural and remote regions through collaborations with local partners.
4. Technology Integration Roadmap: Our experts worked with the client’s R&D team to build a digital transformation strategy:
- Initiate IoT-based sensors for predictive maintenance.
- Employ AI to optimize energy distribution in smart grids.
- Use blockchain for transparent renewable energy credit trading.
5. Partnership Development Framework: We facilitated introductions to regional Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) firms, technology providers, and local government agencies. This made sure a seamless market entry, faster regulatory approvals, and lesser costs of operation.
Results
Within 18 months of implementing the strategy, the client achieved measurable success:
- Market Share Recovery: The company regained 4% market share in Europe and secured two major government contracts for hybrid solar-wind projects in Eastern Europe.
- Revenue Growth: Yearly sales went up from €2.8 billion in 2022 to €3.15 billion in 2023, achieving a 14% surge year-on-year.
- Portfolio Expansion: Successfully introduced three microgrid pilot projects in Vietnam and Brazil, collectively powering over 45,000 households.
- Technology Adoption: Deployed AI-based grid optimization in two European wind farms, reducing downtime by 18% and increasing operational efficiency by 12%.
- Local Partnerships: Formed joint ventures with two Asian EPC firms, lowering project execution time by 15% and cutting logistics expenses by 8%.
By utilizing Research Nester’s market intelligence and strategic recommendations, the company not only regained lost dominance but also positioned itself for sustained growth in the evolving renewable energy market.
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