MEW State of the Sector Webinar Series.
Tuesday 4 August, 2 – 4.30pm
Floating towards a Green Recovery in Wales: unlocking Welsh waters with floating offshore wind.
Following the launch of our MEW State of the Sector 2020 Report at the beginning of July, join us for the next event in the series.
In this webinar we will delve deeper into floating offshore wind (FLOW) and find out more about the potential of the sector to contribute to a green recovery in Wales.
Click here for the Agenda
Agenda:
Welcome from Martin Murphy, Chair MEW
Jessica Hooper, MEW
Maf Smith, Lumen Energy & Environment
Megan Smith, The Carbon Trust
Neil Farrington, Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult
Discussion
Alex Meredith, RWE
Christoph Harwood, Simply Blue Energy
David Jones, Blue Gem Wind
Cian Conroy, Principle Power
Discussion
Speaker biographies
Martin Murphy, Chair MEW.
Martin is a Chartered Engineer who has spent the great majority of his career in the marine sector, firstly serving as a Marine Engineering Officer in the Royal Navy for 12 years and since then, 25 years in managerial positions in industry. Martin joined Tidal Energy Ltd as Managing Director in 2009, the company who developed, built and commissioned DeltaStream in Ramsey Sound in Pembrokeshire. Within the Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum, Martin is Chair of the Marine Energy Wales (MEW) Forum. Martin served as President of the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) in 2015 -2016, is now the Honorary Treasurer and remains a member of the Board of Trustees. He is active as an independent consultant in the marine renewable energy sector.
Jess Hooper, MEW
Jess leads the MEW programme at Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum, which includes the META and Selkie projects as well as the overarching MEW deliverables. She has taken over from David Jones in heading up the team. She has been working at MEW leading the META team for three years and has worked in the renewable energy industry for 15 years, including eight years in marine renewables having worked at Siemens MCT in the development team charged with consenting the Skerries project off Anglesey.
Maf Smith, Lumen Energy & Environment
Maf is the founding director of specialist consultancy Lumen Energy & Environment. He is an expert in energy transition, with a 20+ year leadership career in the renewable sector.
Between 2012 and 2019 Maf was the Deputy CEO of RenewableUK. In this time he was chief spokesperson, represented industry at all levels of Government, and managed the Association’s membership and commercial growth. Prior to this Maf worked in DECC on Electricity Market Reform, was Director of Scotland for the Sustainable Development Commission between 2006 and 2011, and CEO of Scottish Renewables between 2002 and 2006.
Megan Smith, Carbon Trust
Megan leads on international Offshore Wind delivery, focusing primarily on the US and Asian markets. She has also previously overseen the Cable Installation, Electrical Systems, Foundations and Wakes & Wind Resource research areas as part of the Offshore Wind Accelerator, a collaborative RD&D project between Carbon Trust and nine leading offshore wind developers. She has experience in a range of technology areas, and has delivered a number of research projects including LIDAR and scanning LIDAR validation, optimisation of electrical systems and O&M strategy.
Neil Farrington, ORE Catapult
Neil has been working in the renewable energy sector in Cornwall since 2002 and has built up a significant network of relationships and experience across the public, private and community sectors in order to facilitate the successful emergence of a renewable energy industry.
Neil previously worked for Community Energy Plus in Truro and has direct experience through all stages of renewable project development from conception to completion including dealing with local engagement, securing planning permissions, raising project development and capital finance whilst managing project construction, management and ongoing operations.
Alex Meredith, RWE
Alex Meredith is an Offshore Wind Investment Manager. Based in Cardiff, Alex covers RWE’s offshore wind development projects in Wales including Awel y Môr (Gwynt y Môr extension) and early-stage floating wind. Alex has a decade of experience in offshore and onshore wind development across the UK as well as Ireland, Poland and the US.
Alex is a solicitor working in the renewable energy industry and has spent the past decade delivering clean energy projects in the UK and abroad. Now working as the Offshore Investment Manager for RWE, one of Europe’s top green energy generators, Alex has played a key role in the continued development of both onshore and offshore wind in the UK.
Christoph Harwood, Simply Blue Energy
Christoph is Director of Policy and Strategy, the Managing Director of Simply Blue Aquaculture and also a Director for Loch Long Salmon, the salmon farming joint venture. He leads on the development of the company’s business strategy and support the energy companies with their engagement with national and local stakeholders. Prior to joining the group in 2018, Christoph spent 10+ years in the world of environmental finance and marine energy and is a founder member of the Marine Energy Council. He has a degree in Philosophy, Politics & Economics from Oxford University and lives in Edinburgh.
David Jones, Blue Gem Wind
David is currently focussed on stakeholder engagement for the Blue Gem Wind portfolio of floating wind projects in the Celtic Sea. This involves working with all interested parties, from supply chain companies, ports, government, and coastal communities. Before joining Simply Blue Energy, David was the CEO of Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum, a multi-award-winning company, voted the “most sustainable social enterprise” in Wales. He has worked specifically on marine energy for over 12 years, developing Marine Energy Wales from inception. He has also worked directly for Government Ministers and shaped supportive marine energy policy in Wales.
Cian Canroy, Principle Power
Cian is an experienced professional in renewables and the offshore wind sector, taking the lead on strategic planning and innovative projects. Having worked as the Business Development Manager for ORE Catapult and Senior Executive of Energy & Low Carbon Technologies for Scottish Enterprise he then went on to form his own consultancy serving commercial and innovation aspects for the renewables sector. Cian is currently a Senior Manager at Principle Power, overseeing the development of the company’s WindFloat technology with the aim to open up access to the world’s highest capacity wind resources.