CNBC: What are your top priorities in 2015?  De Pass: We want to continue to focus on Japan and Southeast Asia, and look for share in the U.S. as well as in new emerging markets for solar, from Mexico to Central America, Chile and Turkey. We can grow from the global footprint because very few first-generation solar companies had operations in 15 countries and a project development business with 350 people. Conergy didn't move into these countries a year ago. More and more countries are doing solar based on grid parity and not subsidies.  [Among the countries where Conergy has operations are Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Turkey, Australia, the U.K., the U.S., Italy, Canada, Germany and the United Arab Emirates. Conergy, which is now based in Miami, has a global pipeline of solar projects equal to 4 gigawatts.]  Secondly, it's critical to attract talent to execute. Your project pipeline can't get ahead of your talent pool. My No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 concern is talent, talent, talent. Talent retention and addition is critical in most growth industries. Competitors want to go after our people.  CNBC: Why did you want to make the move to Conergy CEO rather than stay on a private equity team pursuing a broader range of investments after two decades in PE?  De Pass: I was Conergy executive chairman for the past year. The board asked me to move in as CEO. I believe in solar and Conergy and want to be part of an important solar turnaround, and the opportunity is incredible because of the global footprint. Plus, I'm old. [De Pass turns 49 this month.] In finance, when you're old, people say, 'What the heck are you doing?' But you can be a corporate senior executive.
German utility RWE and other investors are betting that the largest traded renewable company in Europe has a bright future.